Regional Official Plan

With a population of 1.2 million residents, the Regional Municipality of York is one of Canada’s largest municipalities and the third largest business centre in Ontario. Ranked as one of Ontario’s fastest growing large municipalities, managing growth over the coming decades is important. York Region is anticipated to grow to approximately 2.05 million people and 991,900 jobs by 2051.

The 2022 Regional Official Plan describes how to accommodate future growth and development while meeting the needs of existing residents and businesses in the Region. It provides policies for economic, environmental and community planning decisions that will be integrated into Local Municipal Official Plans.

The 2022 Regional Official Plan replaces the previous official plan approved in 2010. York Region will be assessing Local Municipal Official Plans for conformity to the 2022 Regional Official Plan to support approval of the updated Local Municipal Official Plans by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. If you have any questions, please contact @email

Picture of the cover of the 2022 York Region Official plan

View and download the Official Plan and map schedules

2022 Regional Official Plan

York Region Council adopted the current 2022 Regional Official Plan in June 2022 and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing approved the Plan in November 2022. The policies of the official plan guide new planning and development in York Region. The 2022 Regional Official Plan is not subject to appeal.

Chapters:

Chapter 1 - Introduction and Purpose of the Official Plan PDF (1.8MB)
Chapter 2 - The Foundation for Complete Communities PDF (2.3MB)
Chapter 3 - A Sustainable Natural Environment PDF (1.9MB)
Chapter 4 - An Urbanizing Region PDF (2.4MB)
Chapter 5 - Supporting the Agricultural System PDF (1.5MB)
Chapter 6 - Servicing Our Communities PDF (2.6MB)
Chapter 7 - Implementation of the Official Plan PDF (763KB)
Definitions - PDF (263KB)
2022 York Region Official Plan - Chapters 1 to 7 (text only) PDF (13.6MB)

Maps and Appendices -

Interactive mapping coming in 2023

Maps - PDF (9.3MB)
Appendix 1 - York Region Employment Area Zones and Densities PDF (384KB)
Appendix 2 - York Region Major Transit Station Areas PDF (12.1MB)
Appendix 3 - York Region Urban Growth Centres PDF (2MB)

2010 Regional Official Plan

The following Official Plan Office Consolidation includes decisions and amendments to the 2010 Regional Official Plan up to April 2019. For ease of use, the following links provide access by chapter or map.

Chapters:

Chapter 1 – Introduction PDF (414 KB)
Chapter 2 – A Sustainable Natural Environment PDF (997 KB)
Chapter 3 – Healthy Communities PDF (592 KB)
Chapter 4 – Economic Vitality PDF (489 KB)
Chapter 5 – An Urbanizing Region: Building Cities and Complete Communities PDF (967 KB)
Chapter 6 – Agricultural and Rural Areas PDF (2.1 MB)
Chapter 7 – Servicing Our Population PDF (891 KB)
Chapter 8 - Implementation PDF (728 KB)
Definitions PDF (192 KB)
Related Information – Ontario Municipal Board Hearing (PL101128) PDF (288 KB)

Maps and Figures:

2019 Office Consolidation Map 1: Regional Structure PDF (1.5 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Map 2: Regional Greenlands System PDF (1.5 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Map 3: Environmentally Significant Areas and Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest PDF (1.4 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Map 4: Key Hydrologic Features PDF (1.4 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Map 5: Woodlands PDF (1.8 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Map 6: Wellhead Protection Areas and Intake Protection Zones PDF (1.3 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Map 7: Oak Ridges Moraine Aquifer Vulnerability Areas and Watershed Boundaries PDF (1.4 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Map 8: Agricultural and Rural Area PDF (1.3 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Map 9: Mineral Aggregate Resources PDF (1.2 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Map 10: Regional Cycling Network PDF (1.5 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Map 11: Transit Network PDF (1.5 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Map 12: Street Network PDF (1.5 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Map 13: Significant Groundwater Recharge Areas PDF (1.4 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Map 14: Highly Vulnerable Aquifers PDF (11.4 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Figure 1: Oak Ridges Moraine Landform Conservation Areas PDF (1.3 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Figure 2: York Region Strategic Employment Lands PDF (1.2 MB)
2019 Office Consolidation Figure 3: Greenlands Systems Within York Region PDF (1.4 MB)
Modified YROP 2010 (April, 2019) - Chapters 1 to 8 (Text Only) PDF (5.6 MB)

2010 Regional Official Plan Amendments

After a Regional official plan is approved, there is a formal process that allows any person or public body to request that Council amend the official plan. Once an amendment to the plan is approved, it is part of the official plan. These amendments are incorporated into the next Office Consolidation/York Region Official Plan package for informational purposes. The following is a summary of the Amendments made to the 2010 Regional Official Plan:

Regional Official Plan Amendment 1 designates select lands as “urban” in the Town of East Gwillimbury to support future growth to 2031

Regional Official Plan Amendment 2 designates urban expansion lands in the City of Vaughan as “urban” to support future growth to 2031

Regional Official Plan Amendment 3 designates urban expansion lands in the City of Markham as “urban” to support future growth to 2031

Regional Official Plan Amendment 4 introduces additional policy to support development of the Langstaff Gateway Secondary Plan

Regional Official Plan Amendment 5 updates Source Water Protection policies and mapping

Regional Official Plan Amendment 6 updates Archeological Management Plan policies

Related Resources

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