Have Your Say in Your Community
York Region has updated its Official Plan
The 2022 York Regional Official Plan has been approved with modifications by the Province of Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The approved 2022 York Regional Official Plan replaces the 2010 Regional Official Plan and is posted on the Regional Official Plan page. Thank you to those who provided input and participated in the engagement process.
About the project
York Region is anticipated to grow to approximately 2.02 million residents and 990,000 jobs by 2051. Our goal is to build healthy and complete communities, where residents of all abilities and ages can live, work and play.
This required an update to the York Region Official Plan to ensure policies are in place to sustainably accommodate this growth and protect natural and agricultural areas.

The plan
The Official Plan describes how the Region plans to accommodate future growth and development while meeting the needs of existing residents and businesses in the Region.
The Plan was last updated in 2010 and since then, many Provincial Plans have been revised. The York Region Official Plan needs to align with revised Provincial Plans, which is why an update is required.
On November 25, 2021 York Region released the draft Regional Official Plan 2021.
Staff revised the draft as necessary and the 2022 Regional Official Plan was adopted by Regional Council in June 2022. As outlined by the Province, the date by which upper and single-tier municipalities must have their Official Plans in conformity with the updated policies in A Place to Grow is July 1, 2022.
What this means for you
As we plan for the future, we want to hear what is important to residents and business owners in York Region. This is why we have engaged with the public and stakeholders through this update.
Your feedback has been considered as we revised the draft York Region Official Plan and build the foundation for York Region’s social, economic and natural environments. Building communities takes good planning and input from our residents.
Public consultations have taken place virtually. Catch up on what has been done so far in the accordions below to learn more.
York Region Official Plan from Draft to Adoption
June 2022 - ROP Adopted by Council
View the 2022 York Region Official Plan adopted by Regional Council on June 30, 2022:
- 2022 Adopted York Region Official Plan (text only) — PDF (16.4MB)
- 2022 Adopted York Region Official Plan Maps — PDF (11.7MB)
- 2022 Adopted York Region Official Plan Appendices:
- Appendix 1: Employment Area Zones and Densities — PDF (672KB)
- Appendix 2: Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) — PDF (15.2MB)
- Appendix 3: Urban Growth Centres — PDF (2.5MB)
- Appendix 4: Future Strategic Employment Areas Overlay — PDF (417KB)
June 2022 - Proposed ROP for Adoption
View the 2022 York Region Official Plan Adoption Report and the proposed ROP (as of June 10, 2022). The proposed ROP will be presented to Regional Council in June 2022.
May 2022 - Proposed ROP Changes
View how your feedback has changed the draft ROP in the Draft Regional Official Plan Consultation Update and Statutory Public Meeting Report and the proposed changes (as of May 13, 2022) to the draft York Region Official Plan.
November 2021 - Draft ROP
On November 25, 2021, Council resolved: That should the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing refuse the request for an amendment to O. Reg. 140/02: Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan under the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act to permit the proposed changes to the settlement area boundary, the whitebelt lands identified in the September 16, 2021 report from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Planner be incorporated into the Regional Official Plan.
The documents provided below have been updated to include notes on Tables 1 and 6 and applicable maps in this regard.
- 2021 Draft York Region Official Plan (text only) — PDF (13.2MB)
- 2021 Draft York Region Official Plan Maps and Figures — PDF (12.5MB)
- 2021 Draft York Region Official Plan Interactive Maps
- 2021 Draft York Region Official Plan Appendices:
- Appendix 1: Employment Area Zones and Densities — PDF (735KB)
- Appendix 2: Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) — PDF (16.3MB)
- Appendix 3: Urban Growth Centres — PDF (2.4MB)
Draft York Region Official Plan Open Houses
York Region hosted two live virtual Open Houses on the Draft York Region Official Plan on January 25 and May 12, 2022. During these Open Houses, York Region staff presented information about the Draft York Region Official Plan, the engagement process and how public feedback has informed the plan. These presentations were followed by question and answer sessions where participants had an opportunity to provide input, ask questions, and gain insights on the future of York Region.
Statutory Public Meeting May 19, 2022
• Watch the live presentation from Committee of the Whole
View the Notice of Open House and Statutory Public Meeting that was sent prior to the meetings.
Live Open House May 12, 2022
• Watch the live presentation video
• View the presentation slides
Live Open House January 25, 2022
- Watch the live presentation video
- View the presentation slides
- Review the Engagement Summary Report to see questions, comments and answers
Planning for Growth and Housing
York Region hosted an online information session on July 27, 2021, bringing forward preliminary recommendations on where and how the Region is proposing to accommodate growth needs to 2051 and an overview of the current state of housing, key challenges and opportunities the Region is facing as we continue to grow and develop a full range of housing options. It was followed by a question and answer session where participants had an opportunity to provide input and ideas and to gain insights from Paul Bottomley, Manager of Policy, Research, and Forecasting at York Region.
Watch the Planning for Growth and Housing webinar from July 27, 2021.
Growth and Housing in York Region
Despite slower growth than in years past, York Region is forecasted by the Province to attract a 22% share of all population growth in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area between 2016 and 2051.
The cost of renting or owning a home continues to increase in York Region, with many households unable to afford adequate shelter. The lack of affordable housing options is one factor that has led to slower population growth in the Region over the last decade. It is important the right mix and range of housing options are planned to house current and future residents. The Region is exploring a suite of approaches to address housing affordability including updating housing policies in the Regional Official Plan that will support future work on expanding housing options.
Rental and Owned Housing Metrics

To learn more on how York Region is addressing housing and growth management challenges, see the following recent resources:
- Housing Challenges and Opportunities presentation and live delivery (January 2021)
- Proposed 2051 Forecast and Land Needs Assessment presentation and live delivery (March 2021)
Related Resources:
- A Place to Call Home: National Housing Strategy
- A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe
- Provincial Policy Statement, 2020
- More Homes, More Choice: Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan
- Housing Matters: A Review of the Housing Market in York Region, 2019 Update
- March 2021: Proposed 2051 Forecast and Land Needs Assessment staff report, including Attachment 3: Foundational Housing Analysis Executive Summary
- January 2021: Regional Official Plan Update – Housing Challenges and Opportunities staff report, including Attachment 2: Foundational Housing Analysis Final Brief
- York Region Affordable Housing Measuring and Monitoring Guidelines Update
- June 2021: Affordable Housing in York Region – 2020 Measuring and Monitoring
Provincial Agricultural System Mapping Refinements
A province-wide agricultural system has been introduced through provincial plan policy and draft mapping which differs from mapping currently in the York Region Official Plan. The province’s mapping builds on the Regional system by including additional areas currently identified as Rural proposed for consideration as Agriculture (prime agriculture). Through a June 2019 report to Council, 41 areas of potential new agricultural designation based on Provincial mapping were reduced to portions of 19 for further consideration based on our agricultural consultant’s recommendations.
Preliminary agricultural land use recommendations are detailed in March 18, 2021 Policy Directions report which further reduces the areas for consideration and are shown on the attached mapping. In addition to technical analysis, local municipal, stakeholder and public consultation helped inform these recommendations. Feedback is welcome on the preliminary agricultural mapping by emailing @email
Agricultural and Rural mapping has been brought forward as part of the draft Official Plan. This will be subject to comprehensive consultation following Council’s release of the draft ROP on November 25, 2021
Agricultural and Natural Heritage Systems Public Engagement
Did you know that 69% of the land in York Region is within the Oak Ridges Moraine and Greenbelt? The majority of these lands are protected from urban development by Provincial policy. These lands include parts of the provincial Natural Heritage System and Agricultural System. Together these two systems protect and enhance the natural environment and support agricultural production. Agricultural and Rural mapping has been brought forward as part of the draft Official Plan. This will be subject to comprehensive consultation following Council’s release of the draft ROP on November 25, 2021.
Watch a video explaining the York Region Natural Heritage and Agriculture Systems
Planning for Employment Public Information Session
York Region’s vibrant economy is forecast to grow to approximately 2.02 million people and 990,000 jobs by 2051. We want York Region to be a place where businesses choose to locate that continues to offer high quality job opportunities for our residents. This will increase economic stability for the entire community and raise the overall standard of living.
Watch a Planning for Employment webinar from June 16, 2020.
Sign up and stay involved
Sign up to receive news, reports and events related to York Region's draft Official Plan.
To keep you involved, we will continue to engage virtually. Opportunities to hold in-person events in addition to virtual engagement will be evaluated with Public Health COVID-19 recommendations in York Region.
Have questions to ask a York Region planner?
Submit your questions to @email
Related News
Media Release — June 2022: York Region Plans for more than 2 million residents and 1 million jobs by 2051
Media Release — December 2021: A path for future communities: Draft Regional Official Plan ready for public input
Find Out More
Learn more about the Regional Official Plan
For any questions, please contact @email