A Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) is a long-range land use planning process informed by provincial planning policy. The City of Orillia is provincially mandated to complete this process.
City of Orillia Municipal Comprehensive Review
The City of Orillia is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of its land use and planning policies to accommodate future growth over the next 26 years.
This process includes:
- exploring a boundary expansion to determine the best approach for accommodating future growth outside the current municipal boundaries
- an Official Plan review to update the City's guiding document for land use planning and development to align with Provincial policies and address future needs.
Township of Severn Council and staff are actively monitoring this process and working with the City of Orillia and other area municipal and government representatives to help ensure that our comments and those of our residents are considered. This approach is needed to secure our opportunity to participate in these decisions that could impact Severn's future. As we monitor this process, it is a priority that our residents stay informed.
Final locations of Orillia’s Boundary Expansion determined
The City of Orillia has confirmed the preferred locations for its next municipal boundary expansion, which includes lands in the Townships of Severn and Oro-Medonte. Orillia Council has endorsed Option 1 to support long-term housing and employment growth over the next 20 to 30 years.
Township of Severn will continue to take part in future discussions with the City of Orillia, Township of Oro-Medonte, and County of Simcoe to ensure the process remains transparent, collaborative, and focused on the interests of residents, property owners, and businesses.
Further discussions about annexation are expected to begin following the 2026 municipal election.
View the City of Orillia news release View the City of Orillia staff report
Hybrid open house held to review Orillia’s proposed boundary expansion
The City of Orillia held a hybrid public open house on Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Orillia City Centre (50 Andrew Street South, Orillia), in Council Chambers, regarding the Settlement Area Boundary Expansion planning process. The City is exploring expansion options into the Townships of Severn and Oro-Medonte. This is the third open house on the boundary expansion, with the final growth options to be presented.
The hybrid public open house on January 29, 2026 was an opportunity for residents and interested parties to provide feedback on Orillia’s future growth plans.
View the Planning Justification Report, Fiscal Analysis and potential boundary expansion maps
The Planning Justification Report, Fiscal Analysis and potential boundary expansion maps were available for review at orillia.ca/boundaryexpansion in advance of the open house.
Comments and feedback are welcome at the January 29 open house or by submitting written comments to planning@orillia.ca with the subject line “Boundary Expansion.” Written comments must be received by February 5, 2026 to be considered in the next report to Orillia Council, expected in late spring or summer of 2026.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
To accommodate future population and employment growth, the City of Orillia has identified lands in Severn and Oro-Medonte for annexation. This process ensures enough land is available to meet Provincial requirements, address community needs, and support sustainable development over the next 26 years.
Why is the City of Orillia looking for more land?
To prepare for more people and jobs in the future, the City of Orillia is looking into possibly expanding its boundaries. This process makes sure there is enough land to meet the Province's needs, help the community, and promote sustainable development for the next 26 years.
Are lands in Severn being considered as part of the potential boundary expansion?
The City has sufficient land to support growth only until the 2030s; however, Provincial policy mandates that municipalities must plan for a growth horizon of at least 20 years. Orillia is expected to provide 7,330 new housing units by 2051. The Council will determine if this growth can be managed within the current municipal limits or if more land is necessary. Besides housing units, the City will also need extra land for employment and community purposes. This additional land cannot be accommodated within Orillia’s existing boundaries. The City has pinpointed 196.1 developable hectares in the Townships of Severn and Oro-Medonte as potential sites for future boundary expansion.
How can Severn residents get involved in the MCR process?
Public and stakeholder consultation will continue to take place, including opportunities to comment on the revised proposed boundary expansion. You can stay up to date on these opportunities by subscribing to updates at orillia.ca/planningforthefuture. You are also welcome to submit comments in writing to planning@orillia.ca.
When is this process expected to be completed?
The City of Orillia has provided a visual timeline which outlines the process. This timeline is subject to change.
News and resources
- City of Orillia news release: Council adopts Option 1 for expansion into Townships of Severn and Oro-Medonte (May 12, 2026)
- City of Orillia news release: Jan. 29 marks third open house to consider final boundary expansion options
- City of Orillia: Notice of Technical Evaluation for Settlement Area Boundary Expansion Public Open House on January 29, 2026 (December 11, 2025)
- City of Orillia Council to deliberate on boundary expansion and growth plans on February 4, 2025 (January 17, 2025)
- View the City of Orillia's Boundary Expansion Project staff report (January 6, 2025)
- View the City of Orillia's Directions Report (December 16, 2024) and watch the overview video (January 2025)
- City of Orillia new release: In-person option now available for June 20 open house to review potential boundary expansion (June 8, 2023)
- City of Orillia news release: Virtual open house to review potential boundary expansion is June 20 (May 18, 2023)
- Frequently asked questions (May 18, 2023)
- Proposed boundary expansion map (May 18, 2023)
- Frequently asked questions: Orillia Municipal Comprehensive Review Process (prepared for the Township of Severn by the City of Orillia, updated on December 16, 2022)
- Orillia Municipal Comprehensive Review Process timeline
- City of Orillia Planning for the Future webpage
- City of Orillia news release (April 27, 2022)
Further details
More information is available by visiting the City of Orillia's Planning for the Future webpage. Subscribe to updates updates from the City on their website.
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Severn, Ontario
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Fax: 705-327-5818
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