Framework for Processing & Evaluating Urban Boundary Expansion Applications

Update: City Council Approved Framework

Following community engagement on the Draft Framework last fall, City Council has approved a Framework for Processing and Evaluating Urban Boundary Expansion Applications together with amendments to the Urban and Rural Hamilton Official Plan to implement the requirements of the framework into policy. View approved Framework, City Staff’s Report & Terms of Reference

The Notice of Adoption of Urban Hamilton Official Plan No.232 and Rural Hamilton Official Plan Amendment No.44 which implement the Framework were issued in accordance with the Planning Act.

The City received three appeals of Urban Hamilton Official Plan Amendment No. 232 and Rural Hamilton Official Plan Amendment No. 44 to the Ontario Land Tribunal. View details regarding these appeals

The City of Hamilton remains committed to a firm no urban boundary expansion and responsible growth, however, the Ontario government has introduced significant changes to municipal planning rules (Bill 185), including permissions for private landowners and proponents to propose urban boundary expansions. The new rules pose a direct challenge to a firm urban boundary and our existing, provincially approved Official Plans. The final decision on whether an urban boundary expansion application is approved now lays with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) rather than municipal councils or the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as it was previously.

In response to these Provincial changes, the City of Hamilton has developed a Draft Framework for processing and evaluating Urban Boundary Expansion applications.

Additional Resources

• History of Hamilton's Urban Boundary
• The City's Response to Provincial Policy Changes
• Managing Provincial Policy Changes to Urban Boundary Expansion

We want your feedback!

We are actively seeking public input to shape the final version of the Urban Boundary Expansion Framework. The establishment of a Framework for urban boundary expansion applications does not detract from the City’s no urban boundary expansion strategy.

We're collecting information as part of this project
The City of Hamilton collects information under authority of Section 227 of the Municipal Act, 2001. Any personal information collected for Processing & Evaluating of Urban Boundary Expansion Applications will be used to refine the draft framework. More details and contact information can be found in the right column of this page under "Notice of Collection".