FAQs

The Official Plan is the primary strategic document used to guide growth and change in Waterloo over the next 20 years. The Official Plan contains principles, goals and objectives established by the community which describe and coordinate how land in the city should be used and developed, and includes alternative notice procedures for planning applications as enabled by the Planning Act. The Official Plan is used by the city to plan for both short-term and long-term growth and development while taking into consideration important social, environmental, economic, and cultural issues and goals and values. Official plans have legal status and derive their authority from the Planning Act. All municipal public works and by-laws must conform to the Official Plan. 

See Section 12.4 of the Official Plan for alternative notice procedures for planning applications. 

Bill 109, the More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022 was introduced on March 30, 2022 by the Province of Ontario and received Royal Assent on April 14, 2022. Schedule 5 of Bill 109 made changes to the Planning Act related to zoning, site plan, plans of subdivision, official plans and official plan amendments, parkland dedication, community benefits charges, and financial instruments used to secure obligations in connection with land use planning approvals. 

Beginning January 1, 2023, municipalities are required to refund application fees (Zoning By-law Amendment, combined Official Plan Amendment/Zoning By-law Amendment, Site Plan applications) if a decision is not made by the municipality within the statutory timelines of 90 days, 120 days, and 60 days respectively.  These legislative timelines will require the City of Waterloo to streamline and modify its development approvals process, which may include:

• shortened notice periods (currently 10-14 days)
• shortened commenting periods
• amended notice procedures (i.e., how notice is given)
• holding only one (1) public meeting per application (currently two public meetings are held)
• delegation of certain planning approvals to staff (currently site planning is delegated to staff)

See link to the ERO posting for more information on the changes.