Legislation and Rules
The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) was established on June 1, 2021 under the authority of section 2 of the Ontario Land Tribunal Act, 2021.
The OLT adjudicates or mediates matters related to land use planning, environmental and natural features and heritage protection, land valuation, land compensation, municipal finance, and related matters.
The Tribunal hears and decides appeals that can be filed under sections of the following Statutes of Ontario:
- Aggregate Resources Act
- Clean Water Act, 2006
- Conservation Authorities Act
- Development Charges Act, 1997
- Environmental Assessment Act
- Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993
- Environmental Protection Act
- Expropriations Act
- Funeral Burial and Crematorium Services Act, 2002
- Greenbelt Act, 2005
- Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act
- Mining Act
- Municipal Act, 2001
- City of Toronto Act, 2006
- Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act
- Nutrient Management Act, 2002
- Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2001
- Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act
- Ontario Heritage Act
- Ontario Water Resources Act
- Pesticides Act
- Planning Act
- Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016
- Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002
Rules of Practice and Procedure
The OLT’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (HTML | PDF) apply to all matters and proceedings before the OLT and are to be read in conjunction with the relevant statutory and regulatory requirements included in the statutes noted above, that provide appeal rights to the Tribunal. These Rules are made under the authority of subsection 13(1) of the Ontario Land Tribunal Act, 2021.
The Tribunal adopts practices and procedures to offer the best opportunity for a fair, just and expeditious resolution of the merits of the proceedings. Part III of the OLTA sets out general practices and procedures for proceedings before the OLT. These practices and procedures should be read along with the Statutory Powers Procedure Act (SPPA) which provides a general framework for the conduct of hearings before an administrative tribunal. The OLTA, the regulations made under it and the Rules prevail should there be a conflict with any provisions of the SPPA.