Email this pageBrowse Land Use Planning Resources

This webpage has been grouped into topic areas allowing you to browse resources by topic. Each resource also has a specific icon to indicate whether the resource relates to legislation, general information, guides, tools, technical information or provincial plans.

legislation, regulations and explanatory notes

general general information, Citizens’ Guides, e-learning modules, and case studies

Guide guides and handbooks to assist in understanding processes

tools tools, maps, GIS, 3D visualizations, and financial incentive programs

technical information, reference manuals, standards / guidelines, and background studies

provincial plans and related documents

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Accessibility

	Planning for Barrier-Free Municipalities (MAH)
	The Planning Act and Accessibility (MAH)

Affordable Housing

	Affordable Housing (MAH) E-Learning Module
	Affordable Housing- Housing Data: Affordable Housing Prices and Rents, 2006 (MAH)
	Municipal Tools for Affordable Housing handbook (MAH)

Agriculture

	Farming and Food Production Protection Act OMAFRA)
	Nutrient Management Act (OMAFRA)
	Guide to Agricultural Land Use (OMAFRA)
	Classifying Prime and Marginal Agricultural Soils and Landscapes: Guidelines for Application of the Canada Land Inventory in Ontario (OMAFRA)
	Draft Proposed Guide to Lot Creation in Prime Agricultural Areas (OMAFRA)
	Lot Creation in Prime Agricultural Areas (MAH)
	Minimum Distance Separation – MDS (OMAFRA)
	Guidelines for Detailed Soil Survey for Agricultural Land Use Planning (OMAFRA)
	GIS Information and Maps (OMAFRA)
	Neighbour Relations (OMAFRA)

Appeals and Mediation

	Ontario Municipal Board Citizens' guide (MAH)
	Making Mediation Work for You Citizens' guide (MAH)

Brownfields

	Taking Action on Brownfields - Addressing Barriers to Redevelopment (MAH)
	A Practical Guide to Brownfield Redevelopment in Ontario (MAH)
	Brownfields Showcase I & II (MAH)
	Brownfield Redevelopment in Small Urban and Rural Municipalities (MAH)
	Financing a Brownfield Project (MAH)
	Financial Tools for Brownfield Redevelopment (MAH)

Clean Air, Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy

	Green Energy Act (MEI)
	The Green Energy Act information and resources (MAH)
	Building Strong Communities: Municipal Strategies for Cleaner Air (MAH)
	Building Strong Communities: Ontario Case Studies for Cleaner Air (MAH)
	Improving Air Quality (MAH)
	Energy Conservation, Efficiency and Supply (MAH)
	Municipal Tools for Planning and Development Series – Wind Energy (MAH)
	Interpretation for Applying Ministry NPC Technical Publications to Wind Turbine Generators (MOE)

Cultural Heritage and Archaeology

	Ontario Heritage Act, Part IV: Provincial Powers to Conserve Property of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest of Provincial Significance (MCL)
	Heritage Resources in the Land Use Planning Process (MCL)
	Eight Guiding Principles in the Conservation of Built Heritage Properties (MCL)
	Heritage Conservation Principles for Land Use Planning (MCL)
	Investing in Heritage: Municipal Tax Back Grants (MCL)
	Listing Cultural Heritage Properties on the Municipal Register (MCL)
	Why designate? (MCL)
	Designating Heritage Properties (MCL)
	Heritage Property Evaluation (MCL)
	Heritage Conservation Districts(MCL)
	Municipal Heritage Committees (MCL)
	Archaeological Management Plans (MAH)
	Association of Professional Archaeologists (APA) web page for an Updated List of Licensed Archaeologists (MCL)

Environmental Assessment

Environmental Assessment Act (MOE)

General Information

	Strong Communities (Planning Amendment Act), 2004 - Bill 26 (MAH)
	Building Better Communities: Highlights of What’s New in the Planning Act (MAH)
	Summary of Key Legislative and Regulation Process Changes (MAH)
	Development Permit System - Explanatory Note (MAH)
	Updating Municipal Planning Documents - Explanatory Note (MAH)
	Transition Provisions - Explanatory Note - Bill 51 (MAH)
	New Provisions Supporting Sustainable, Well-Designed Communities - Explanatory Note (MAH)
	New Provisions to Protect Employment Lands - Explanatory Note (MAH)
	New Provisions to Protect Employment Lands - Explanatory Note (MAH)
	Appeal Body for Local Land Use Planning Matters - Explanatory Note (MAH)
	Linkages with other Provincial Initiatives (MAH)
	Zoning By-laws Citizens' Guide (MAH)
	Subdivisions Citizens' Guide (MAH)
	The Subdivision Process (MAH)
	Land Severance Citizens' guide (MAH)
	The Land Severance Process (MAH)
	How is planning different in Northern Ontario? Citizens' Guide (MAH)
	Building Permits Citizen's guide (MAH)
	Plan Review and Approval Process Citizens' guide (MAH)
	Ontario Building Code (MAH)

Land Use Compatibility and Sensitive Land Use

	Guideline D-1 Land Use Compatibility (MOE)
	Guideline D-4 Land Use On or Near Landfills and Dumps (MOE)
	Landfill Sites Operational Guidance for Obtaining Environmental Protection Act Section 46 Approval for the use of Lands Previously used for Disposal of Waste (MOE)
	Guideline D-6 Compatibility Between Industrial Facilities and Sensitive Land Uses (MOE)

Mining, Minerals and Aggregates

	Abandoned Mines Database – AMIS (MNDMF)
	Aggregate Resources Act (MNR)
	Aggregate Resource Inventory Papers (MNDMF)
	Aggregate Resources Program Policy and Procedures Manual Under the Aggregate Resources Act (MNR)
	Aggregate Resources Provincial Standards (MNR)
	CLAIMaps (MNDMF)
	Geology Ontario (MNDMF)
	Map of Geology and Selected Mineral Deposits of Ontario (MNDMF)
	Mining Act (MNDMF)
	Oil, Gas and Salt Resources (MNR)
	Ontario Geological Survey Maps and Reports (MNDMF)
	OGS Earth (MNDMF)
	Procedural Guidelines for Provincially Significant Mineral Potential Mineral Resources Assessments (MNDMF)

Municipal Planning

	Official Plans Citizens'guide (MAH)
	Handbook: Municipal Plan Review and One Window Provincial Planning Service (MAH)
	Innovative Municipal Land Use Planning Practices (MAH)
	Intensification and Using Land Efficiently - E-learning module (MAH)
	Community Planning and Development 3D Visualization Portal (MAH)
	Municipal-Aboriginal Relationships: Case Studies (MAH)
	Municipal Quality of Life for Economic Prosperity (MAH)
	Municipal Readiness for Economic Development (MAH)
	Business Improvement Area Handbook (MAH)
	Community Improvement Planning Handbook (MAH)
	Comprehensive Review (MAH)
	Development Permit System (MAH)
	Presentation for the Development Permit System (MAH)
	Municipal Financial Tools for Planning and Development (MAH)

Natural Hazards

Understanding Natural Hazards: Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River System and large inland lakes, river and stream systems hazardous sites. An MNR introductory guide for public health and safety policies)

Natural Heritage, Endangered Species and Wild Life Habitat

	Natural Heritage Reference Manual for Natural Heritage Policies (MNR)
	Identification and confirmation procedure for Areas of Natural and scientific Interest (MNR)
	Ecological Land Classification Primer (MNR)
	Endangered Species Act, 2007 (MNR)
	Endangered Species Act, 2007 - Species Specific Regulations (MNR)
	Significant Wildlife Habitat Technical Guide and Decision Support System (MNR)
	Fish Habitat Referral Protocol for Ontario - Canada, Ontario and Conservation Ontario (MNR)
	Effects of hypoxia on scope-for-activity of lake trout: defining a new dissolved oxygen criterion for protection of lake trout habitat (MNR)

Noise Assessments and Sound Level Limits

	Noise Assessment Criteria in Land Use Planning (MOE)
	Noise Assessment Criteria in Land Use Planning: Annex to Publication LU-131 (MOE)
	Noise Assessment Criteria in Land Use Planning: Requirements, Procedures and Implementation (MOE)
	Sound Level Limits for Stationary Sources in Class 1 & 2 Areas (Urban), NPC-205 (MOE)
	Sound Level Limits for Stationary Sources in Class 3 Areas (Rural), NPC-232 (MOE)
	Information to be Submitted for Approval of Stationary Sources of Sound, NPC-233 (MOE)
	Sound Levels Due to Road Traffic - NPC-206 (MOE)

Provincial Plans

	Places to Grow Act (MEI)
	Transition Regulation under the Places to Grow Act: Transition Matters 311/06 (MEI)
	Transition Regulation under the Places to Grow Act: Growth Plan Areas 416/05 (MEI)
	Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (MEI)
	A Guide to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (MEI)
	Quick Reference sheet on the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (MEI)
	Brochure - Understanding the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (MEI)
	Built Boundary for the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (MEI)
	Size and Location of Urban Growth Centres in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (MEI)
	Planning for Employment in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (MEI)
	Urban Form Case Studies (MEI)
	A series of intensification visualization images on Places to Grow website (MEI)
	Image Bank (MEI)
	Central Pickering Development Plan (MAH)
	Greenbelt Plan (MAH)
	Technical Definitions and Criteria for Key Natural Heritage Features (MNR)
	Technical Definitions and Criteria for Significant Woodlands in the Natural Heritage System of the Protected Countryside Area of the Greenbelt Plan (MNR)
	Technical process for the identification of significant habitat of endangered, threatened and special concern species in the natural heritage system of the protected country side area of the Greenbelt Plan (MNR)
	Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act (MNR)
	Niagara Escarpment Plan (MNR)
	Proposed Growth Plan for Northern Ontario (MEI)
	Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (MAH)
	Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan: Technical Paper Series 2006/07 (MAH)
	ORMCP Technical Papers (MAH)
	Identification of Key Natural Heritage Features (MAH)
	Significant Wildlife Habitat (MAH)
	Supporting Connectivity (MAH)
	Landform Conservation (MAH)
	Identification and Protection of Vegetation Protection Zones for Areas of Natural & Scientific Interest - ANSI, Life Sciences (MAH)
	Identification of Significant Portions of Habitat for Endangered, Rare and Threatened Species (MAH)
	Identification and Protection of Significant Woodlands (MAH)
	Preparation of Natural Heritage Evaluations for all Key Natural Heritage Features (MAH)
	Watershed Plans (MAH)
	Water Budgets (MAH)
	Water Conservation Plans (MAH)
	Hydrological Evaluations for Hydrologically Sensitive Features (MAH)
	Sub-watersheds - Impervious Surfaces (MAH)
	Wellhead Protection – Site Management and Contingency Plans (MAH)
	Recreation Plans and Vegetation Management Plans (MAH)
	Sewage and Water Systems Plans (MAH)
	Stormwater Management Plans (MAH)
	Parkway Belt West Plan (MAH)
	Simcoe Area: A Strategic Vision for Growth, Technical Paper (MEI)

Sewage

	Guideline D-5 Planning for Sewage and Water Services (MOE)
	Reserve Sewage System Capacity For Hauled Sewage - PPS Fact Sheet (MOE)

Transportation

	Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act – amended (MTO)
	Planning for Railway Safety Information Sheet (MAH)
	Ministry of Transportation – Municipal Planning Interests (MTO)
	Guidelines for Municipal Official Plan Preparation and Review (MTO)
	A Guideline For Highway Improvements Associated With Development (MTO)
	General Guidelines for the Preparation of Traffic Impact Studies (MTO)
	Stormwater Management Requirements for Land Development Proposals (MTO)
	HOV Network Plan (MTO)
	Transit-Supportive Guidelines (MTO)
	A Guide to Preparing a Transit Ridership Growth Plan (MTO)
	GTA West Corridor Environmental Assessment (MTO)
	Niagara to GTA Corridor Planning and Environmental Assessment Study (MTO)
	427 Transportation Corridor Environmental Assessment (MTO)
	407 East Environmental Assessment (MTO)
	Interprovincial Crossing Environmental Assessment: Ottawa – Gatineau) (MTO)
	Brantford to Cambridge Environmental Assessment Study (MTO)
	Detroit River International Crossing Project (MTO)

Water

	Ontario Water Resources Act (1990) and Associated Ontario Regulations, as amended, in 2007 (MOE)
	Permit to Take Water Manual (MOE)
	Guide to Permit to Take Water Application (MOE)
	B-1-2 Water Management - Policies, Guidelines, Provincial Water Quality Objectives (MOE)
	Guideline B-6 - Guidelines for Evaluating Construction Activities Impacting on Water Resources (MOE)
	Safe Drinking Water Act (2002) and Drinking Water Regulations (MOE)
	Clean Water Act (MOE)
	Conservation Authorities Act - Generic Regulation Reg. 97/04 (MNR)
	Understanding Stormwater Management: An Introduction to Stormwater Management Planning & Design (MOE)
	Stormwater Pollution Prevention Handbook (MOE)
	Stormwater Management Planning and Design Manual (MOE)

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