Official Plan

What is an Official Plan?

An official plan describes your upper, lower or single tier municipal council or planning board's policies on how land in your community should be used. It is prepared with input from your community and helps to ensure that future planning and development will meet the specific needs of your community. 

An official plan deals mainly with issues such as:

  • where new housing, industry, offices and shops will be located
  • what services like roads, watermains, sewers, parks and schools will be needed
  • when, and in what order, parts of your community will grow
  • community improvement initiatives

Why the Town needs an Official Plan

The Town's official plan:

  • makes the public aware of the municipality's general land use planning policies
  • makes sure that growth is coordinated and meets our community’s needs
  • helps all members of our community understand how their land may be used now and in the future
  • helps decide where roads, watermains, sewers, garbage dumps, parks, and other services will be built
  • provides a framework for establishing municipal zoning bylaws to set local regulations and standards, like the size of lots and height of buildings
  • provides a way to evaluate and settle conflicting land uses while meeting local, regional and, provincial interests
  • shows Council's commitment to the future growth of the community

The above description is taken from the Province of Ontario Website and a "Citizen's Guide to Land Use Planning".

New Collingwood Official Plan (2024) - Under Appeal

Council adopted a New Collingwood Official Plan on December 11, 2023, which was further modified by the approval authority, the County of Simcoe, in July 2024.  

The New Collingwood Official Plan (2024) was approved by the County of Simcoe on September 24, 2024 subject to four areas of Non-Decision, and is under appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). 

The OLT has confirmed that the Town of Collingwood Official Plan is now in effect, except for as it applies to twelve site-specific appeals. Following an OLT Motion Hearing on June 30, 2026, the OLT issued an Order that the Town of Collingwood Official Plan is deemed to have come into full force and effect on October 30, 2024, save and except for a list of policies and schedules that remain under appeal on a site-specific basis.  

New Collingwood Official Plan (2024) – OLT Approval June 30, 2026

The Plan document also includes a map showing which properties remain under site-specific appeal.

Planning Services is determining transition processes for applications already in progress. Please note that the four areas of Non-Decision continue to apply and Town and County staff continue to work diligently for those matters to be resolved.

For more information, please visit the Official Plan Update page on the Town's online public engagement portal.

Town of Collingwood Official Plan (2004) Consolidated Version dated January 2019

The Collingwood Official Plan (2004) was repealed by the approval of the new Collingwood Official Plan (2024). However, portions of the new Official Plan remain under site-specific appeal, and will not come into effect on certain properties until approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) – see above. Please consult with Planning Services staff or your legal representative about the applicability of the 2004 Official Plan in relation to appealed portions of the 2024 Official Plan.

The Foreword including Appeal Dispositions, Non-Decision disposition status, and up to 2019 Specific Amendments, are located in the Official Plan January 2019 Foreward.

The complete Official Plan text including interactive contents page.

Schedules of the Collingwood Official Plan (2004)

The various schedules can be downloaded separately: