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The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing strives to create strong communities that are well designed and planned, better able to provide a healthy living environment and sustain thriving local economies by attracting jobs and investment.  We work to implement a land use planning system that is simple and streamlined, where there is better and more timely land use planning decisions, and where municipalities have the major role in planning decisions.  Together with other ministries, we identify and protect provincial interests and promote sound infrastructure planning, environmental protection, economic development and safe communities.

Imperial Building, Windsor, OntarioMSO-SW provides a policy-led 'One Window' planning service that protects provincial interests through provincial input, review, decision-making, appeal and tracking of land use planning applications.  In addition to the one-window service, MSO-SW works with municipalities to promote innovative approaches and practices in land use planning and to support the implementation of Provincial initiatives, such as brownfields redevelopment.

Legislation, Policy and Regulations

Planning Act
One of the primary legislative tools in land-use planning is the Planning Act; follow this link to read the text of the Planning Act and associated regulations.

Provincial Policy Statement (PPS)
The Provincial Policy Statement is the complimentary policy document to the Planning Act. It provides policy direction to decision makers on matters of provincial interest related to land use planning and development. The Planning Act requires that the Provincial Policy Statement be reviewed periodically to make sure its policies are still effective. The new Provincial Policy Statement (2005) takes effect March 1, 2005.

Strong Communities (Planning Amendment) Act, 2004
Learn about the government's changes to the Planning Act, Bill 26,which received Royal Assent on November 30, 2004.  An InfoSheet has been prepared which outlines the specific section changes and their dates of effect.

Greenbelt Act, 2005
The Greenbelt Act, 2005 enables the creation of a Greenbelt Plan to protect about 1 million acres of environmentally sensitive and agricultural land in the Golden Horseshoe from urban development and sprawl.

Ontario Heritage Act
Learn about the government’s proposed changes to the Ontario Heritage Act.

Ontario Building Code
You can receive information on how to obtain copies of the Ontario Building Code here.

Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR)
The EBR makes it possible for the public to participate in government decision-making on matters that could affect the environment.

The Ontario Land Use Planning System - Resources

Other Land Use Planning Tools
General provincial information about land use planning in Ontario.

Ontario Municipal Board
The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) is an independent adjudicative tribunal that hears appeals and applications and resolves land use disputes under the Planning Act and other legislation.  Also note this link for recent OMB Decisions available on-line.

Maps

Related Community Planning and Development Resources

Watershed-Based Source Protection Planning
As part of its strategy to protect Ontario’s drinking water from source to tap, the government released draft legislation on the development and approval of watershed-based source protection plans.

Places to Grow
Managing economic and population growth in Ontario in a way that promotes vibrant communities, a strong economy, and enhanced environmental sustainability.

Conservation Ontario
Detailed information about individual Conservation Authorities in the province.

Find your local Conservation Authority.

Brownfields
Looking for information on how municipalities can deal with brownfields?  Case studies, information and other related sites.

  • Maps and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are computer software and hardware systems with maps and other spatial information that can be captured, stored, retrieved, analyzed, displayed.

Ontario Realty Corporation - Hydro Corridor Secondary Land Use Program

Niagara Escarpment
The Niagara Escarpment is one of the most prominent topographical features in south-central Ontario. Discover what the escarpment is, where it is and why it is so special.

Great Lakes Institute (GLI)
The Great Lakes Institute (GLI) is a consortium of researchers at the University of Windsor and elsewhere. 

University of Western Ontario, Department of Geography
The Department of Geography has a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is actively involved in research on geographic problems and issues in Southern Ontario including: urban development; heritage conservation; wetland and woodland resource management and conservation; agricultural and rural geography; karst hydrology and groundwater contamination; fluvial geomorphology and mitigation of land-use impacts.

University of Windsor, Planning Program
The Planning Program at the University of Windsor provides knowledge of planning principles and concepts, research analysis and methods, social problems, citizen activism, housing, environmentalism, law, public administration, computers, and urban design.

Association/Organizations

Related Provincial Ministry and other Government Sites

Provincial Government of Ontario

Federal Government