Planning for Growth

Directing more growth to our built-up areas means:

• Different types of housing availability - click here to view housing forms by density type.
• Appealing public spaces and walkable communities.
• Communities accessible by transit.
• Better protection for our natural systems.

There are many benefits to planning for growth in Durham:

• Jobs
• Local services
• Public facilities
• Housing options 

These benefits of planning improve the quality of people of all ages.

Planning means that we can:

• Plan for healthy and complete communities.
• Protect farmland and green spaces.
• Reduce traffic jams.
• Refresh downtowns.
• Support long-term economic growth.

The Planning Division monitors population and household data.

Growth trends

The 2023 Commissioner's Report 102 has semi-annual population and household estimates. It also has short-term population and household estimates.

The 2024 Commissioner's Report 38 details semi-annual population and household estimates.

The Planning division provides a yearly update on subdivision and condominium activity.

Annual subdivision/condominium activity

• Report 2024-INFO-20 focuses on applications that have reached major goals in 2023.
• Report 2023-INFO-37 focuses on applications that have reached major goals in 2022.
• Report 2022-INFO-58 focuses on applications that have reached major goals in 2021.
• Report 2021-INFO-33 focuses on applications that have reached major goals in 2020.
• Report 2020-INFO-68 focuses on applications that have reached major goals in 2019.
• Report 2019-P-17 focuses on applications that have reached major goals in 2018.
• Report 2018-INFO-60 focuses on applications that have reached major goals in 2017.
• Report 2017-INFO-51 focuses on applications that have reached major goals in 2016.

Building activity

Building activity shows us:

• Housing activity.
• Employment activity.
• Investment.
• Economic performance.

The 2023 Annual Building Activity Review summarizes the key results of the 2023 Annual Building Activity Review, including an infographic summary, as well as appendix tables which include background data and analysis used to formulate the report.

Historical Annual Building Activity Reviews

The Census of Population is our main source of demographic data. Statistics Canada conducts the census every five years.

Census data

• The 2022 Commissioner's Report 31 recaps the 2021 Census of Population first release on population and dwelling counts.
• The 2022 Commissioner's Report 77 recaps the 2021 Census of Population second release on age, sex at birth, gender and dwelling type.
• The 2022 Commissioner's Report 79 recaps the 2021 Census of Population third release on families, households, marital status and income.
• The 2022 Commissioner's Report 80 recaps the 2021 Census of Population fourth release on language.
• The 2022 Commissioner's Report 98 recaps the 2021 Census of Population fifth release on Indigenous peoples and the housing portrait.
• The 2022 Commissioner's Report 102 recaps the 2021 Census of Population sixth release on citizenship, immigration, ethnocultural characteristics, religion, mobility, and migration.
• The 2023 Commissioner's Report 4 recaps the 2021 Census of Population seventh release on education and employment.

Durham Region profile

The Durham Region profile is a complete set of demographic and socio-economic data.

• The 2024 Commissioner's Report 15 summarizes highlights from the Durham Region profile.
• Our Infographic is a visual summary of the information from the profile.
• Our Technical Report is a complete, detailed report with more than 100 tables of data.

Every year, we count the number of businesses and employees in Durham Region.

Business count

Durham Region Business Count Highlights 2023 includes basic information about businesses such as:

• Type and nature of business.
• Number of employees.
• Floor space.

Employment lands inventory

We keep track of the supply of employment lands (2018):

• Employment areas - Region of Durham
• Employment areas - Ajax
• Employment areas - Brock
• Employment areas - Clarington
• Employment areas - Oshawa
• Employment areas - Pickering
• Employment areas - Scugog
• Employment areas - Uxbridge
• Employment areas - Whitby
• Rural employment areas - Brock and Uxbridge

The results of the previous Employment Lands Inventory are also available:

• Employment areas - Region of Durham (2014)