Proposed Changes to Various Regulations Under the Planning Act to Facilitate the Electronic Submission of Information and Materials to Approval Authorities and Allow Notices to be Given Electronically to the Province

The government is seeking public feedback on proposed legislative changes under the proposed Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026 and related regulatory changes to further support housing, economic, and infrastructure development, and advance key transportation and transit priorities.

To support the government’s move towards building a digital Ontario, the government is seeking feedback on proposed changes to various regulations under the Planning Act that would: 

• remove the requirement for information and material to include an original or certified copy, and
• allow required notices to be given electronically to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. 

Proposed changes to remove the requirement for information and material to include an original or certified copy and allow required notices (i.e., notices of: public meeting, open house, application/complete application and adoption of a proposed official plan or plan amendment) to be given electronically to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing would affect the following regulations:

• O. Reg. 543/06: Official plans and plan amendments​
• O. Reg.  545/06: Zoning by-laws, holding by-laws and interim control by-laws
• O. Reg. 544/06: Plans of subdivision​
• O. Reg. 197/96: Consent applications

These proposed changes would facilitate the electronic submission of information and material to approval authorities. They are intended to help streamline and expedite review of land use planning matters and are complementary to the broader government move towards building a digital Ontario.

Impact on the Environment

The proposed regulation changes are anticipated to have a positive impact on the environment by facilitating electronic submission of information and materials to planning authorities.

Analysis of Regulatory Impact

The proposed changes would support the goal of streamlining and expediting review of land use planning matters.  This could result in direct cost and time savings on a project-by-project basis.