Official Plan

Help Shape the Future of Niagara-on-the-Lake's Official Plan

Niagara-on-the-Lake is continuing work to shape the community’s future through the update of its Official Plan, a critical document that will guide growth, development, and municipal priorities for the next 25 years and beyond.

About the Plan

In August 2019, Town Council adopted a new Official Plan. However, its approval by Niagara Region was delayed to align with the new Niagara Official Plan and adapt to provincial land use planning changes. The Town must now update the adopted Official Plan to align with recent provincial policy changes, the Niagara Official Plan, and local priorities.

The Official Plan plays a vital role in implementing Council’s Strategic Plan, and guiding the detailed land use regulations of the Zoning By-law. The Official Plan addresses the location of housing, businesses, shopping areas, parks, schools and other community facilities. The Official Plan informs Council decisions on development proposals. Community members are encouraged to participate in the Official Plan update to share feedback about how the Town will develop over the next 25 years.

Key areas under review include growth management (2051 population and employment forecasts), intensification targets, natural heritage and agricultural policies, employment area designations, secondary planning, housing policies, and watershed planning.

How to Get Involved

Latest Draft Official Plan

• Latest Redlined Draft Official Plan
• Latest Clean Version Draft Official Plan
• Comment Matrix
• Official Plan Sections of Ongoing Review

Notice of Public Meeting

A Public Meeting is scheduled for the Official Plan Update - Final Draft Official Plan on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

The Public Meeting will be held in-person at Town Hall, Council Chambers, 1593 Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil, or electronically.

Please find the Notice of Public Meeting link below:

• Notice of Public Meeting

Second Draft Official Plan

The second Draft Official Plan is available for review and comment. This Draft focuses on additional updates based on comments received since the release of the first Draft Official Plan, including updated draft schedules. This Draft continues to focus on the Official Plan theme areas of Growth Management, Housing, Employment/Economy, Climate Change, Natural Environment, Cultural Heritage, Agriculture, Indigenous Engagement, Transportation/Infrastructure, and Urban Design.

The draft Official Plan is still open for feedback, and Town Staff welcome any additional feedback. For continued review, Staff have prepared a redlined version of the changes made, as well as a clean version of the document with the changes incorporated.

Please find the second Draft Official Plan using the links below:

• Redlined Draft Official Plan
• Clean Copy Draft Official Plan
• Schedules

Please note that many comments were received, and we appreciate the input. Site-specific considerations are still under review and may require additional engagement. Any additional changes will be implemented in the final draft to be presented at the future Public Meeting.

Written comments can be directed to Fiona Main, Senior Policy Planner, at fiona.main@notl.com or sent as a letter to the Community and Development Services Department at planning.development@notl.com.

Official Plan Update- October Public Information Centres

• Presentation
• Information Boards

Online Survey Results and April 2025 Open House Public Information Centre Boards

As part of this process, the Town sought community input through a survey and Public Information Centres, an opportunity for participants to help foster a vibrant, sustainable, and welcoming future.

View the results from the various engagements under the Engagement Summary tab on the right-hand side of this project page or using the links below:

• View the Survey Results Infographic
• View the Public Information Centre and Survey Results
• View the Public Information Centre Boards
• View the Public Information Centre Presentation

The overall policy direction, outlined in the Official Plan Update under the theme areas of Growth Management, Housing, Employment/Economy, Climate Change, Natural Environment, Cultural Heritage, Agriculture, Indigenous Engagement, Transportation/Infrastructure, and Urban Design, is presented in that report.

Official Plan Update

In December 2024 and February 2025, Council received reports outlining the work plan for the Official Plan Update, to finalize the Adopted Official Plan 2019, to bring it into conformity with the approved 2022 Niagara Official Plan, the 2024 Provincial Planning Statement and other relevant policies and legislation.

• CDS-24-185 (December 2024)
• CDS-25-044 (February 2025)