Help update the City of St. Catharines Official Plan and shape our community for the future!

The City of St. Catharines has initiated a review and update of its Official Plan (known as the “Garden City Plan”). The Garden City Plan provides a long-term vision for land use and development in the City. It guides where we live, work and play.

On this page, you can learn more about the project, upcoming events, find links to important documents related to the Official Plan, and provide your thoughts on the future of the City.

Special Meeting

City Council is hosting a Special Meeting. The special meeting is a preliminary opportunity to provide comments and to discuss the revisions that may be required to the Garden City Plan.

Date: Monday, April 13, 2026
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: In-person at City Hall (Council Chambers), electronic participation using Zoom and broadcast on YouTube and YourTV

Visit stcatharines.ca/Council for information on how to access and participate in the meeting, and how to request and make a delegation before Council.

A copy of the Notice of Special Meeting is available under the 'Documents' tab of this page.

What is an Official Plan?

An Official Plan is a document required by the Planning Act and developed by each municipality. It sets out how land is used and how employment and population growth is to be accommodated. Those policies are implemented through regulations contained within the City's comprehensive Zoning By-law.