Please note: Pursuant to Bill 23, as of January 1, 2025, the Region of Durham is defined by the province as an "upper-tier municipality without planning responsibilities". While this does not mean the elimination of the upper-tier planning function, Durham's eight area municipalities have assumed approval authority for all Planning Act decisions, except as prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Envision Durham, the new Regional Official Plan (ROP), has now become part of the Area Municipal Official Plans of Durham's eight municipalities. Each area municipality may repeal or amend it, meaning that each area municipality will have responsibility for the ROP as it pertains to their municipality. For additional information on official plans, please contact your respective area municipality here.
On September 3, 2024, the new Durham Regional Official Plan was approved in part, with modifications. A decision was withheld on certain matters (i.e. figures, maps and policies) related to proposed settlement area boundary expansions in northeast Pickering.
On December 13, 2024, the Province of Ontario approved all remaining parts of the Durham Regional Official Plan that were not previously approved on September 3, 2024. For additional details on this latest decision, please refer to Correspondence dated December 16, 2024, regarding a Notice of Decision on the Region of Durham Official Plan – Northeast Pickering.
A consolidated version of the approved Regional Official Plan is now available below.
On September 3, 2024, the Region's new Official Plan was approved by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, in part, with modifications. This Plan replaces the former Official Plan, which was approved in 1993.
The new Regional Official Plan provides policies and strategic directions that guide future growth, infrastructure and service delivery, land use planning and development-related matters to ensure an improved quality of life – to nurture a healthy, safe, convenient and active, present and future for Durham residents.
The Regional Official Plan contains policies and maps, which guide the type and location of land uses in the Region to 2051. Land use categories are displayed on the maps, while the policies describe the Region's goals and objectives for these categories, and the type of information the Region requires to evaluate land uses changes. This regional policy framework is further detailed through the official plans of each of the Region's eight area municipalities.
The approved Regional Official Plan - Consolidation December 13, 2024 is available here:
- Regional Official Plan (December 13, 2024)
- Map 1. Regional Structure – Urban & Rural Systems
- Map 2. Greenlands System
- Map 3. Transportation System
- Map 4. Aggregate Resources
If this information is required in an accessible format, please Contact Us below.
A hard copy of the Durham Regional Official Plan can also be obtained from Legislative Services for a cost of $60 per printed copy.
For further information on Envision Durham - the municipal comprehensive review process for the new Regional Official Plan - please visit: durham.ca/EnvisionDurham.
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