About Simcoe County

Governance in Simcoe County

The County of Simcoe is the upper-tier municipal government in Simcoe County, and is comprised of 16 member municipalities, which include a diverse range of towns and townships. The cities of Barrie and Orillia, The Chippewas of Rama First Nation and Beausoleil First Nation, and Canadian Forces Base Borden are also located within the geographic region of Simcoe County; however, these communities have separate political and administrative structures.

As an upper-tier municipality, the County of Simcoe is responsible for a range of municipal services, which include social housing, land ambulance and emergency planning, environmental services (solid waste management), a County road system, Ontario Works, children’s services, homes for the aged, a library co-operative, museum, archives, County forest management, tourism, a Geographic Information System (computer mapping), and land use policy planning.

Lower-tier municipalities are responsible for water and sewer services, local roads, public libraries, recreation services, fire and police services, land use development control, licensing and permitting services.

Visit the County of Simcoe website to learn more about the governance structure in Simcoe County.