Bruce County is growing. Our population is expected to achieve a population of 93, 600 and employment of 43,000 jobs by the year 2046, and we want your ideas on how and where to grow! We are currently reviewing the Official Plan, a key document that guides long-term growth and development in the County to 2046. It considers our unique, local needs and guides how we will work towards a vision for our future. The Official Plan touches your everyday life – the businesses you work in, the places you shop, the type of house live in, the roads you use every day, and how our communities grow.
Mapping of Land Use designations and further Official Plan Schedules are available at the following link : pub-brucecounty.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=31869
Compare The Proposed Draft New Official Plan Maps to the Existing Official Plan Maps
A n interactive map that allows comparison between existing and new mapping is available now by clicking here .
We have received some requests for potential adjustments or changes to designations of Settlement Areas and shorelines areas. These requests are represented here and will be evaluated with recommendations provided following the public engagement period.
Potential boundary adjustments as of September 5 are available here .
Bruce County Draft New Official Plan Open Houses
You are invited to attend an open house in your area to learn more about the draft plan. These open houses will be presented in a drop-in format. You are welcome to attend anytime during the open house hours to view the plan, speak to the planners involved in drafting the plan, view mapping schedules , a sk questions and provide feedback .
Open Houses will be held at the following times and locations:
To RSVP for an open house click here. This is optional and helps us estimate an expected number of attendees and potential areas of interest .
Have More Questions?
Not able to attend an open house? O ur team would be happy to connect with you!
You can also book a one -on-one meeting with a Plan The Bruce team member here .
We are committed to continued engagement with the public, local municipalities, stakeholders, businesses and Indigenous communities throughout this process. Your input will help us develop a “made in Bruce” policy solution that satisfies Provincial Policy but is also adapted to meet the unique planning opportunities and challenges within the County.
This page aims to provide regular updates on the project and allow members of the community to provide input during the development of the new Official Plan.
Update on Growth Management Amendment – August 23, 2024
The Minister of Municipal Affairs has approved the County’s Growth Management Amendment with one modification, developed in consultation with County staff, to align the policies with the Provincial Planning Statement 2024 . The growth management a mendmen t is incorporated in the draft new Official Plan.
We are in the last phase of the Official Plan Review process. During Phase 3, the County will share draft policies that reflect the feedback received during Phases 1 and 2. Draft policies will be reviewed and consulted on in order to inform recommendations for Council consideration .
Bruce County Planning staff and external consultant, WSP , are working to establish the full new plan framework to 2046 . It will bring together the directions from the Plan the Bruce Project Discussion Papers, Official Plan Best Practices Review, recent legislative changes, and the growth management amendment and recent amendments related to agriculture, community improvement plans and additional residential units .
Following a public meeting held on December 7, 2023, the Implementation Amendment to the current Official Plan was adopted. This amendment refines local land use processes, enhances the usability of the plan, simplifies language and improves policy effectiveness.
Key changes include:
Sections 6 and 7, and some parts of Section 4 of the current Official Plan have been changed with the adoption of the Implementation Amendment. Visit Plans, By-laws, Resources and FAQs to learn more about the Implementation Amendment.
A consolidated version of the current Official Plan, reflecting the changes that came into effect with the Implementation Amendment, is available here.
The way we work as community planners is changing, as we adapt to provincially-driven changes to the Land Use Planning system:
The Province indicated they intend to implement the new Provincial Planning Statement in fall of 2023.
As the Bruce County Official Plan must conform to the Provincial Policy / Planning Statement, which is currently being amended, our work to update our Official Plan has been impacted.
We are continuing to draft new policies and mapping where there are minimal changes; where there is more uncertainty, we’re seeking to understand how potential changes may impact policy in the new Bruce County Official Plan.
An Update on the Growth Management Amendment
In October 2022, Bruce County Council adopted an Official Plan Amendment that sets out a new growth strategy for our rapidly growing communities. The amendment was submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in January 2023 for approval. However, Bruce County Council was recently notified that the province is suspending its deadline for making a decision on the amendment.
Stay Tuned to Plan the Bruce!
As engaged stakeholders with the project, thank you for your involvement to date. Further public consultation is being postponed until the new Provincial Planning Statement is implemented.
We are looking forward to more opportunities for your input, at the first opportunity following the release of the new Provincial Planning Statement. Stay tuned for future updates on how you can be involved.
Growth Management Amendment to Existing Bruce County Official Plan
This amendment focused on population and employment growth that is expected to occur between now and 2046. This amendment to the current Bruce County Official Plan broadly covers how much growth is expected in the County and its local Municipalities. Establishing a growth management strategy enables local municipalities to initiate planning projects to address the anticipated growth.
The public meeting was held on Thursday, October 6, 2022. Review the meeting video recording and supporting documents.
County of Bruce Council passed By-law 2022-092 on October 20, 2022, being a By-law to Adopt Part One of Amendment Number C-2022-012 to the County of Bruce Official Plan. The amendment is subject to final approval by the Minister of Municipal Affairs. Review the Notice of Adoption.
A decision was made by the Council for the Corporation of the County of Bruce on October 20, 2022 to approve By-Law 2022-093, being a By-law to Adopt Part Two of Amendment Number C-2022-012 to the County of Bruce Official Plan. Review the Notice of Decision. This amendment is now in effect.
Additional Residential Units Amendment to Existing Bruce County Official Plan
After a public meeting on July 15, 2021, the Planning and Development Committee approved a change to the County Official Plan that establishes a more flexible framework to reduce barriers to creating and permitting Additional Residential Units in detached buildings. The amendment reflects the outcome of comments received through the Plan the Bruce: Homes project and discussions with both the Province and local Municipalities. Creating Additional Residential Units directly increases the supply and mix of homes, particularly units available for rental purposes. Adding rental units will also help ease a current constraint on business growth. Natural legacy considerations are addressed through limiting opportunities for additional residential units in ‘Rural Recreation’ areas associated with shorelines and natural settings.
Agriculture Amendment to Existing Bruce County Official Plan
On April 7, 2022, the Planning & Development Committee approved the County Official Plan Amendment – C-2021-025 Agriculture Amendment. The Committee expressed interest in advancing agriculture policy changes in the near-term to support planning objectives while not detracting from the work to advance the larger project to develop a new County Official Plan. In accordance with this direction, the Official Plan Amendment eliminates restriction of two parcels from original crown lot for surplus farm residence severances, minor lot boundary adjustments that do not result in the creation of a new parcel or increase development potential, and lot re-configurations that meet the minimum lot area requirements.
The Amendment also recognizes the existing lot area of retained parcels following a surplus farm residence severance, incorporate additional wording to better guide applicants who wish to create a new farm lot that is less than the 40-hectare (99 acre) minimum, expand and clarify the permitted uses on farms to add flexibility and better reflect the range of uses allowed in the Provincial Policy Statement and related provincial implementation guidelines, and incorporate other related minor amendments for clarity or housekeeping.
Amendment to Existing Bruce County Official Plan to Update Policy on Community Improvement Plans (CIPs)
Learn more about the Bruce GPS visioning project.
Completed e ight community-driven and planning - focused guiding principles , which will all work together to execute the vision of the new Official Plan for Bruce County . Agriculture , Homes , Natural Legacy , Good Growth , Heritage , Connecting , Communities and Business .
Review recommended policy direction from the eight Guiding Principles, which will all work together to execute the vision of the new Official Plan for Bruce County .
Sign up for email updates to stay informed on how this project progresses. You will receive information and notices about the project and opportunities to get involved.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to share your ideas!
You’re invited to help Plan the Bruce. Get involved and offer feedback on important land use planning issues affecting Bruc e County now and into the future.
Get involved and offer feedback on land use planning — where homes, businesses, schools, parks, roads and infrastructure are built , and how communities grow and manage change .
Together, we are explorers: navigating Bruce County toward a healthy, diverse and thriving future.
Please Note: This page will be updated regularly with project updates and opportunities to engage. In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, please email planthebruce@brucecounty.on.ca.
Below are a series of reports provided to Bruce County Council on the new Official Plan.
Plan the Bruce is a land use project to inform the new Official Plan — the roadmap for growth and development to the year 2046 .
This is a major project that will have a lasting impact on how Bruce County will be shaped in the future.
Bruce County is growing. Our population is expected to achieve a population of 93, 600 and employment of 43,000 jobs by the year 2046, and we want your ideas on how and where to grow! We are currently reviewing the Official Plan, a key document that guides long-term growth and development in the County to 2046. It considers our unique, local needs and guides how we will work towards a vision for our future.
The Official Plan touches your everyday life – the businesses you work in, the places you shop, the type of house live in, the roads you use every day, and how our communities grow.
Draft New Official Plan Available for Public Review
You are invited to review the draft policies and schedules for the new Bruce County Official Plan.
The complete text of the draft new Official Plan is available here and in the side documents panel .
Mapping of Land Use designations and further Official Plan Schedules are available at the following link : pub-brucecounty.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=31869
Compare The Proposed Draft New Official Plan Maps to the Existing Official Plan Maps
A n interactive map that allows comparison between existing and new mapping is available now by clicking here .
We have received some requests for potential adjustments or changes to designations of Settlement Areas and shorelines areas. These requests are represented here and will be evaluated with recommendations provided following the public engagement period.
Potential boundary adjustments as of September 5 are available here .
Bruce County Draft New Official Plan Open Houses
You are invited to attend an open house in your area to learn more about the draft plan. These open houses will be presented in a drop-in format. You are welcome to attend anytime during the open house hours to view the plan, speak to the planners involved in drafting the plan, view mapping schedules , a sk questions and provide feedback .
Open Houses will be held at the following times and locations:
To RSVP for an open house click here. This is optional and helps us estimate an expected number of attendees and potential areas of interest .
Have More Questions?
Not able to attend an open house? O ur team would be happy to connect with you!
You can also book a one -on-one meeting with a Plan The Bruce team member here .
We are committed to continued engagement with the public, local municipalities, stakeholders, businesses and Indigenous communities throughout this process. Your input will help us develop a “made in Bruce” policy solution that satisfies Provincial Policy but is also adapted to meet the unique planning opportunities and challenges within the County.
This page aims to provide regular updates on the project and allow members of the community to provide input during the development of the new Official Plan.
Update on Growth Management Amendment – August 23, 2024
The Minister of Municipal Affairs has approved the County’s Growth Management Amendment with one modification, developed in consultation with County staff, to align the policies with the Provincial Planning Statement 2024 . The growth management a mendmen t is incorporated in the draft new Official Plan.
We are in the last phase of the Official Plan Review process. During Phase 3, the County will share draft policies that reflect the feedback received during Phases 1 and 2. Draft policies will be reviewed and consulted on in order to inform recommendations for Council consideration .
Bruce County Planning staff and external consultant, WSP , are working to establish the full new plan framework to 2046 . It will bring together the directions from the Plan the Bruce Project Discussion Papers, Official Plan Best Practices Review, recent legislative changes, and the growth management amendment and recent amendments related to agriculture, community improvement plans and additional residential units .
Following a public meeting held on December 7, 2023, the Implementation Amendment to the current Official Plan was adopted. This amendment refines local land use processes, enhances the usability of the plan, simplifies language and improves policy effectiveness.
Key changes include:
Sections 6 and 7, and some parts of Section 4 of the current Official Plan have been changed with the adoption of the Implementation Amendment. Visit Plans, By-laws, Resources and FAQs to learn more about the Implementation Amendment.
A consolidated version of the current Official Plan, reflecting the changes that came into effect with the Implementation Amendment, is available here.
The way we work as community planners is changing, as we adapt to provincially-driven changes to the Land Use Planning system:
The Province indicated they intend to implement the new Provincial Planning Statement in fall of 2023.
As the Bruce County Official Plan must conform to the Provincial Policy / Planning Statement, which is currently being amended, our work to update our Official Plan has been impacted.
We are continuing to draft new policies and mapping where there are minimal changes; where there is more uncertainty, we’re seeking to understand how potential changes may impact policy in the new Bruce County Official Plan.
An Update on the Growth Management Amendment
In October 2022, Bruce County Council adopted an Official Plan Amendment that sets out a new growth strategy for our rapidly growing communities. The amendment was submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in January 2023 for approval. However, Bruce County Council was recently notified that the province is suspending its deadline for making a decision on the amendment.
Stay Tuned to Plan the Bruce!
As engaged stakeholders with the project, thank you for your involvement to date. Further public consultation is being postponed until the new Provincial Planning Statement is implemented.
We are looking forward to more opportunities for your input, at the first opportunity following the release of the new Provincial Planning Statement. Stay tuned for future updates on how you can be involved.
Growth Management Amendment to Existing Bruce County Official Plan
This amendment focused on population and employment growth that is expected to occur between now and 2046. This amendment to the current Bruce County Official Plan broadly covers how much growth is expected in the County and its local Municipalities. Establishing a growth management strategy enables local municipalities to initiate planning projects to address the anticipated growth.
The public meeting was held on Thursday, October 6, 2022. Review the meeting video recording and supporting documents.
County of Bruce Council passed By-law 2022-092 on October 20, 2022, being a By-law to Adopt Part One of Amendment Number C-2022-012 to the County of Bruce Official Plan. The amendment is subject to final approval by the Minister of Municipal Affairs. Review the Notice of Adoption.
A decision was made by the Council for the Corporation of the County of Bruce on October 20, 2022 to approve By-Law 2022-093, being a By-law to Adopt Part Two of Amendment Number C-2022-012 to the County of Bruce Official Plan. Review the Notice of Decision. This amendment is now in effect.
Additional Residential Units Amendment to Existing Bruce County Official Plan
After a public meeting on July 15, 2021, the Planning and Development Committee approved a change to the County Official Plan that establishes a more flexible framework to reduce barriers to creating and permitting Additional Residential Units in detached buildings. The amendment reflects the outcome of comments received through the Plan the Bruce: Homes project and discussions with both the Province and local Municipalities. Creating Additional Residential Units directly increases the supply and mix of homes, particularly units available for rental purposes. Adding rental units will also help ease a current constraint on business growth. Natural legacy considerations are addressed through limiting opportunities for additional residential units in ‘Rural Recreation’ areas associated with shorelines and natural settings.
Agriculture Amendment to Existing Bruce County Official Plan
On April 7, 2022, the Planning & Development Committee approved the County Official Plan Amendment – C-2021-025 Agriculture Amendment. The Committee expressed interest in advancing agriculture policy changes in the near-term to support planning objectives while not detracting from the work to advance the larger project to develop a new County Official Plan. In accordance with this direction, the Official Plan Amendment eliminates restriction of two parcels from original crown lot for surplus farm residence severances, minor lot boundary adjustments that do not result in the creation of a new parcel or increase development potential, and lot re-configurations that meet the minimum lot area requirements.
The Amendment also recognizes the existing lot area of retained parcels following a surplus farm residence severance, incorporate additional wording to better guide applicants who wish to create a new farm lot that is less than the 40-hectare (99 acre) minimum, expand and clarify the permitted uses on farms to add flexibility and better reflect the range of uses allowed in the Provincial Policy Statement and related provincial implementation guidelines, and incorporate other related minor amendments for clarity or housekeeping.
Amendment to Existing Bruce County Official Plan to Update Policy on Community Improvement Plans (CIPs)
Learn more about the Bruce GPS visioning project.
Completed e ight community-driven and planning - focused guiding principles , which will all work together to execute the vision of the new Official Plan for Bruce County . Agriculture , Homes , Natural Legacy , Good Growth , Heritage , Connecting , Communities and Business .
Review recommended policy direction from the eight Guiding Principles, which will all work together to execute the vision of the new Official Plan for Bruce County .
Sign up for email updates to stay informed on how this project progresses. You will receive information and notices about the project and opportunities to get involved.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to share your ideas!
You’re invited to help Plan the Bruce. Get involved and offer feedback on important land use planning issues affecting Bruc e County now and into the future.
Get involved and offer feedback on land use planning — where homes, businesses, schools, parks, roads and infrastructure are built , and how communities grow and manage change .
Together, we are explorers: navigating Bruce County toward a healthy, diverse and thriving future.
Please Note: This page will be updated regularly with project updates and opportunities to engage. In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, please email planthebruce@brucecounty.on.ca.
Below are a series of reports provided to Bruce County Council on the new Official Plan.
Plan the Bruce is a land use project to inform the new Official Plan — the roadmap for growth and development to the year 2046 .
This is a major project that will have a lasting impact on how Bruce County will be shaped in the future.
