The Burlington Official Plan is a policy document that guides decision-making on land use, development and resource management.
The Official Plan sets out a clear vision and establishes strategic priorities for:
- Sustainable growth
- Complete communities
- Environment and sustainability
- Economic activity
- Infrastructure
- Design excellence
- Land use
- Public participation and engagement
Developed through planning analysis, research and collaboration with the community and stakeholders, the Official Plan blends local community interests with Regional and Provincial policy direction. The Official Plan also:
- Ensures all new development contributes to the City's long-term vision
- Guides development within certain parameters, allowing for private sector flexibility while the public interest is maintained
- Includes criteria for when and how changes to the Official Plan are considered
Burlington Official Plan, 1997 documents |
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The Burlington Official Plan, 1997, was approved by Halton Region, with modifications, on Mar. 5, 1997. Due to a number of appeals, certain parts of the plan were referred to the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly the Ontario Municipal Board) for a decision. The following Official Plan documents were approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal in 2008. Content and maps were updated in 2019. View the full Burlington Official Plan, 1997 or view the individual sections below: 3. Land Use Policies - Urban Planning Area 4. Land Use Policies - Rural Planning Area |
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Burlington Official Plan, 2020 documents |
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On Nov. 30, 2020, the City’s new Official Plan (Burlington Official Plan, 2020) was approved by Halton Region. All parts of the Burlington Official Plan, 2020 that were not appealed came into effect the day after the end of the appeal period, Dec. 22, 2020. For the list of the appeals filed with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), see the Dec. 23, 2020 update under “Burlington Official Plan, 2020 appeals process”. On Jan. 4, 2023, the OLT formally confirmed which parts of the Burlington Official Plan, 2020 came into effect on Dec. 22, 2020 and which parts did not. The OLT also confirmed that no parts of the Official Plan (other than policies where appeal rights are limited by the Planning Act) are in effect on lands with site-specific appeals. For a list of policies in effect as of Dec. 22, 2020, see the May 16, 2023 update under “Burlington Official Plan, 2020 appeals process”. This update also includes a list of site-specific appellants. Until all broad appeals to the Region’s approval of the Burlington Official Plan, 2020 are resolved, parts of the old Official Plan (Burlington Official Plan 1997, as amended) will stay in effect. Parts of the Burlington Official Plan, 2020 that are broadly appealed may be considered on an informative, but not determinative, basis. The interim working version of the Burlington Official Plan, 2020 is provided for information only. For legal purposes, reference the original certified documents on file with the City Clerk, including the April 26, 2018 City of Burlington adopting bylaw and the Nov. 30, 2020 Halton Region Notice of Decision. As the OLT process continues, the Burlington Official Plan, 2020 may change and need to be updated. Readers of the Plan must satisfy themselves as to the legal status and applicability of the policies by reviewing all Orders and Decisions from the OLT. You can view these documents by visiting the Ontario Land Tribunal's webpage for case no. OLT-22-002219: "OP - New Official Plan – City of Burlington". View the full Burlington Official Plan, 2020 (interim working version) or view the individual sections below: 4. Environment and Sustainability 6. Infrastructure, Transportation and Utilities 8. Land Use Policies – Urban Area 9. Land Use Policies – Rural Area 10. Land Use Policies – North Aldershot 11. Public Participation and Engagement |
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Burlington Official Plan, 2020 appeals process |
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View the timeline below for a history of key dates for the new Official Plan appeals process, as well as Regional and Provincial changes affecting the process. For more information or additional documents, contact the Policy and Community team.
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Burlington Official Plan, 2020 project history |
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View the timeline below for a history of key dates for the new Official Plan project. For more information or additional documents, contact the Policy and Community team.
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Related Projects
| Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) |
| The City is undertaking area-specific planning for the Aldershot GO, Burlington GO and Appleby GO Major Transit Station Areas. For more information, visit Get Involved Burlington - Major Transit Station Areas. |
| Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP) |
| The Integrated Mobility Plan will guide how people and goods move in and through Burlington, focusing on providing people of all ages and abilities with more travel choices. For more information, visit Get Involved Burlington - Integrated Mobility Plan. |
| Housing Strategy |
| The Housing Strategy builds on and supports Halton Region’s Housing Strategy and sets out key actions to provide more housing options for current and future residents. For more information, visit Get Involved Burlington - Housing Strategy. |
| Interim Control By-law Land Use Study (ICBL) |
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On Mar. 5, 2019, the City of Burlington implemented an Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL), which temporarily restricts development on certain lands while a land use study is undertaken. The ICBL Land Use Study area included the [former] Downtown Urban Growth Centre and lands around the Burlington GO Station. The purpose of the study was to:
On Jan. 30 2020, Burlington City Council approved the final recommendations of the ICBL Land Use Study, including proposed Official Plan Amendment 119 to the Burlington Official Plan, 1997 and proposed Zoning By-law Amendment 2020.418- as brought forward through staff report PL-01-20 on Jan. 14, 2020 and revised through the memo received by Council on Jan. 30, 2020. A number of appeals were filed regarding both Official Plan Amendment 119 and Zoning Bylaw Amendment 2020.418, keeping the ICBL development restrictions in place until appeals are resolved by the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). On Oct. 15, 2021, the OLT granted the City’s motion to lift the development restrictions on all lands subject to the ICBL except for those impacted by Zoning Bylaw Amendment 2020.418, located around the Burlington GO station. This means that the City can issue building permits for development in the Downtown that complies with the zoning that was in effect before the ICBL, and Community Planning staff can bring forward recommendations for Council decisions on Planning Act applications in the area. On May 29, 2022, the OLT issued a decision regarding the settlement of site-specific appeals relating to a portion of the remaining lands impacted by the ICBL, at 2243 and 2269 Fairview Street and 846 Drury Lane (“Fairview LP lands”). By operation of s. 38(6.1) of the Planning Act, the OLT ordered that the Fairview LP lands be released from Interim Control By-law No. 2019-10. A map of the remaining lands subject to development restrictions under the ICBL is available here. You can view the status of the OLT case by visiting the Ontario Land Tribunal's webpage for case no. OLT-22-002483: “OPA 119, ICBL land use study”. |
How to keep up to date
You can stay involved and keep up to date with Burlington's Official Plan by:
- Subscribing to this page
- Subscribing to our news and notices
- Registering for our online engagement portal, Get Involved Burlington
Official Plan Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an Official Plan? |
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An Official Plan is a legal document, required by the Province of Ontario, that describes a municipality's long-term land-use strategy. It is prepared with input from the public and helps to ensure that future planning and development meets the specific needs of the community. The Official Plan gives clear direction on land use planning but is also flexible because it is a long-term document. The Plan is designed to anticipate and manage change. For example, it has criteria to evaluate proposals for a change in land use, for new growth in an area that is already developed, and for mapping adjustments based on updated technical information. The Official Plan changes regularly to:
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How are changes made to the Official Plan? |
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The Official Plan can change through “amendments” to maps and/or policies. These amendments follow a process set out by the Planning Act and can be initiated by an applicant or the municipality. For more information on initiating an amendment, or to learn how to book a pre-consultation meeting for your project, visit our Official Plan Amendments page. The Official Plan can also change through an "Official Plan Review". As a municipality, the City of Burlington must do this regularly to make sure the Plan is up to date with provincial policies and legislation. The City completed its last Official Plan Review in 2020. For more information on this review, see "Burlington Official Plan, 2020 project history". |
How does the Zoning Bylaw relate to the Official Plan? |
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The Zoning Bylaw carries out the Official Plan’s higher-level directions on:
Among other things, the Zoning Bylaw sets out specific requirements for:
Since the Zoning Bylaw accounts for more detailed differences in conditions on-the-ground, a specific zone may not permit all the uses listed in the applicable land use designation(s) of the Official Plan. When a policy change is approved in the Official Plan, the City must create new zoning regulations to be able to apply the change. So, until the Zoning Bylaw is amended to reflect the Official Plan change, the existing regulations stay in effect. |
Who should I contact for more information about the Official Plan? |
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For questions about the applicable Official Plan policies for a specific property, or to ask about a development project, contact the Development and Design team. For questions about the status of the Burlington Official Plan, 2020 or the appeals process, contact the Policy and Community team. |