Coming into Force: Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017 and Regulations LPAT Proposed Rules of Practice and Procedure
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs has provided the following updates regarding the Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017, which was passed as Bill 139 by the Legislature on December 12, 2017, and related regulations.
Effect Date for the Act
The changes the Act makes to the land use planning and appeal system will come into effect on April 3, 2018, as specified by proclamation.
This includes changes to:
- establish the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (the Tribunal) as the province-wide appeal body for land use planning matters;
- improve the hearing process at the Tribunal;
- establish the Local Planning Appeal Support Centre to provide legal and planning support services to eligible Ontarians for matters before the Tribunal;
- limit the Tribunal’s ability to overturn municipal decisions that adhere to municipal official plans, provincial plans and the Provincial Policy Statement;
- give municipalities more control over local planning, resulting in fewer decisions being appealed; and
- shelter certain major planning decisions from appeal.
Planning Act Regulations
The Planning Act regulations will also come into effect on April 3, 2018.
Under the Planning Act, changes will be made to existing regulations to facilitate implementation of the Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017 changes to the land use planning and appeal system by:
- requiring explanations of how planning proposals are consistent/conform with provincial and local policies and clarify requirements for municipal notices;
- making technical changes, such as changing references from Ontario Municipal Board to Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, and amending cross-references; and
- establishing new transition provisions to set out rules for planning matters in process at the time of proclamation.
You can view copies of the amending Planning Act regulations on Ontario’s e-Laws:
New regulations under the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Act, 2017 are also proposed and it is anticipated that they will be finalized in the near future.
Proposed LPAT Rules of Practice and Procedure
As part of this transition, the proposed Rules of Practice and Procedures for LPAT have been released for comment. The proposed Rules may be found here (
Word |
PDF). Comments on the Rules can be sent to
ELTO.CLO@ontario.ca until March 23, 2018.
Questions
Any questions about the changes to the land use planning and appeal system, including the Planning Act regulatory changes, can be sent to
OMBReview@ontario.ca.