Municipally initiated Official Plan Update | Open House and Public Meeting

TAKE NOTICE THAT The County of Norfolk has undertaken a Municipally Initiated Official Plan Update as part of the Conformity Exercise to the Provincial Planning Statement 2024 that came into effect on October 20, 2024. The County is hosting an in-person Open House on October 22, 2025 and a hybrid Public Meeting of Council on December 16, 2025 to inform about the proposed amendments to the Official Plan in accordance with Section 26 of the Planning Act. 

Public Open House

Pursuant to the Planning Act, r.s.o. 1990, c. P. 13, a Public Open House will be held in person.

Meeting Details:

• Date: October 22, 2025
• Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Location: Talbot Gardens Arena, 2nd Floor Multi-purpose room, 10 Talbot Street North, Simcoe

Discussions at the Public Open House are intended to review the proposed changes to the adopted Official Plan as part of the Conformity Exercise to the Provincial Planning Statement 2024. View the presentation being held at meeting.

Public Meeting

Pursuant to the Planning Act, r.s.o. 1990, c. P. 13, a public meeting will be held to review the proposed Norfolk County Official Plan Update under Section 26 of the Planning Act.

Meeting Details:

• Date: December 16, 2025
• Time:  1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Location: Council Chambers, 50 Colborne Street South, Simcoe 

The meeting can be watched virtually on Norfolk County YouTube channel and Norfolk County website.

Written submissions must be directed to the Clerks Office at Norfolk County, 50 Colborne Street South, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4H3 or 519-426-5870, extension 1156, no later than 9:00 a.m. on December 16th, 2025. Written and verbal comments received prior to and during the public meeting will be considered by Council.

Location of Lands Affected

The proposed amendments to the Official Plan as part of the Provincial Planning Statement Conformity Exercise will affect all lands within the County of Norfolk. To that effect, no key map is provided.

Purpose and Effect of the Municipally Initiated Official Plan Amendment

The purpose of the Open House and Public Meeting is to inform and provide an overview of the proposed changes to the Official Plan, address any inquiries and seek feedback from the public.

The county of Norfolk Official Plan was adopted by Council on January 31, 2018 and approved by the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs (MMAH) on October 5, 2018. Pursuant to Section 26 of the Planning Act, if an Official Plan is in effect in a municipality, the Council of the municipality shall revise the Official Plan as required to ensure that it is consistent with policy statements issued under subsection 3(1) of the Planning Act.

The proposed Official Plan Updates relate directly to the Provincial Planning Statement 2024 policies updates. As such, no additional and/or site-specific changes are considered as part of this conformity exercise. Mapping updates are proposed to Schedule B of the Official Plan to display the Designated Growth Areas. The sections highlighted in red in the redlined version of the proposed Official Plan Update are being considered. 

View the digital copy of the redlined version* of the Official Plan Update as part of the Provincial Planning Statement Conformity Exercise.

Right to Appeal

The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs (MMAH) is the approval authority of the County of Norfolk Official Plan proposed update. Pursuant to Section 17(36.5) of the Planning Act, the Minister’s decision is final and there is no appeal in respect of a decision of the approval authority.

To be Notified

If you wish to be notified of the approval authority’s decision with respect to the Official Plan Update as part of the Provincial Planning Statement Conformity Exercise, a written request must be made to the Clerk, Norfolk County, 50 Colborne Street South, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4H3 or by calling 519-426-5870, extension 1156. Written submissions will become part of the public record.

Additional Information and Contact

Digital Documents:

• Open House Presentation 
• Schedule B Designated Growth Areas
• Norfolk County Official Plan Redlined Version

Hard copies of the documents can be provided upon request and will be available for public inspection by appointment.

For more information on the Municipally Initiated Official Plan Conformity Exercise to the Provincial Planning Statement (2024), contact the Planning Department by email at Soumaya.BenMiled@NorfolkCounty.ca or call 519-426-5870 extension 5036.

Collection of Personal Information

Personal information is collected under the authority of the Planning Act and the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended. The information collected will be used to complete the Official Plan Amendment processes and will form part of the public record. Questions about this collection should be addressed to the County Clerk.

Request an alternative format or communication support

You can request an alternative format of any Norfolk County document or communication support by submitting an Accessible Formats and Communication Supports Request form or calling  519-426-5870 or 226-NORFOLK, extension 8099. Bell Relay Service: 1-800-855-0511. 

*Accessible formats can be requested through the channels listed above.