Norfolk County - Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan

A decision was made on May 5, 2026, to approve, in part, as modified, the withheld matters of Norfolk County Official Plan Amendment 163 (OPA 163), as adopted by By-law 2024-48, subject to one modification. A decision to approve has been refused for part of one matter and for all of seven previously withheld matters.

OPA 163 represents the first phase of Norfolk County’s official plan update and establishes a long-term growth management strategy for the County. OPA 163 implements a growth strategy for the urban communities in Norfolk County by amending urban area boundaries, amending land use designations, and amending and adding site-specific policies.

On September 5, 2025, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing approved OPA 163 in part, subject to eleven modifications. A decision was withheld on nine matters that were found to be inconsistent with Policy 2.3.2 of the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 (PPS), which sets out criteria for settlement area boundary expansions.

On January 27, 2026, Norfolk County staff submitted information to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in support of a settlement area boundary expansion for lands in Simcoe where a decision had been withheld on OPA 163. This area specifically relates to the southern Part 1 area in Simcoe associated with withheld matter number 4 of ERO 28-OP-243176. On February 25, 2026, the Mayor of Norfolk County provided a letter to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing indicating that Council has endorsed the settlement area boundary expansion in the southern Part 1 area in Simcoe.

The information submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on the withheld matters of OPA 163 was reviewed for consistency with the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 (PPS), and with matters of provincial interest set out in the Planning Act.

One modification has been made by the Minister to ensure that the decision on the withheld matters of OPA 163 is consistent with the policies of the PPS and complies with applicable legislation. A decision to approve has been refused for part of one matter and for all of seven matters previously withheld, as they are inconsistent with the settlement area boundary expansion policies of the PPS

Pursuant to subsections 17(36.5) and 17(38.1) of the Planning Act, this decision is final and is not subject to appeal. Accordingly, OPA 163, as modified and approved in part by the Minister, came into effect on May 5, 2026.