What is an Official Plan?

Created with input from the public, an Official Plan sets out policies to guide the future development and growth of the City. The City of Richmond Hill's Official Plan:

• Establishes Richmond Hill's general land use policies;
• Ensures growth is coordinated and meets the community's needs;
• Helps members of the community to understand how their land can be used;
• Determines where services such as roads, watermains, and parks will go;
• Provides a framework for setting community standards; and,
• Provides a way to evaluate and settle conflicts over land uses.

If a landowner proposes development that does not comply with the City's Official Plan or a related Secondary Plan, an Official Plan Amendment application must be submitted. Amendments to the Official Plan must take into consideration land use policy documents, such as the:

• Provincial Planning Statement;
• Greenbelt Plan;
• Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan; and,
• Region of York Official Plan (now part of the City’s Official Plan)

The City of Richmond Hill is currently updating its Official Plan. For more information, please visit the Official Plan Update webpage.  

How to Apply 

A Pre-Submission Meeting with Planning staff is strongly encouraged prior to submitting a development application. The purpose of this meeting is for the applicant to present a development proposal on a preliminary basis to confirm the approvals required for the development of a site, identify the studies and technical requirements and to provide feedback and collaboratively discuss the development proposal. As part of the Official Plan Amendment applications online submission, the Authorization of Applicant/Registered Owner(s) must be completed. 

Official Plan Amendment Applications [Online submission]

225 East Beaver Creek Road, Ground Floor
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3P4