What is this?
On May 26, 2026, Town Council for Niagara-on-the-Lake adopted the new Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Official Plan.
The Official Plan establishes the Town’s long-term vision for land use, growth, and development, guiding decisions related to housing, employment, infrastructure, parks, and environmental protection. It also provides the policy framework for zoning by-laws and other planning tools in accordance with Provincial policy and applicable Provincial plans.
The adopted Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Official Plan supports a complete and resilient community by directing growth to appropriate areas, protecting agricultural lands, and enhancing environmental systems, while balancing responsible growth management with the protection of the Town’s unique cultural and environmental heritage. A key component of the review process was a comprehensive conformity assessment to ensure alignment with updated Provincial legislation, including the Provincial Planning Statement, Greenbelt Plan, Niagara Escarpment Plan, and Niagara Official Plan, in accordance with the Planning Act. Once the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing approves the adopted Official Plan, it will come into force and effect.
For more information:
The adopted Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Official Plan is available for review on the Town’s website at https://www.notl.com/official-plan-review, the project webpage at https://www.jointheconversationnotl.org/officialplan, or at the Planning, Building & Development Services Department within Town Hall, which is located at 1593 Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil, and is open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Please contact Planning, Building and Development Services, at 905-468-3266 or via email at planning@notl.com if additional information is required. All statutory written and oral submissions made on the Official Plan have been reviewed and suggestions incorporated, where appropriate. Further information on the public consultation process, the written and oral submissions received, and how those submissions were incorporated into the Official Plan can be found on the Town’s website or the project webpage, at the links above.
What is the next step?
Pursuant to Section 17 of the Planning Act, the adopted Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Official Plan will be forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as the approval authority, for a decision. Once received and processed, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing will publish the Official Plan on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) for additional review and comment. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has 120 days to approve, modify and approve as modified, or refuse to approve the Official Plan. The decision of Council to adopt the new Official Plan is not subject to appeal pursuant to subsections 17 (36.5) and (38.1) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended. Any person or public body that makes a written request to the approval authority to be notified of the decision of the approval authority will be entitled to receive notice of the decision when it is made. Requests to be notified of the decision must include the name, address, fax number or email address of the requesting person or public body and be submitted to:
Regional Director, Central Region
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
777 Bay Street, 13th Floor
Toronto ON M7A 2J3
Tel: 416-585-7041
Fax: 416-585-6882
Dated at the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, May 28, 2026
Grant Bivol, Town Clerk