Have Your Say in Your Community

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)

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

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

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

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

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.