Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government announced planned new changes to Ontario’s land use and planning regiment earlier today.
The changes will prohibit municipalities from regarding higher climate/green development standards than the minimums set in the building code, such as requiring EV charging stations,
In a public statement, entitled “Ontario Introducing Legislation to Improve Transit and Build More Homes“, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack is attributed as stating the government plans to implement new laws and regulations to:
- standardize Municipal Official Plans (Environmental Registry of Ontario public comments page here);
- establish a “third-party advisory body consisting of engineering, construction, and code specialists to undertake a section-by-section review” of the Building Code.
- remove municipal authority to require enhanced development standards at the site plan control stage;
- consulting on the disclosure of municipal development charges and other hidden fees in agreements of purchase and sale for new homes; and
- Remove development charges from non-profit retirement homes to expand affordable housing options for seniors.
At the same time, the provincial government updated and create the following consultation on the Environmental Registry of Ontario:
- *NEW* Streamlining and Standardizing Official Plans – the major changes to the Planning Act, 30 day public comment period.
- *NEW* Consultation on upper-tier official plans, secondary plans, and site and area-specific policies, 30 day public comment period.
- *NEW* Streamlining the information and material that planning authorities can require as part of a complete application, 45 day public comment period.
- *NEW* Proposal to reform site plan control under the Planning Act and the City of Toronto Act, 2006, 45 day public comment period.
- *NEW* Proposed Regulatory Approach to Establish a Minimum Residential Lot Size in Urban Areas, 45 day public comment period. Proposal is to set a minimum lot size of 175 square metres (approximately 1900 square feet) on parcels of urban residential land outside the Greenbelt Area, with the goal of allowing for more missing middle housing.
- *NEW* Proposed Changes to Various Regulations Under the Planning Act and the City of Toronto Act, 2006 to Specify Additional “Prescribed Professions” for the Purposes of a Complete Application, 45 day public comment period.
- *NEW* Proposed Changes to Support Standardizing of Parkland Requirements Under the Planning Act, 45 day public comment period.
- *NEW* Proposed Regulation to Prohibit Mandatory Enhanced Development Standards as a Condition of Land Division Approvals, 45 day public comment period.
- Consultation on Minimum Lot Sizes, finalization of October 2025 posting. (City of Hamilton comment on the proposal);
- Consultation on simplifying and standardizing official plans, finalization of October 2025 posting. (City of Hamilton comment on this proposal, Bay Area Climate Change Council comment)
The text of Bill 98 is not yet available on the Legislative Assembly website.
I will endeavour to review the legislation and changes over the upcoming Easter weekend.
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: March 30, 2026
Last updated: March 30, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version
To be honest, I agree with all these changes. We need homes and we need to shorten all the red tape. We have people sitting on huge lots that’s been very difficult subdivide, we have neighborhoods that constantly yell NIMBY. What we have done in the past is not working and has been frustrating for landowners, buyers and developers. I think it’s time we cut all the bs and get building. It will never be 100 % perfect but even the best laid plan has glitches. The bureaucracy dealing with municipalities, and governing bodies has had so many frustrated at the lack of common sense and the display of egos all having to have a say. Most people just want to know can I do it, how long will it take and how much. That has never been simple for any municipal or govt official to answer because they all did things their own way. Properties should have one governing body and a distinct set of rules. Developers need to make profit and they won’t build unless they can. We also have too much homelessness, too many people commenting and vacant properties that are above people affordability so it’s time the govt work with the issues and make changes
Thank you for the comment Dorothy.
Off the cuff, as they say:
I wish to take some time to look at Hamilton’s secondary plans and former municipality zoning bylaws to see where the new minimum lot sizes could result in significant changes.
Ancaster’s ER Zone comes immediately to mind.
Thanks for the comment!