A specific amendment to Ontario's Planning Act takes legal effect, triggering new planning rules

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

Proclamation means the government has officially 'turned on' a provision that was passed by the legislature but not yet active. Schedule 7, section 9 of the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026 has now been switched on, making it binding law. This particular provision amends the Planning Act, which governs land use planning decisions across Ontario. Anyone involved in development applications, official plan amendments, zoning decisions, or other Planning Act processes should review what this section changes and assess whether their current or pending matters are affected. Legal or planning advisors should be consulted to understand how this specific amendment interacts with ongoing files.

Who this affects: land developers and builders · municipal planners and planning departments · landowners with pending planning applications · real estate lawyers and planning consultants