This page highlights key changes to the Planning Act. This information is also available as a colour brochure (pdf).
The Planning and Conservation Land Statute Law Amendment Act, 2006 amended the Planning Act, effective January 1, 2007
Ontario’s Communities and the Planning Act
The Planning Act establishes the rules for land use planning in Ontario. It describes how land uses may be controlled in our communities.
Land use planning means managing land and resources effectively, providing services efficiently and ensuring orderly growth patterns. It also means balancing the interests of individual property owners with the wider interests and needs of the whole community.
The land use planning system helps municipalities decide how their communities will grow; where homes, businesses and shopping areas should be built; where parks and schools should be located; and where roads, sewers and other essential services should be provided.
Why has the Planning System Been Updated?
Improved land use management contributes to the social, economic and environmental well-being of Ontario’s communities. To meet these goals, municipalities are being given the tools they need to influence and reshape our communities so they can develop in compact, integrated and more sustainable ways.
Updating of the planning system is necessary in order to meet challenges faced by this province’s changing and maturing communities, including:
- Managing growth and addressing the consequences of sprawl.
- Preserving valuable green space and natural resources.
- Promoting development where services and infrastructure are already available.
How has the Planning System Changed?
Through:
- Clearer rules and more accessible planning processes.
- Making more planning and development information available to residents who will have increased opportunities to participate early in the planning process.
- More planning and financial tools so that municipalities are able to meet their compact form, redevelopment, infill and sustainable development goals.
- Reforms affecting the Ontario Municipal Board that include making the planning appeal process more accessible to the public and putting greater emphasis on local decision-making.
Planning for the Future
Your municipality now has access to new planning and financial tools to better promote and accommodate the development needs of your community.
Upfront Policies and Rules
Building strong communities depends a lot on clear planning policies and rules that map out a community’s long-term planning vision.
To ensure the most current provincial and local priorities are reflected in planning decisions, municipalities must now update their official plan every five years, followed by an update of the accompanying zoning by-law within three years after the new official plan is in effect. These requirements provide an opportunity for citizens to participate in their local planning processes and to have their say as to what development they think is important for their community.
The Complete Application
An upfront planning system increases community awareness, improves municipal decision-making and enhances development proposal information. In keeping with this new approach, municipalities can now set out what additional information is required when a planning application is submitted.
Involving Residents in Local Planning
Public engagement is a key part of the planning process. It not only contributes to building civic capacity but allows participants to have a say in how their communities are shaped. Changes to the Planning Act now provide more opportunities for public input before local decisions are made.
There will be mandatory public open houses for some major planning activities. When a municipality receives a complete application for development, all the information and material must be made available to the public at the beginning of the planning process.
Providing Housing
Ensuring there is an ample supply of housing is crucial to the social well-being and changing needs of Ontario’s citizens. Municipalities have enhanced ability to plan for a range and mix of housing types and densities that include affordable housing through clarified zoning rules and second residential unit policies in their official plans. Second unit policies put in place by municipalities cannot be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.
Accessibility for All
Built form (e.g., sidewalks and buildings) can support and promote universal access for persons with disabilities. Through the site plan control process, municipalities can consider the accessibility of a development proposal.
Jobs for the Future
Ensuring a future supply of industrial and commercial land for investment and employment is critical to the economic health of Ontario communities. Municipalities now have additional ability to have the final say on whether designated employment lands can be changed to other uses.
Well-Designed and Greener Neighbourhoods
Attractive places improve the quality of life for everyone. Through the site plan control process, municipalities can now consider the external design of buildings. This means that the quality and characteristics of a proposed development can be taken into consideration to ensure positive contributions are made to the physical appearance of neighbourhoods.
Lively, safe, pedestrian-friendly public spaces are components of healthy, sustainable communities. To achieve a balance between functional and visually pleasing public spaces, municipalities may secure streetscape improvements such as landscaping, street furniture and bicycle parking facilities.
For greener neighbourhoods and cleaner air, municipalities may consider the supply, efficiency and conservation of energy as an essential component of a subdivision proposal. In addition, construction and energy-related uses can form part of a municipality’s community-improvement financial incentive program, aimed at encouraging more sustainable types of development.
Well-integrated, walking communities are places that people can actively enjoy. To achieve this goal, municipalities can require the inclusion of pedestrian and bicycle pathways and public transitways in subdivision proposals.
Development Permit System (DPS)
A Planning Tool
The DPS is a new planning tool which facilitates and streamlines development, promotes community building and enhances environmental protection. The DPS supports key priorities of Ontarians, such as better use of our lands and buildings, brownfields cleanup and redevelopment, the protection of our groundwater, natural environment and greenspace, and energy conservation.
The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB)
The OMB is the independent body that handles appeals on planning matters. Changes were made to the planning system to better align the OMB’s role in land use planning matters with municipal and provincial interests. Some of these changes include:
- Requiring the OMB to have regard for local planning decisions.
- Requiring that the OMB will generally hear appeals based on the application that was presented to municipal council. In addition, if new information is determined to be significant, the OMB may send it back to council for consideration.
- Giving municipalities with the authority to approve minor variances and consents the option of establishing their own local appeal body to deal with appeals of such matters. The OMB will continue to hear appeals on official plan, zoning, site plan control, subdivision and development permit matters.
Reforms Involving Hearings at the OMB
Changes have been made to encourage people to participate early in the planning process and to facilitate participation in the OMB appeal process. Changes include:
- Ensuring that everyone participates early to preserve their appeal rights in the planning process. This is done by requiring an oral presentation at a public meeting or providing a written submission to municipal council prior to its adoption of the planning matter.
- If you did not have an opportunity to state your concerns orally or in writing, you may still be added as a party to a hearing if the OMB determines there are reasonable grounds.
In addition, the OMB has created a Citizen Liaison Office to assist the public with the appeal process.
For more information contact:
ISBN 978-1-4249-3212-2 (HTML)
ISBN 978-1-4249-3211-5 (Print)
ISBN 978-1-4249-3213-9 (PDF)