Official Plan

Topic(s)
Planning
Status
In Effect
Plan/Strategy Last Updated
May 2024

The Official Plan is a general policy document that establishes a long range planning blueprint for land uses and resource management within the municipality. 

Land uses are identified by designations, under which specific policy direction is given to deal with such matters as type of use, density, massing, community design, and development criteria. In addition, policies related to park systems, transportation, servicing and implementation are outlined within the Official Plan. New developments that do not conform to the plan must seek approval of an Official Plan Amendment.

Official Plan Text & Maps

Learn about the amendments to the Official Plan.

Official Plan Amendments

The following amendments have been made to the Official Plan and consolidated in the document by staff, as of April 17, 2026:

The City has also initiated amendments to the Official Plan, as outlined below. 

Barrie-Oro-Medonte-Springwater Boundary Adjustment Act, 2025

The City has initiated application D30-005-2026 to incorporate lands added to the City of Barrie as a result of the Barrie-Oro-Medonte-Springwater Boundary Adjustment Act, 2025, into the City of Barrie’s Official Plan. These lands support the City’s long term needs for Employment and Community Areas as established through a Joint Land Needs Analysis and Study completed in the fall of 2025. Amended land use designations for adjacent lands within the City’s current Built Up Area including 418, 428, 436, 444 and 445 Blake Street, 406 and 416 Georgian Drive, 247 and 256 Steel Street and 138 Penetanguishene Road are also proposed through this process.

The Official Plan Amendment:

  • adds the boundary adjustment lands to the City of Barrie Official Plan schedules and mapping; 
  • establishes appropriate Official Plan land use designations for the new lands and adjacent parcels identified, and 
  • introduces or modifies policies to guide the long‑term planning, servicing, and development of the new lands. 

Consideration has been given with regard to existing uses, adjacent established neighbourhoods, natural areas and the long-term employment needs of the City. 

The City hosted a drop-in open house on Wednesday, April 8 and a public meeting on Wednesday, April 15, within Affordability Committee. A public notice was issued on March 25, 2026. 

A staff report was brought forward to General Committee for consideration on April 22, 2026. Mapping updates were included within the staff report. By-laws to adopt Official Plan Amendments 6 and 7 were approved on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. A notice of a decision to adopt by-law number 2026-040 and notice of a decision to adopt by-law number 2026-041 were issued on April 30, 2026. 

Community Planning Permit System

The City has initiated an amendment to add policies to the Official Plan to designate the entire Allandale Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) as a Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) area. All new development in the Allandale MTSA would be regulated by a Community Planning Permit (CPP) by-law. Additional policies are included with the Official Plan amendment regarding the intent of the CPP by-law, and to connect specific development-related objectives of the MTSA with the City’s Official Plan “Planning a Cultural City” policies.

The staff report and draft Official Plan Amendment were deferred at the May 6, 2026 General Committee meeting and will now be presented to General Committee on June 3, 2026.

The City hosted an open house on February 23, 2026, and a public meeting on March 11, 2026. A public notice was issued on February 9, 2026. 

Visit BuildingBarrie.ca/CPPS for more information about the CPPS project.

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