Urban Boundary Expansion

Update 2: White Church and Elfrida Urban Boundary Expansion Application Open Houses
The City’s Planning and Economic Development Department has scheduled two open houses to provide the public with an opportunity to learn about and provide comments on two private initiated applications to expand Hamilton's urban boundary: Elfrida Urban Boundary Expansion application & White Church Urban Boundary Expansion application.

IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE: Drop in on Monday, April 14, 2025 anytime between 7 and 9 pm at Hamilton Convention Centre, Wentworth Ballroom, 1 Summers Ln, Hamilton. Drop-in format, registration not required.

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE: Join us virtually on Thursday, April 17, 2025 from 7 to 9 pm for staff presentations (7:10 pm for White Church, 8 pm for Elfrida), followed by Q&A. Register your attendance

Update: Final Report on Framework going to Planning Committee on April 8, 2025
Having concluded our engagement on the Draft Framework, the What We Heard Report(PDF, 8.69 MB) and a Question-and-Answer document (PDF, 144.53 KB) are now available for review. After incorporating the feedback received through consultation, Staff will be submitting a final report on the framework to the Planning Committee for approval on April 8, 2025. At the same meeting, the City will be holding a Statutory Public meeting under the Planning Act to consider amendments to the Urban Hamilton and Rural Hamilton Official Plans, which incorporates the framework into policy. View the Public Notice

The Ontario government has approved significant changes to planning rules through the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 and Bill 185 that allow private landowners to propose urban boundary expansions of any size and location provided the lands are outside the Greenbelt Plan area. The new rules allow landowners to appeal Council’s refusal or non-decision of urban boundary expansion proposals to the Ontario Land Tribunal, posing a direct challenge to a firm urban boundary and our existing, provincially approved Official Plans.

There is approximately 4,320 hectares of land outside of the Greenbelt Plan Area and outside of the existing urban boundary (referred to as the white belt) which is shown in the map which may be subject to privately initiated urban boundary expansion applications.

Figure 1 Lands which may be subject to privately initiated Urban Boundary Expansion applications.

Draft Framework for Processing & Evaluating Urban Boundary Expansion Applications

In response to the provincial changes, the City of Hamilton has developed a Draft Framework for Processing & Evaluating Urban Boundary Expansion Applications. This framework aims to ensure that any proposed urban boundary expansions are carefully assessed against the City’s priorities by:

• Establishing clear submission requirements by outlining the required technical plans and studies that must accompany any urban boundary expansion application.
• Prioritizing key considerations that matter to Hamilton by establishing a set of considerations for the City's rigorous review process, addressing issues such as impacts on farmland, infrastructure capacity and costs, and financial viability.
• Outlining a clear process for submission, review and public and Indigenous engagement for any urban boundary expansion application, going beyond the minimum requirements of the Planning Act.

Additional Resources:

• History of Hamilton’s Urban Boundary(PDF, 814.91 KB)
• The City’s Response to Provincial Policy Changes(PDF, 859.91 KB)
• Managing Provincial Policy Changes to the Urban Boundary Expansion(PDF, 905.63 KB)

Visit engage.hamilton.ca/ubeapplicationframework

Urban Boundary Expansion Area Planning Applications

The City has received Official Plan Amendment Applications requesting or related to the expansion of Hamilton’s urban boundary. For more information on these applications, visit:

• 159 & 163 Sulphur Springs Road - Urban Boundary Expansion Application
• Elfrida - Urban Boundary Expansion Application
• Twenty Road West Lands (Area 2 & Area 3) - Urban Boundary Expansion Application
• Twenty Road West Lands (Area 2 & Area 3) - Secondary Plan Application
• White Church Road Lands - Secondary Plan Application
• White Church Road Lands - Urban Boundary Expansion Application

We will update as new urban boundary expansion applications are received.