Ontario Regions Map
View counties organized by the five major regions.
Ontario's Administrative Divisions
Ontario's local government structure includes 49 administrative divisions: counties, districts, regional municipalities, and single-tier municipalities. These boundaries define local governance, property taxation, emergency services, and public infrastructure. Understanding county and district boundaries is essential for legal matters, real estate transactions, municipal services, electoral districts, and geographic reference.
Southern Ontario primarily uses a county system with upper and lower-tier municipalities. Counties include Simcoe, Wellington, Oxford, Elgin, and many others. Regional municipalities like Peel, York, Durham, Halton, Niagara, and Waterloo function similarly to counties but with different governance structures. Northern Ontario uses districts rather than counties - large geographic areas like Algoma District, Thunder Bay District, Cochrane District, and Timiskaming District. Single-tier municipalities like Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton combine county and municipal functions.
What This Map Shows
- Boundaries of all 49 counties, districts, and regional municipalities
- County seats and administrative centers
- Single-tier cities (Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, etc.)
- Northern Ontario districts
- Southern Ontario counties and regional municipalities
- Geographic size comparison of administrative divisions
Best For
- Understanding Ontario's municipal government structure
- Real estate research and property jurisdiction
- Legal reference and administrative boundaries
- Educational purposes - teaching local government
- Business territory and market planning
- Electoral district reference and voting information
Types of Administrative Divisions
Counties are upper-tier municipalities in Southern Ontario, providing services like social services, waste management, and regional roads. Examples include Essex County, Middlesex County, and Hastings County. Regional Municipalities function similarly to counties but with different governance: York Region, Peel Region, and Durham Region are among the most populous. Districts in Northern Ontario cover vast geographic areas with sparse populations, such as Kenora District (Canada's largest district by area) and Rainy River District. Single-tier municipalities like Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, and London provide all municipal services without an upper tier of county government. District municipalities like Muskoka combine characteristics of both districts and regional municipalities.