The City of Sarnia is holding a public meeting on April 27, 2026, to discuss proposed updates to its planning documents designed to align local rules with new provincial policies. Residents are invited to learn about the changes at 1 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Sarnia City Hall.
The proposed changes, known as Official Plan Amendment No. 16, support the introduction of a new city-wide zoning by-law that aims to replace the current version, which has been in place since 2002. The amendment updates several planning references, including changing the term special needs housing to additional needs housing and adjusting city maps to reflect updated environmental data provided by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority.
These adjustments include new employment area designations and an updated minimum building height requirement of two storeys or 7.5 metres, whichever is greater. These updates bring Sarnia into compliance with the Provincial Planning Statement 2024, which took effect in October 2024 and consolidated previous provincial growth and planning rules into a single document.
Residents who wish to speak at the meeting or submit written comments must register with the city by noon on April 24, 2026. The City of Sarnia Planning Department has been working on these updates since the city adopted its new Official Plan in July 2022, as required by the Planning Act.
