Ontario Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) tells municipalities how to handle growth and development

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) is issued under the authority of Section 3 of the Planning Act and consists of policies regulating how municipalities must handle the use of land and development when they relate to provincial priorities. It will apply starting October 20, 2024.

The Ontario government’s primary priority in 2024 is to reach its goal of building at least 1.5 million homes by 2031.

Municipal decisions that must align with the PPS under the Planning Act include:

• Official Plan and amendments to the Official Plan – Municipalities are required to have an Official Plan, which outlines the municipality’s general policies for future land use and they must review it every 5 years. Developers may submit Official Plan Amendment applications to request a change to the Official Plan. This can result in land lift – the increase in land value resulting from Official Plan changes – since the land becomes more attractive to developers. Municipalities can receive a share of this increase in value by applying Community Benefits charges.
• Zoning By-Law, amendments to the Zoning By-Law and Development Permit By-Laws – Zoning By-Laws put the Official Plan into effect and provide for its day-to-day administration. They contain specific requirements that are legally enforceable. Developers may submit Zoning By-Law amendment applications to a municipality to request changes to the Zoning By-Law to allow for a specific type of development on a property they own where it wasn’t previously allowed. This can result in land lift – the increase in land value resulting from zoning changes – since the land becomes more attractive to developers. Municipalities can receive a share of this increase in value by applying Community Benefits charges.
  
  Section 34 of the Planning Act sets out the powers of municipalities to pass zoning bylaws to regulate matters including the use of land (e.g. residential, commercial, industrial), and standards associated with land uses such as location, size, setback and parking requirements.

Zoning and development permit by-laws should be forward-looking and facilitate opportunities for an appropriate range and mix of housing options for all Ontarians.

PPS

Land use planning is only one of the tools for implementing provincial interests, the PPS and Planning Act may affect decisions on wide range of legislation, regulations, policies and programs.

2024 Provincial Planning Statement

The PPS, 2024 updates and merges the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 and A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe into a single, province-wide planning document.

Ontario will increase the supply and mix of housing options, addressing the full range of housing affordability needs. Every community will build homes that respond to changing market needs and local demand. Providing a sufficient supply with the necessary mix of housing options will support a diverse and growing population and workforce, now and for many years to come.

Overviews

• Ontario Plans for Growth: The New Provincial Planning Statement Published – Ontario Bar Association
• Introducing the New Provincial Planning Statement (2024) – Q9 Planning + Design (consultant)
• Ontario’s updated 2024 Provincial Planning Statement Comes Into Effect October 20, 2024 – McMillan (consultant)
• It’s Here! Ontario Releases Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 – Aird Berlis (consultant)

2020