New Official Plan

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Posted: June 3, 2026


Have your say on the new Official Plan!


Over the next 20 to 30 years, the County could welcome nearly 97,000 more residents, growing to a population of more than 200,000. What will our communities look like as we grow? How can we welcome new homes, businesses, and opportunities while also protecting the places, values, and features people love most?

Oxford County is preparing a new Official Plan to guide how the community grows and develops over the next 20 to 30 years. Have your say by attending one of the community workshops and/or taking the survey. Your input will help shape what comes next.

Take the survey | Download the workshop flyer




2026 Community workshops

INNERKIP
Tuesday. June 16
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Innerkip Community Centre
695566 17th Line
MOUNT ELGIN
Wednesday, June 17
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Mt. Elgin Community Centre
333204 Plank Line
WOODSTOCK
Tuesday, June 23
1:30-3:30 p.m.
Southgate Centre
191 Old Wellington St. S.


EMBRO
Thursday, June 25
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Embro Community Centre
355644 35th Line
RSVP for a community workshop here



About this project


What is an Official Plan?

The Official Plan is Oxford County’s primary land use planning document and sets out where growth should occur, how land is used, and how development is coordinated with infrastructure and public services.

The project to develop a new Official Plan will establish an updated policy framework that reflects current provincial direction and local priorities, while at the same time supporting complete communities, protecting agricultural lands and natural systems, and ensuring efficient use of infrastructure.


Why we need a new Official Plan

The current Official Plan was approved in 1995 and has effectively guided growth for several decades, but it has surpassed its original planning horizon. Since that time, there have been significant changes in population growth, development patterns, and provincial planning policy. Oxford County is expected to continue growing, bringing both opportunities and challenges related to housing, infrastructure, environmental protection, and community development. Preparing a new Official Plan provides an opportunity to respond to these changes and establish a clear, long-term vision for the future. See the project timeline


Have your say

You can provide feedback and comments about the new Official Plan now in the following ways.

  • WORKSHOPS: Take part in one of the upcoming workshops listed above. Download the flyer
  • SURVEY: Take the online engagement survey to give feedback on different parts of the new plan. Take the survey
  • SUBMIT COMMENTS: Use the online question and comment form below or send an email directly to the project contacts listed at right.
  • STAY INFORMED: Under the Planning Act, municipalities are required to provide formal notice at various points in the process. If you would like to stay informed about the project you can:
    • Sign in when attending meetings or events
    • Email us a request to receive notice at OPupdate@oxfordcounty.ca
    • Follow this page for project updates

Posted: June 3, 2026


Have your say on the new Official Plan!


Over the next 20 to 30 years, the County could welcome nearly 97,000 more residents, growing to a population of more than 200,000. What will our communities look like as we grow? How can we welcome new homes, businesses, and opportunities while also protecting the places, values, and features people love most?

Oxford County is preparing a new Official Plan to guide how the community grows and develops over the next 20 to 30 years. Have your say by attending one of the community workshops and/or taking the survey. Your input will help shape what comes next.

Take the survey | Download the workshop flyer




2026 Community workshops

INNERKIP
Tuesday. June 16
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Innerkip Community Centre
695566 17th Line
MOUNT ELGIN
Wednesday, June 17
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Mt. Elgin Community Centre
333204 Plank Line
WOODSTOCK
Tuesday, June 23
1:30-3:30 p.m.
Southgate Centre
191 Old Wellington St. S.


EMBRO
Thursday, June 25
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Embro Community Centre
355644 35th Line
RSVP for a community workshop here



About this project


What is an Official Plan?

The Official Plan is Oxford County’s primary land use planning document and sets out where growth should occur, how land is used, and how development is coordinated with infrastructure and public services.

The project to develop a new Official Plan will establish an updated policy framework that reflects current provincial direction and local priorities, while at the same time supporting complete communities, protecting agricultural lands and natural systems, and ensuring efficient use of infrastructure.


Why we need a new Official Plan

The current Official Plan was approved in 1995 and has effectively guided growth for several decades, but it has surpassed its original planning horizon. Since that time, there have been significant changes in population growth, development patterns, and provincial planning policy. Oxford County is expected to continue growing, bringing both opportunities and challenges related to housing, infrastructure, environmental protection, and community development. Preparing a new Official Plan provides an opportunity to respond to these changes and establish a clear, long-term vision for the future. See the project timeline


Have your say

You can provide feedback and comments about the new Official Plan now in the following ways.

  • WORKSHOPS: Take part in one of the upcoming workshops listed above. Download the flyer
  • SURVEY: Take the online engagement survey to give feedback on different parts of the new plan. Take the survey
  • SUBMIT COMMENTS: Use the online question and comment form below or send an email directly to the project contacts listed at right.
  • STAY INFORMED: Under the Planning Act, municipalities are required to provide formal notice at various points in the process. If you would like to stay informed about the project you can:
    • Sign in when attending meetings or events
    • Email us a request to receive notice at OPupdate@oxfordcounty.ca
    • Follow this page for project updates

  • Project outline

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    June 3, 2026

    The following description explains what will be covered in the new Official Plan and the role of community consultation.

    Project components

    The new Official Plan will be informed by several key topic areas that reflect both local priorities and provincial requirements. These include:

    • planning for growth and urban structure, including where development and intensification should occur
    • employment and commercial lands, to support economic development and complete communities
    • housing, including a range of housing options and affordability
    • agriculture, with a continued focus on long-term farmland protection
    • environmental policies related to natural heritage, water resources, natural hazards and consideration

    June 3, 2026

    The following description explains what will be covered in the new Official Plan and the role of community consultation.

    Project components

    The new Official Plan will be informed by several key topic areas that reflect both local priorities and provincial requirements. These include:

    • planning for growth and urban structure, including where development and intensification should occur
    • employment and commercial lands, to support economic development and complete communities
    • housing, including a range of housing options and affordability
    • agriculture, with a continued focus on long-term farmland protection
    • environmental policies related to natural heritage, water resources, natural hazards and consideration for the impacts of a changing climate
    • infrastructure planning to ensure growth is supported by services
    • cultural heritage, including the conservation of built heritage and landscapes.


    Public engagement

    Community Visioning

    Community Visioning is the first step in developing the new Official Plan and will help define the overall direction of the project. This phase will focus on gathering input from residents, stakeholders, and area municipalities on key priorities, values, and issues facing the County.

    It is anticipated that the process for completing certain background studies will include additional opportunities for targeted engagement to solicit study specific feedback and input. This will help to inform the technical basis for policy updates, including revising or revisiting planning approaches as necessary to address matters that have seen policy or legislative changes (e.g., employment areas, strategic growth areas).

    This additional engagement will be planned for as part of the study process for each of the particular background studies, as appropriate.

    Community engagement in this stage of the project will include community workshops, an online survey, and the online comment and question form.

    Under the Planning Act, municipalities are required to provide formal notice at various points in the process. If you would like to stay informed about the project you can:

    • Sign in when attending meetings or events
    • Email us a request to receive notice at OPreivew@oxfordcounty.ca
    • Follow this page for project updates


Page last updated: 05 Jun 2026, 10:28 AM