Official Plan Housekeeping Updates

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Sections 17 and 21 of the Planning Act allow a municipality to initiate its own amendments to the Official Plan. The Official Plan, called A Simply Grand Plan, 2023, sets out a community’s vision and goals for growth and development. The purpose of making technical and housekeeping changes to the Official Plan is to improve its relevance, fix small issues, and ensure it aligns with provincial policies. Regular updates maintain a responsive planning framework that meets the County's evolving needs.

This project will only include site-specific updates to properties where an error has been made in the Plan. It

Sections 17 and 21 of the Planning Act allow a municipality to initiate its own amendments to the Official Plan. The Official Plan, called A Simply Grand Plan, 2023, sets out a community’s vision and goals for growth and development. The purpose of making technical and housekeeping changes to the Official Plan is to improve its relevance, fix small issues, and ensure it aligns with provincial policies. Regular updates maintain a responsive planning framework that meets the County's evolving needs.

This project will only include site-specific updates to properties where an error has been made in the Plan. It proposes general changes to County-wide Official Plan policies that will make it easier to implement the plan and better align it with Provincial and Municipal directions.

Staff are continually monitoring changes needed for the Official Plan, considering them for future housekeeping projects to be brought forward on a regular basis. This Official Plan was written and submitted to the Province in May 2023, being approved and in effect as of October 17, 2024.

The chart below contains a list of proposed changes for project that was presented to Council as information on June 10, 2025 to officially begin the project. We are asking for public feedback to help inform the policies that will be to be presented to Council in July 2025.

Summary of Proposed Changes

The key changes to be made to the Official Plan are summarized below, with further details included in Attachment 1 of Report RPT-0243-25.

Key ItemsSummary of Proposed Changes
Terminology & PPS Conformity
Replace references to PPS 2020/Growth Plan with PPS 2024; update glossary and policy definitions accordingly.
Employment Areas
Update definitions to conform with PPS 2024, removing institutional/retail uses; limit to directly related industrial activities.
Affordable Housing
Revise definition to address both market-based and income-based measures.
Natural Heritage Terminology
Replace Growth Plan terms with County-specific definitions; refine mapping and buffer policies (e.g., 10 m for woodlands).
Site Plan Control
Align with O. Reg. 254/23 for areas near railways (300 m) and wetlands/watercourses (120 m).
Community Structure
Shift to 4-system model: Settlement Areas, Agricultural Lands, Natural Heritage, and Hazardous Lands.
Settlement Classifications
New categories for servicing levels: Fully Serviced, Partially Serviced, and Under Review.
Strategic Growth Areas
Introduce policy support; mapping to come in future implementation phase.
Designated Growth Areas / Built-Up Areas
Align terminology and targets with PPS 2024; supports broader tracking and application.
Study and Phasing Triggers
Add clearer guidance for required background studies and phasing prior to development.
Employment Area Types
Introduce Prestige, General, and Rural Employment Areas with distinct permitted uses.
Land Use Designations
More specific designations like “Village Open Space” and “Business Gateway” to support transparency.
Monitoring and Implementation
Add policies tied to the Growth Management Tracking model and PPS monitoring requirements.
Neighbourhoods, Corridors, Nodes
Clarify built form, density, and permitted use transitions.
Housing Needs
Add minimum targets for housing mix and tenures to support affordability and gentle density.
Cultural Heritage
Stronger protections; integrate salvage options and heritage assessment tools.
Home-Based Businesses
Add policies to permanently enable home industries and businesses.
Land Use Compatibility
Clarify compatibility requirements, especially near rail and wetlands, per updated regulations.
Hazardous Lands
Introduce a dedicated overlay system for floodplain, erosion, and human-made hazards.
Delegated Authority
Define “minor by-laws” (e.g., surplus farm dwellings) eligible for delegated approvals.
Parking
Standardize parking targets to support transition to multimodal planning.
Public Consultation
Modernize consultation tools in line with Bill 185 and the County's engagement framework.
Mixed Use / Complete Communities
Define mixed use more flexibly to include horizontal and vertical integration.
Mobile Homes / Parks
Define mobile homes and parks to clarify application in planning/zoning.
Agricultural Consents
Tighten rules on minor adjustments (max 0.5 ha) and surplus farm severances to protect farmland.
Complete Application Table
Add a reference table linking application types with required studies.
Consistency with Corporate Policy
Embed references to Climate Action, ACH Strategy, and other corporate directions.
General Housekeeping Changes
Adjustments to errors in property designations (where owners have already been informed), policy numbering, grammar, etc.


Stay Informed

News feed: The Newsfeed is where you’ll find the latest updates about this project. It helps keep you informed about progress, upcoming opportunities to participate, important decisions, and more.

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  • Phase 1 amendments to the Official Plan are available for review and feedback

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    The County of Brant is pleased to share the draft Phase 1 amendments to the Official Plan as part of our ongoing housekeeping process. These proposed changes aim to improve clarity, consistency, and alignment with recent planning initiatives and provincial policy updates.


    We invite you to explore these documents and share your feedback until Friday, November 21, 2025.

    Your input is valuable in shaping the future of planning in Brant.

  • Notice of Public Meeting: Proposed Official Plan Amendment. Phase 1 - Municipally Initiated Changes (Various Amendments)

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    Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025

    Time: 6:00 pm

    Location: County of Brant Council Chambers (7 Broadway Street West, Paris)

    The meeting can also be viewed online on the County of Brant YouTube Channel at brant.ca/Live.

    What is this about?

    The County of Brant is proposing updates to its Official Plan, A Simply Grand Plan, 2023, under Section 17 of the Planning Act. The changes aim to clarify terms, align with the Provincial Planning Statement (PPS 2024), and fix mapping/designation errors across the County.

    This public meeting will present the proposed changes in this phase of the project, gather feedback, and recommend next steps to Council.

    What changes are being considered?

    The proposed amendments in this phase include the following county-wide updates:

    • PPS 2024 Terminology: Glossary updates
    • Alternative Public Consultation Measures and Delegated Authority for routine applications
    • The Natural Heritage System: policy and mapping updates to clarify protections and align with PPS 2024
    • Corporate alignment: specifically with the Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy and Climate Action Plan
    • Housing: including affordability, housing needs, Additional Residential Units (ARUs) and mobile home communities
    • Agriculture: updated severance policies, MDS formulae requirements, and surplus farm dwelling criteria
    • Employment Lands: clearer rules to protect industrial areas and manage land use transitions
    • Resource Extraction: updated policies for rehabilitation and compatibility with sensitive uses
    • Home-Based Businesses and Industries: new policies to support small-scale economic activity


    A copy of the proposed official plan amendments will be posted on the Engage page for public review beginning on October 24, 2025.

    Residents are invited to submit comments or ask questions through this page. We also encourage residents to subscribe to this project for updates by adding your email to the “Stay Informed” box on this page, and to be made aware of future opportunities to participate in shaping Brant’s Official Plan.

  • Update on Official Plan Housekeeping Project: October 3, 2025

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    Thank you to everyone who took the time to learn about the County’s Official Plan Housekeeping updates. While no public comments were received during the engagement period, the project page received over 370 visitors and the project continues to move forward.

    Following the July 8, 2025 public meeting, staff will bring forward a report on the Phase 1 policy updates to Council this November 2025.

    It is important to note that this project is being completed in three phases:

    • Phase 1 – Technical Alignment and Clarifications: Refining and clarifying policies, updating terminology, and ensuring alignment with Provincial and County strategies. Currently near completion.
    • Phase 2 – Policy Refinement and Implementation Support: A deeper review of policies to improve usability and implementation. Beginning in early 2026.
    • Phase 3 – Strategic Direction and Growth Management: Developing an updated Growth Management Strategy that will guide where and how growth is directed in the County. Also beginning in 2026.


    We encourage residents to subscribe to this project for updates by adding your email to the “Stay Informed” box on this page, and to be made aware of future opportunities to participate in shaping Brant’s Official Plan.

  • Engage with Us

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    We invite all residents to participate by sharing your feedback on the proposed changes to the Official Plan.

    Share Your Feedback

    Provide your comments regarding the housekeeping official plan updates. All constructive feedback and recommendations will be presented to Council for consideration. Online engagement closes on July 4, 2025.

    Attend a Public Meeting

    This public meeting is being held to provide information and to gather public feedback before Council makes a decision on the proposed amendments. .

    • Tuesday, July 8, 2025
    • 6:00 pm
    • County of Brant Council Chambers, 7 Broadway Street West, Paris
    • Project File Number: OPA3-25


    The meeting can also be viewed on the County of Brant YouTube Channel at brant.ca/Live

    Meeting Details

    The County of Brant is proposing changes to A Simply Grand Plan, 2023, the Official Plan for the County of Brant. These changes are being initiated by the municipality under Section 17 of the Planning Act and will apply county-wide. The purpose of these amendments is to undertake housekeeping changes that will address general updates, clarify terminology, align with new provincial policies, and correct mapping or designation errors.

    What changes are being considered?

    The proposed housekeeping amendments includes county-wide updates to improve the clarity and effectiveness of the Official Plan, ensure alignment with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) 2024, and respond to changes in planning legislation and community needs.

    Further detail is available in Report RPT-0243-25 as well as in attachment 1 and attachment 2. A copy of the proposed official plan amendments will be posted to this page for public review beginning on June 23, 2025. Subscribe for updates by adding your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click ‘Subscribe'.

    Can't attend the meeting but want to share your feedback?


    Level of Engagement

    For more information, please read the County of Brant's Community Engagement Framework.

Page last updated: 28 Oct 2025, 09:38 AM