Countryside Areas
 13. (1) The purpose of Countryside Areas is to encourage agricultural and other rural uses that support the Plan’s objectives by, (a)  protecting prime agricultural areas; (b)  promoting and protecting agricultural and other rural land uses and normal farm practices; (c)  maintaining the rural character of the Rural Settlements; (d)  protecting and restoring natural areas and features that sequester carbon and provide ecological functions, including water storage, to help reduce the impacts of climate change; and (e)  maintaining existing public service facilities and adapting them, where feasible, to meet the needs of the community. O. Reg. 140/02, s. 13 (1); O. Reg. 141/17, s. 6 (1, 2). (2) Countryside Areas also have the objectives of, (a)  maintaining and, where possible, improving or restoring the ecological integrity of the Plan Area; (b)  maintaining and, where possible, improving or restoring the health, diversity, size and connectivity of key natural heritage features, key hydrologic features and the related ecological functions; (c)  maintaining the quantity and quality of groundwater and surface water; (d)  maintaining groundwater recharge; (e)  maintaining natural stream form and flow characteristics; (f)  protecting landform features; (g)  accommodating a trail system through the Plan Area and trail connections to it; (g.1)  conserving cultural heritage resources; and (h)  providing for economic development that is compatible with subsection (1) and with clauses (a) to (g.1).  O. Reg. 140/02, s. 13 (2); O. Reg. 141/17, s. 6 (3-5). (3) The following uses are permitted with respect to land in Countryside Areas, subject to Parts III and IV: 1.  Fish, wildlife and forest management. 2.  Conservation projects and flood and erosion control projects. 3.  Agricultural uses. 4.  Infrastructure uses. 5.  Home businesses. 6.  Home industries. 7.  Bed and breakfast establishments. 8.  On-farm diversified uses. 9.  Low-intensity recreational uses as described in section 37. 10.  Unserviced parks. 11.  Mineral aggregate operations. 12.  Wayside pits. 13.  Agriculture-related uses. 14.  Small-scale commercial, industrial and institutional uses as described in section 40, subject to subsection (5). 15.  Major recreational uses as described in section 38, subject to subsection (5). 16.  Residential development in accordance with section 14. 17.  Uses accessory to the uses set out in paragraphs 1 to 16.  O. Reg. 140/02, s. 13 (3); O. Reg. 141/17, s. 6 (6, 7). (4) With respect to land in a Rural Settlement, the following uses are permitted, subject to Parts III and IV, in addition to the uses listed in subsection (3): 1.  Residential development in accordance with paragraph 3 of subsection 15 (1). 2.  Small-scale commercial, industrial and institutional uses as described in section 40, but not subject to clause (1) (a), (c) or (2) (a) of that section.  O. Reg. 140/02, s. 13 (4); O. Reg. 141/17, s. 6 (8). (5) The uses described in paragraphs 14 and 15 of subsection (3) are prohibited in, (a)  prime agricultural areas; and (b)  areas designated primarily for agricultural uses in the applicable official plan.  O. Reg. 140/02, s. 13 (5).