Official Plan

Learn about the City of Waterloo’s Official Plan. Find plan documents, schedules and related materials. 

On this page:

1. About the Official Plan
2. Official Plan review
3. Official Plan
4. Land use schedules
5. Planning and land use data
6. Region of Waterloo Official Plan

About the Official Plan

The Official Plan is our city's long-term planning guide for land use and development. It will be reviewed and updated periodically to ensure it reflects changing conditions in the city.

If you have questions about the plan, or require it in an alternate format, contact our Planning division, at 519-747-8752 or devservices@waterloo.ca.

Official Plan (updated December 2025)

The Official Plan is a long and detailed document. Download it in PDF sections or read the consolidated text (PDF).

• Land acknowledgement
• Table of contents
• Explanatory note
• Chapter 1 - Introduction
• Chapter 2 - Vision, principles and basis of the of the plan
• Chapter 3 - City form
• Chapter 4 - Arts, culture, heritage, recreation and leisure
• Chapter 5 - Networks
• Chapter 6 - Transportation
• Chapter 7 - Economy
• Chapter 8 - Environment and energy
• Chapter 9 - Mineral aggregates
• Chapter 10 - Land use policies
• Chapter 11 - Area Specific Policies
• Chapter 12 - Implementation
• Glossary

Land use schedules

Schedules are maps that help illustrate policies laid out in the Official Plan. 

Download each PDF schedules or view the consolidated schedules (PDF).

• Schedule A - Land use
  • Schedule A1 - Commercial land uses
  • Schedule A2 - Employment areas
  • Schedule A3 - Open space land uses
  • Schedule A4 - Natural system
    • Schedule A45a - Street frontage areas and streetscape elements
    • Schedule A45b - Block plan areas
  • Schedule A5 - Natural hazards
  • Schedule A6 (removed as of December 2025)
    • Schedule A6a - Area Specific Policies 20 and 45
    • Schedule A6b - Erbsville South, Land Use
    • Schedule A6c - Erbsville South, Environmental System
    • Schedule A6d - Erbsville South, Mobility Network
• Schedule B - City structure
  • Schedule B1 - Height and density
  • Schedule B2 (removed as of December 2025)
  • Schedule B3 (removed as of December 2025)
  • Schedule B4 - Sourcewater protection area
• Schedule C - District boundaries
• Schedule D - Heritage district
• Schedule E - Road classification system
• Schedule F - Active Transportation System
• Schedule G - Road widths
• Schedule H - Mineral aggregate resource areas
• Schedule I - Industrial transition areas
• Schedule J1 - Conestoga station area
• Schedule J2 - Northfield station area
• Schedule J3 - Research and technology station area
• Schedule J4 - University of Waterloo station area
• Schedule J5 - Waterloo Park station area
• Appendix - Area Specific Policies

The online version is a consolidation of policies in effect as of December 2025. It is for ease of reference only. For the official version, use the original Plan and Plan Amendments on file with the City Clerk and Ontario Land Tribunal (previously OMB or LPAT). Access decisions at olt.gov.on.ca/decisions/overview

Planning and land use data

Visit our planning and land use data page to learn how Official Plan policies are being put into practice.

Region of Waterloo Official Plan

On January 1, 2025, the Province shifted most regional planning duties to local municipalities. Until the city updates its Official Plan and repeals the Region’s plan, both plans apply within Waterloo.

If you have questions about how the Region’s Official Plan applies to development in the City of Waterloo, refer to the consolidated Regional Official Plan or contact devservices@waterloo.ca with any questions.

Open the Regional Official Plan PDF