County of Simcoe - Approval of a municipality’s official plan

A decision was made on April 7, 2026 to approve, with modifications, the County of Simcoe Official Plan Amendment (OPA) No. 7 adopted pursuant to Sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act by By-law 6977. Notice of this decision was issued on April 7, 2026 to the County of Simcoe. 

The 38 modifications to OPA 7 have been made to ensure alignment with provincial plans and policies, and regard for matters of provincial interest as set out in the Planning Act.  Modifications also identify areas of study for future employment areas, referred to as Strategic Employment Reserve Study Areas in the municipality of Springwater, supporting the County’s long-term economic growth objectives.  Modifications also add county-owned lands to the Strategic Settlement Areas and Economic Employment Districts designation in connection with the existing Lake Simcoe Regional Airport Employment Economic District in the municipality of Oro-Medonte.  Modifications also include a new policy to recognize ongoing work to plan for future growth as part of the Provincial South Simcoe Strategy, and to recognize lands within in-effect Minister’s Zoning Orders within the County.  

OPA 7 implements growth-management policies to guide growth to the year 2051 in alignment with the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024. OPA 7 includes amendments across a number of the policy themes/sections, such as policies related to settlement area hierarchies, forecasts and targets for population and employment growth, greenfield area land needs, and settlement area boundary expansion criteria, including revisions to specific schedules, among other matters.  

Pursuant to subsections 17 (36.5) and (38.1) of the Planning Act, this decision of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding an official plan adopted in accordance with section 26 is final and not subject to appeal. Accordingly, OPA 7, as modified and approved by the Minister, came into effect on April 7, 2026.