Agricultural system and natural heritage system policies in Ontario's provincial plans
Learn how Ontario’s land use planning policies support agricultural productivity and ecological health across the landscape.
Overview
This page explains the relationship between agricultural uses and natural heritage, as established under the Provincial Planning Statement (PPS), 2024, and how provincial land use plans build on this framework in specific areas of Ontario.
Ontario's agricultural system and natural heritage systems
PPS 2024 provides province-wide policy direction supporting the agricultural system and development in natural heritage features. Together, these systems support Ontario’s long-term prosperity, environmental health, and quality of life.
In some parts of Ontario, provincial plans, including the Greenbelt Plan, 2017, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, 2017 and Niagara Escarpment Plan, 2017, build on the PPS by providing additional mapping and more detailed policies for prime agricultural areas, the agricultural system, natural heritage features and further development restriction in those features within the natural heritage system.
Throughout this page, references to the PPS describe province-wide policy, while references to provincial plans identify additional requirements that apply only within those plan areas.
| Category | Agricultural system (PPS) | Natural heritage system (PPS) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Maintain and enhance a geographically continuous agricultural land base and support and foster the long-term economic prosperity and productive capacity of the agri-food network. | Provide connectivity and support natural processes to maintain biological and geological diversity, natural functions, viable populations of indigenous species and ecosystems. |
| What it includes | Agricultural land base and agri-food network. | Natural lands and, where these areas are smaller or widely dispersed, they can also include working landscapes such as agricultural lands that enable ecological functions to continue. |
| Planning outcome | Long-term agricultural productivity. | Long-term ecological function. |
Agriculture and natural heritage systems can overlap
Natural heritage systems are primarily identified in southern Ontario and can include natural heritage features such as:
- wetlands
- significant woodlands
- fish habitat
- significant wildlife habitat
These features also occur outside of natural heritage systems. The full range of agricultural uses and normal farm practices can occur in natural heritage systems. Development and site alteration are allowed, but some limitations can occur in or adjacent to these natural heritage features and they can be more restrictive when the features occur within a natural heritage system.
The agricultural system and natural heritage systems may overlap geographically. Where they do, the applicable provincial plan policies of both systems must be considered to support productive agricultural lands while enabling ecological processes to continue across the landscape.
Working agricultural lands contribute to ecological connectivity across more fragmented landscapes. Provincial planning policies are intended to support both long-term agricultural productivity and long-term ecological function.
Additional guidance and resources
For more information about the agricultural system, refer to the Agricultural system approach. This webpage provides a general overview of how these systems interact.
For detailed policy direction, the PPS 2024 and relevant provincial plans should be read in their entirety and applied according to the specific circumstances of a given property.
For more information and additional technical guidance on implementing natural heritage policies refer to Natural heritage technical guides and resources.
Landowners should also consult their local municipality regarding the interpretation and application of land-use policies.
Farming within and near natural heritage features
Province-wide (PPS 2024)
Lands currently in agricultural use can continue to be used for agricultural purposes. Changes in agricultural activities are allowed without a land use planning application.
For example, lands in row crop production could be converted to pasture or planted as an orchard. Improvements to farmland, such as stone removal, tile draining a field or fencing a pasture could also occur.
Some agricultural activities that are not considered development or site alteration may take place within natural heritage features. For instance, maple tree taps and sap collection lines within a woodlot can continue to be used.
While these activities are not subject to approval under the Planning Act, 1990, they may still be regulated through municipal by-laws (such as tree-cutting) or requirements under the Conservation Authorities Act, 1990.
Farmers also play an important role in maintaining ecological functions through stewardship while continuing productive agricultural operations.
Additional requirements in the Greenbelt
The construction or expansion of agricultural buildings or structures near key natural heritage features and key hydrologic features may be subject to additional conditions. More information on how to identify these key features and their associated vegetation protection zone is found in each provincial plan.
New agricultural uses and buildings in and near natural heritage features
Province-wide (PPS 2024)
In Ecoregions 6E and 7E (southern Ontario), the PPS requires municipalities to identify a natural heritage system, recognizing that the system may vary in size and form in rural areas and prime agricultural areas. Agricultural uses and normal farm practices are permitted within the natural heritage system.
The PPS 2024 promotes the connectivity of a system to enable long-term ecological function across the system. The PPS 2024 also limits development and site alteration within some natural features or the adjacent lands around those features unless it can be demonstrated that there will be no negative impacts on the feature of their ecological function.
Additional requirements in the Greenbelt
New agricultural buildings and structures
Within the Greenbelt Plan, new or expanding agricultural buildings and structures are not permitted within key natural heritage features or key hydrologic features, except where specifically allowed by the plan.
Vegetation protection zones and evaluation requirements
Where a proposed building or structure is located outside the minimum 30-metre vegetation protection zone (VPZ), a natural heritage or hydrologic evaluation is generally not required. Proposals within the minimum vegetation protection zone may require a natural heritage or hydrologic evaluation, depending on the feature and the applicable Greenbelt Plan policies. It should be noted that the Greenbelt Plan also contains additional provisions for the Niagara Peninsula Tender Fruit and Grape Area that reflect the area's unique characteristics.
Where land within a VPZ remains in agricultural use, agricultural activities (such as growing crops) may continue and the VPZ does not need to consist of natural, self-sustaining vegetation. Farmers may continue or change agricultural activities without a planning approval, provided no new buildings or structures are constructed within the VPZ.
Expansions to existing buildings and structures
Expansions or alterations to existing agricultural, agriculture-related and on-farm diversified use buildings or structures may be permitted within key natural heritage features, key hydrologic features or associated VPZs if:
- there is no reasonable alternative location
- the expansion is minimized and directed away from the feature
- impacts on the feature and its ecological functions are minimized and mitigated
For more information about agricultural uses, agriculture-related uses and on-farm diversified uses, refer to the Guidelines on Permitted Uses in Ontario’s Prime Agricultural Areas.
Niagara Peninsula Tender Fruit and Grape Area
Within the Niagara Peninsula Tender Fruit and Grape Area, the Greenbelt Plan provides a limited exception that allows new agricultural, agriculture-related use and on-farm diversified use buildings or structures within 30 metres of permanent and intermittent streams (key hydrologic features) if specified conditions are met to protect specialty crop production and hydrologic functions.
Natural heritage policies and agricultural lot creation
Province-wide (PPS 2024)
Lot creation in prime agricultural areas is discouraged and may only be permitted in limited circumstances. Where a proposed agricultural lot lies within or adjacent to significant natural heritage features, the PPS 2024 requires that development avoid or minimize impacts on these features. Lot creation is not permitted within most significant wetlands or any significant coastal wetland and may only proceed near other significant features if it has been demonstrated that there will be no negative impacts on the feature or its ecological function.
Additional requirements in the Greenbelt
The Greenbelt Plan includes additional lot creation policies for lands in the Protected Countryside. Lot creation remains limited to specific purposes, with minimum lot size requirements for agricultural uses in prime agricultural areas and specialty crop areas. The Plan also includes additional policies to avoid fragmentation of farmland and key natural heritage and hydrologic features.
Within the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, Natural Core Area and Natural Linkage Area designations provide the primary natural heritage framework within the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan area. Agricultural uses are permitted within these designations, and lot creation and new development are subject to policies protecting key natural heritage and hydrologic features.
Contact your local municipality for more information
Contact your local municipality for details about:
- the natural heritage system
- natural heritage features
- the agricultural system in your area, including local mapping, designations, and implementation through official plans
Municipal planning staff can provide information on local land use policies, mapping updates and how provincial direction is applied at the community level.