Almost all lot creation is now directed to within designated settlement areas (inside urban area boundaries).
Very limited lot creation is permitted in Agriculturally designated lands (areas where Class 1, 2 & 3 soils predominate. This lot creation is guided by the Provincial policies (PPS 2014) cited below, although municipalities can be more restrictive:
2.3.4.1 Lot creation in prime agricultural areas is discouraged and may only be permitted for:
a)
agricultural uses, provided that the lots are of a size appropriate for the type of agricultural use(s) common in the area and are sufficiently large to maintain flexibility for future changes in the type or size of agricultural operations;
b)
agriculture-related uses, provided that any new lot will be limited to a minimum size needed to accommodate the use and appropriate sewage and water services;
c) a
residence surplus to a farming operation as a result of farm consolidation, provided that:
1. the new lot will be limited to a minimum size needed to accommodate the use and appropriate
sewage and water services; and
2. the planning authority ensures that new residential dwellings are prohibited on any remnant parcel of farmland created by the severance. The approach used to ensure that no new residential dwellings are permitted on the remnant parcel may be recommended by the Province, or based on municipal approaches which achieve the same objective; and
d)
infrastructure, where the facility or corridor cannot be accommodated through the use of easements or rights-of-way.
2.3.4.2 Lot adjustments in
prime agricultural areas may be permitted for legal or technical reasons.
2.3.4.3 The creation of new residential lots in
prime agricultural areas shall not be permitted, except in accordance with policy 2.3.4.1(c).
You also have "specialty crop areas" (i.e. within the Greenbelt Plan) and the Oak Ridges Moraine Plan, where lot creation is as restricted, or more restricted, than on Agriculturally designated lands.
Next you have Rural Lands, which have a lower priority for protection as they are generally Class 4-7 soils. Here lot creation is much more flexible and is largely up to Regional, County and local Official Plan policies, which will still direct most lots to settlement areas.
Environmentally designated lands are for the most part no-go as far as lot creation.
In answer to the OP's question, use Skeeter's advice and if you can grab the property Roll Number off the public mapping (GIS) system), take that number to the municipal office where they will let you access the Roll books, which will tell you the assessed owner's name and mailing address (no phone number).
