A consequential administrative amendment to the Greenbelt Plan was made on August 15, 2024 so that the policies of the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 (PPS 2020) and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe 2019 (APTG) will continue to apply where the Greenbelt Plan refers to them to maintain existing protections for the Greenbelt following the revocation of the PPS 2020 and APTG.
Active transportation
Means human-powered travel, including but not limited to, walking, cycling, inline skating and travel with the use of mobility aids, including motorized wheelchairs and other power-assisted devices moving at a comparable speed (PPS, 2014).
Agricultural condition
Means:
  1. in regard to specialty crop areas, a condition in which substantially the same areas and same average soil capability for agriculture are restored, the same range and productivity of specialty crops common in the area can be achieved, and, where applicable, the microclimate on which the site and surrounding area may be dependent for specialty crop production shall be maintained or restored; and
  2. in regard to prime agricultural land outside of specialty crop areas, a condition in which substantially the same areas and same average soil capability for agriculture are restored (PPS, 2014).
Agri-food network
Means within the Agricultural System, a network that includes elements important to the viability of the agri-food sector such as regional infrastructure and transportation networks; on-farm buildings and infrastructure; agricultural services, farm markets, distributors and primary processing; and vibrant, agriculture-supportive communities.
Agricultural impact assessment
Means a study that evaluates the potential impacts of non-agricultural development on agricultural operations and the Agricultural System and recommends ways to avoid or, if avoidance is not possible, minimize and mitigate adverse impacts.
Agricultural System
Means the system mapped and issued by the Province, comprised of a group of inter-connected elements that collectively create a viable, thriving agricultural sector. It has two components:
  1. an agricultural land base comprised of prime agricultural areas, including specialty crop areas, and rural lands that together create a continuous, productive land base for agriculture; and
  2. an agri-food network, which includes infrastructure, services and assets important to the viability of the agri-food sector.
Agricultural uses
Means the growing of crops, including nursery, biomass, and horticultural crops; raising of livestock; raising of other animals for food, fur or fibre, including poultry and fish; aquaculture; apiaries; agro-forestry; maple syrup production; and associated on-farm buildings and structures, including, but not limited to livestock facilities, manure storages, value-retaining facilities, and accommodation for full-time farm labour when the size and nature of the operation requires additional employment (PPS, 2014).
Agriculture-related uses
Means those farm-related commercial and farm-related industrial uses that are directly related to farm operations in the area, support agriculture, benefit from being in close proximity to farm operations, and provide direct products and/or services to farm operations as a primary activity (PPS, 2014).
Alvars
Means naturally open areas of thin or no soil over essentially flat limestone, dolostone or marble rock, supporting a sparse vegetation cover of mostly shrubs and herbs.
Archaeological resources
Means artifacts, archaeological sites, marine archaeological sites, as defined under the Ontario Heritage Act. The identification and evaluation of such resources are based upon archaeological fieldwork undertaken in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act (PPS, 2014).
Built heritage resource
Means a building, structure, monument, installation or any manufactured remnant that contributes to a property’s cultural heritage value or interest as identified by a community, including an Aboriginal community. Built heritage resources are generally located on property that has been designated under Parts IV or V of the Ontario Heritage Act, or included on local, provincial and/or federal registers (PPS, 2014).
Complete communities
Means places such as mixed-use neighbourhoods or other areas within cities, towns and settlement areas that offer and support opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to conveniently access most of the necessities for daily living, including an appropriate mix of jobs, local stores and services, a full range of housing, transportation options and public service facilities. Complete communities are age-friendly and may take different shapes and forms appropriate to their contexts (Growth Plan).
Connectivity
Means the degree to which key natural heritage features or key hydrologic features are connected to one another by links such as plant and animal movement corridors, hydrologic and nutrient cycling, genetic transfer and energy flow through food webs.
Conserved
Means the identification, protection, management and use of built heritage resources, cultural heritage landscapes and archaeological resources in a manner that ensures their cultural heritage value or interest is retained under the Ontario Heritage Act. This may be achieved by the implementation of recommendations set out in a conservation plan, archaeological assessment, and/or heritage impact assessment. Mitigative measures and/or alternative development approaches can be included in these plans and assessments (PPS, 2014).
Cultural heritage landscape
Means a defined geographical area that may have been modified by human activity and is identified as having cultural heritage value or interest by a community, including an Aboriginal community. The area may involve features such as structures, spaces, archaeological sites or natural elements that are valued together for their interrelationship, meaning or association.

Examples may include, but are not limited to, heritage conservation districts designated under the Ontario Heritage Act; villages, parks, gardens, battlefields, mainstreets and neighbourhoods, cemeteries, trailways, viewsheds, natural areas and industrial complexes of heritage significance; and areas recognized by federal or international designation authorities (e.g. a National Historic Site or District designation, or a UNESCO World Heritage Site) (PPS, 2014).
Cultural heritage resources
Means built heritage resources, cultural heritage landscapes and archaeological resources that have been determined to have cultural heritage value or interest for the important contribution they make to our understanding of the history of a place, an event, or a people. 

While some cultural heritage resources may already be identified and inventoried by official sources, the significance of others can only be determined after evaluation.
Development
Means the creation of a new lot, a change in land use, or the construction of buildings and structures requiring approval under the Planning Act, but does not include:
  1. activities that create or maintain infrastructure authorized under an environmental assessment process; or
  2. works subject to the Drainage Act (Based on PPS, 2014 and modified for this Plan).
Ecological function
Means the natural processes, products or services that living and non-living environments provide or perform within or between species, ecosystems and landscapes, including hydrologic functions and biological, physical, chemical and socio-economic interactions.
Ecological integrity
Which includes hydrological integrity, means the condition of ecosystems in which:
  1. the structure, composition and function of the ecosystems are unimpaired by the stresses from human activity;
  2. natural ecological processes are intact and self-sustaining, and
  3. the ecosystems evolve naturally.
Ecological value
Means the value of vegetation in maintaining the health of the key natural heritage feature or key hydrologic feature and the related ecological features and ecological functions, as measured by factors such as the diversity of species, the diversity of habitats and the suitability and amount of habitats that are available for rare, threatened and endangered species.
Endangered species
Means a species that is classified as an endangered species in Ontario Regulation 230/08 (Species at Risk in Ontario List) made under the Endangered Species Act, 2007, as it may be amended from time to time.
Existing uses
Means:
  1. uses legally established prior to the date that the Greenbelt Plan came into force on December 16, 2004; or
  2. for the purposes of lands added to the Greenbelt Plan after December 16, 2004, uses legally established prior to the date the Greenbelt Plan came into force in respect of the land on which the uses are established.
Fish habitat
Means, as defined in the Fisheries Act, spawning grounds and any other areas, including nursery, rearing, food supply, and migration areas on which fish depend directly or indirectly in order to carry out their life processes (PPS, 2014).
Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH)
Means the geographic area identified as the Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan area in Ontario Regulation 416/05 under the Places to Grow Act, 2005 (Growth Plan).
Green infrastructure
Means natural and human-made elements that provide ecological and hydrological functions and processes. Green infrastructure can include components such as natural heritage features and systems, parklands, stormwater management systems, street trees, urban forests, natural channels, permeable surfaces, and green roofs (PPS, 2014).
Habitat of endangered species and threatened species
Means:
  1. with respect to a species listed on the Species at Risk in Ontario List as an endangered or threatened species for which a regulation made under clause 55(1)(a) of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 is in force, the area prescribed by that regulation as the habitat of the species; or
  2. with respect to any other species listed on the Species at Risk in Ontario List as an endangered or threatened species, an area on which the species depends, directly or indirectly, to carry on its life processes, including life processes such as reproduction, rearing, hibernation, migration or feeding, as approved by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry; and
  3. places in the areas described in clause (a) or (b), whichever is applicable, that are used by members of the species as dens, nests, hibernacula or other residences (PPS, 2014).
Hazardous lands
Means property or lands that could be unsafe for development due to naturally occurring processes. Along the shorelines of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River System, this means the land, including that covered by water, between the international boundary, where applicable, and the furthest landward limit of the flooding hazard, erosion hazard or dynamic beach hazard limits. Along the shorelines of large inland lakes, this means the land, including that covered by water, between a defined offshore distance or depth and the furthest landward limit of the flooding hazard, erosion hazard or dynamic beach hazard limits. Along river, stream and small inland lake systems, this means the land, including that covered by water, to the furthest landward limit of the flooding hazard or erosion hazard limits (PPS, 2014).
Highly vulnerable aquifers
Means aquifers, including lands above the aquifers, on which external sources have or are likely to have a significant adverse effect.
Hydrologic function
Means the functions of the hydrological cycle that include the occurrence, circulation, distribution and chemical and physical properties of water on the surface of the land, in the soil and underlying rocks, and in the atmosphere, and water’s interaction with the environment including its relation to living things (PPS, 2014).
Infrastructure
Means physical structures (facilities and corridors) that form the foundation for development. Infrastructure includes: sewage and water systems, septage treatment systems, stormwater management systems, waste management systems, electricity generation facilities, electricity transmission and distribution systems, communications/telecommunications, transit and transportation corridors and facilities, oil and gas pipelines and associated facilities (PPS, 2014).
Intensification
Means the development of a property, site or area at a higher density than currently exists through:
  1. redevelopment, including the reuse of brownfield sites;
  2. the development of vacant and/or underutilized lots within previously developed areas;
  3. infill development; and
  4. the expansion or conversion of existing buildings (PPS, 2014).
Intermittent streams
Means stream-related watercourses that contain water or are dry at times of the year that are more or less predictable, generally flowing during wet seasons of the year but not the entire year, and where the water table is above the stream bottom during parts of the year.
Key hydrologic areas
Means a key hydrologic area as described in section 3.2.4.
Key hydrologic features
Means a key hydrologic feature as described in section 3.2.5.
Key natural heritage features
Means a key natural heritage feature as described in section 3.2.5.
Lake
Means any inland body of standing water, usually fresh water, larger than a pool or pond or a body of water filling a depression in the earth’s surface.
Landform features
Means distinctive physical attributes of land such as slope, shape, elevation and relief.
Life science areas of natural and scientific interest (ANSIs)
Means an area(s) that has been:
  1. identified as having life science values related to protection, scientific study or education; and
  2. further identified by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry using evaluation procedures established by that Ministry, as amended from time to time.
Low impact development
Means an approach to stormwater management that seeks to manage rain and other precipitation as close as possible to where it falls to mitigate the impacts of increased runoff and stormwater pollution. It includes a set of site design strategies and distributed, small-scale structural practices to mimic the natural hydrology to the greatest extent possible through infiltration, evapotranspiration, harvesting, filtration and detention of stormwater. Low impact development can include: bio-swales, permeable pavement, rain gardens, green roofs and exfiltration systems. Low impact development often employs vegetation and soil in its design, however, that does not always have to be the case.
Major development
Means development consisting of:
  1. the creation of four or more lots;
  2. the construction of a building or buildings with a ground floor area of 500 m² or more; or
  3. the establishment of a major recreational use.
Major recreational use
Means a recreational use that requires large-scale modification of terrain, vegetation or both and usually also requires large-scale buildings or structures, including but not limited to the following: golf courses; serviced playing fields; serviced campgrounds; and ski hills.
Mineral aggregate operation
Means:
  1. lands under license or permit, other than for wayside pits and quarries, issued in accordance with the Aggregate Resources Act;
  2. for lands not designated under the Aggregate Resources Act, established pits and quarries that are not in contravention of municipal zoning by-laws and including adjacent land under agreement with or owned by the operator, to permit continuation of the operation; and
  3. associated facilities used in extraction, transport, beneficiation, processing or recycling of mineral aggregate resources and derived products such as asphalt and concrete, or the production of secondary related products (PPS, 2014).
Minimum distance separation formulae
Means formulae and guidelines developed by the Province, as amended from time to time, to separate uses so as to reduce incompatibility concerns about odour from livestock facilities (PPS, 2014).
Municipal sewage services
Means a sewage works within the meaning of section 1 of the Ontario Water Resources Act that is owned or operated by a municipality (PPS, 2014).
Municipal water services
Means a municipal drinking-water system within the meaning of section 2 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 (PPS, 2014).
Natural self-sustaining vegetation
Means vegetation dominated by native plant species that can grow and persist without direct human management, protection or tending.
Negative impact(s)
Means:
  1. in regard to water, degradation to the quality or quantity of surface or groundwater, key hydrologic features or vulnerable areas and their related hydrologic functions, due to single, multiple or successive development or site alteration activities;
  2. in regard to fish habitat, any permanent alteration to, or destruction of fish habitat, except where, in conjunction with the appropriate authorities, it has been authorized under the Fisheries Act; and
  3. in regard to other natural heritage features and areas, degradation that threatens the health and integrity of the natural features or ecological functions for which an area is identified due to single, multiple or successive development or site alteration activities.
New multiple lots or units for residential development
Means the creation of more than three units or lots through either plan of subdivision, consent or plan of condominium.
Normal farm practices
Means a practice, as defined in the Farming and Food Production Protection Act, 1998, that is conducted in a manner consistent with proper and acceptable customs and standards as established and followed by similar agricultural operations under similar circumstances; or makes use of innovative technology in a manner consistent with proper advanced farm management practices. Normal farm practices shall be consistent with the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 and regulations made under that Act (PPS, 2014).
On-farm diversified uses
Means uses that are secondary to the principal agricultural use of the property, and are limited in area. On-farm diversified uses include, but are not limited to, home occupations, home industries, agri-tourism uses, and uses that produce value-added agricultural products (PPS, 2014).
Permanent stream
Means a stream that continually flows in an average year.
Prime agricultural area
Means an area where prime agricultural lands predominate. This includes areas of prime agricultural lands and associated Canada Land Inventory Class 4 through 7 lands, and additional areas where there is a local concentration of farms which exhibit characteristics of ongoing agriculture. Prime agricultural areas are to be identified by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs using guidelines developed by the Province, as amended from time to time.
Prime agricultural land
Means specialty crop areas and/or Canada Land Inventory Class 1, 2, and 3 lands, as amended from time to time, in this order of priority for protection (PPS, 2014).
Private communal sewage services
Means a sewage works within the meaning of section 1 of the Ontario Water Resources Act that serves six or more lots or private residences and is not owned by a municipality (PPS, 2014).
Private communal water services
Means a non-municipal drinking-water system within the meaning of section 2 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 that serves six or more lots or private residences (PPS, 2014).
Public service facilities
Means land, buildings and structures for the provision of programs and services provided or subsidized by a government or other body, such as social assistance, recreation, police and fire protection, health and educational programs, and cultural services. Public service facilities do not include infrastructure (PPS, 2014).
Residence surplus to a farm operation
Means an existing habitable farm residence that is rendered surplus as a result of farm consolidation (the acquisition of additional farm parcels to be operated as one farm operation) (PPS, 2014).
Rural lands
Means lands which are located outside settlement areas and which are outside prime agricultural areas (PPS, 2014).
Sand barrens
Means land (not including land that is being used for agricultural purposes or no longer exhibits sand barrens characteristics) that:
  1. has sparse or patchy vegetation that is dominated by plants that are:
    1. adapted to severe drought and low nutrient levels; and
    2. maintained by severe environmental limitations such as drought, low nutrient levels and periodic disturbances such as fire;
  2. has less than 25 per cent tree cover;
  3. has sandy soils (other than shorelines) exposed by natural erosion, depositional process or both; and
  4. has been further identified, by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry or by any other person, according to evaluation procedures established by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, as amended from time to time.
Savannah
Means land (not including land that is being used for agricultural purposes or no longer exhibits savannah characteristics) that:
  1. has vegetation with a significant component of non-woody plants, including tallgrass prairie species that are maintained by seasonal drought, periodic disturbances such as fire, or both;
  2. has from 25 per cent to 60 per cent tree cover;
  3. has mineral soils; and
  4. has been further identified, by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry or by any other person, according to evaluation procedures established by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, as amended from time to time.
Seepage areas and springs
Means sites of emergence of groundwater where the water table is present at the ground surface.
Settlement areas
Means urban areas and rural settlement areas within municipalities (such as cities, towns, villages and hamlets) that are:
  1. built-up areas where development is concentrated and which have a mix of land uses; and
  2. lands which have been designated in an official plan for development in accordance with the policies in the Growth Plan. Where there are no lands that have been designated for development, the settlement area may be no larger than the area where development is concentrated (Growth Plan).
Significant
Means:
  1. in regard to wetlands and life science areas of natural and scientific interest, an area identified as provincially significant using evaluation procedures established by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, as amended from time to time;
  2. in regard to woodlands, an area which is ecologically important in terms of features such as species composition, age of trees and stand history; functionally important due to its contribution to the broader landscape because of its location, size or due to the amount of forest cover in the planning area; or economically important due to site quality, species composition, or past management history. The Province (Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry) identifies criteria relating to the forgoing;
  3. in regard to other features and areas in section 3.2.4 of this Plan, ecologically important in terms of features, functions, representation or amount, and contributing to the quality and diversity of the Natural Heritage System. The Province (Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry) identifies criteria relating to the forgoing; and
While some significant resources may already be identified and inventoried by official sources, the significance of others can only be determined after evaluation.
Significant groundwater recharge area
Means a significant groundwater recharge area identified:
  1. as a significant groundwater recharge area by any public body for the purposes of implementing the PPS;
  2. as a significant groundwater recharge area in the assessment report required under the Clean Water Act, 2006; or
  3. as an ecologically significant groundwater recharge area delineated in a subwatershed plan or equivalent in accordance with provincial guidelines.
Ecologically significant groundwater recharge areas are areas of land that are responsible for replenishing groundwater systems that directly support sensitive areas like coldwater streams and wetlands.
Significant surface water contribution areas
Means areas, generally associated with headwater catchments, that contribute to baseflow volumes which are significant to the overall surface water flow volumes within a watershed.
Site alteration
Means activities, such as grading, excavation and the placement of fill that would change the landform and natural vegetative characteristics of a site (PPS, 2014).
Specialty crop areas
Means areas designated using guidelines developed by the Province, as amended from time to time. In these areas, specialty crops are predominantly grown such as tender fruits (peaches, cherries, plums), grapes, other fruit crops, vegetable crops, greenhouse crops, and crops from agriculturally developed organic soil, usually resulting from:
  1. soils that have suitability to produce specialty crops, or lands that are subject to special climatic conditions, or a combination of both;
  2. farmers skilled in the production of specialty crops; and
  3. a long-term investment of capital in areas such as crops, drainage, infrastructure and related facilities and services to produce, store, or process specialty crops (PPS, 2014).
Subwatershed plan
Means a plan that reflects and refines the goals, objectives, targets and assessments of watershed planning for smaller drainage areas, is tailored to subwatershed needs and addresses local issues. 

A subwatershed plan should: consider existing development and evaluate impacts of any potential or proposed land uses and development; identify hydrologic features, areas, linkages and functions; identify natural features, areas and related hydrologic functions; and provide for protecting, improving or restoring the quality and quantity of water within a subwatershed. 

A subwatershed plan is based on pre-development monitoring and evaluation; is integrated with natural heritage protection; and identifies specific criteria, objectives, actions, thresholds, targets and best management practices for development, for water and wastewater servicing, for stormwater management, for managing and minimizing impacts related to severe weather events, and to support ecological needs.
Tallgrass prairies
Means land (not including land that is being used for agricultural purposes or no longer exhibits tallgrass prairie characteristics) that:
  1. has vegetation dominated by non-woody plants, including tallgrass prairie species that are maintained by seasonal drought, periodic disturbances such as fire or both;
  2. has less than 25 per cent tree cover;
  3. has mineral soils; and
  4. has been further identified, by the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry or by any other person, according to evaluation procedures established by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, as amended from time to time.
Threatened species
Means a species that is classified as a threatened species in Ontario Regulation 230/08 (Species at Risk in Ontario List) made under the Endangered Species Act, 2007, as it may be amended from time to time.
Total developable area
Means the total area of the property less the area occupied by key natural heritage features, key hydrologic features and any related vegetation protection zones (see section 3.2.2).
Valleylands
Means a natural area that occurs in a valley or other landform depression that has water flowing through or standing for some period of the year (PPS, 2014).
Vegetation protection zone
Means a vegetated buffer area surrounding a key natural heritage feature or key hydrologic feature.
Vulnerable
Means surface and/or ground water that can be easily changed or impacted (PPS, 2014).
Watershed planning
Means planning that provides a framework for establishing goals, objectives and direction for the protection of water resources, the management of human activities, land, water, aquatic life and resources within a watershed and for the assessment of cumulative, cross-jurisdictional and cross-watershed impacts.

Watershed planning typically includes: watershed characterization, a water budget and conservation plan; nutrient loading assessments; consideration of climate change impacts and severe weather events; land and water use management objectives and strategies; scenario modelling to evaluate the impacts of forecasted growth and servicing options, and mitigation measures; an environmental monitoring plan; requirements for the use of environmental best management practices, programs, and performance measures; criteria for evaluating the protection of quality and quantity of water; the identification and protection of hydrologic features, areas and functions and the inter-relationships between or among them; and targets for the protection and restoration of riparian areas. 

Watershed planning is undertaken at many scales, and considers cross-jurisdictional and cross-watershed impacts. The level of analysis and specificity generally increases for smaller geographic areas such as subwatersheds and tributaries.
Wellhead protection areas
Means the surface and subsurface area surrounding a water well or well field that supplies a public water system and through which contaminants are reasonably likely to move so as eventually to reach the water well or well field.
Wetlands
Means lands that are seasonally or permanently covered by shallow water, as well as lands where the water table is close to or at the surface. In either case the presence of abundant water has caused the formation of hydric soils and has favoured the dominance of either hydrophytic plants or water-tolerant plants. The four major types of wetlands are swamps, marshes, bogs and fens. 

Periodically soaked or wet lands being used for agricultural purposes which no longer exhibit wetland characteristics are not considered to be wetlands for the purposes of this definition. 

Wetlands are further identified, by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry or by any other person, according to evaluation procedures established by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, as amended from time to time.
Wildlife habitat
Means areas where plants, animals and other organisms live, and find adequate amounts of food, water, shelter and space needed to sustain their populations. Specific wildlife habitats of concern may include areas where species concentrate at a vulnerable point in their annual or life cycle; and areas which are important to migratory or non-migratory species (PPS, 2014).
Woodlands
Means treed areas that provide environmental and economic benefits to both the private landowner and the general public, such as erosion prevention, hydrological and nutrient cycling, provision of clean air and the long-term storage of carbon, provision of wildlife habitat, outdoor recreational opportunities, and the sustainable harvest of a wide range of woodland products. Woodlands include treed areas, woodlots or forested areas and vary in their level of significance at the local, regional and provincial levels. Woodlands may be delineated according to the Forestry Act definition or the Province’s Ecological Land Classification system definition for “forest” (PPS, 2014).