Zoning & Land Use

To request a Zoning Confirmation/Compliance Letter, please submit the following information to the Community Planning Division:

• Name
• Mailing address
• Phone number
• Email address
• PID
• Civic address
• Current use of property

If you want to use or develop your property in a way that is not permitted by the Zoning By-law, contact the Community Planning Division to work with a Planner to find a solution. This may involve a variance request, a zone amendment or a re-zoning.

Rezoning changes the zone applied to your property (ex: Re-zone a Retail - Large Format Zone (RLF) to a Comprehensive Development District Zone (CDD) to accommodate the development of an affordable micro-home community and social enterprise centre).

A Zone Amendment modifies the applicable “Use Rules” to accommodate your development (ex: Amend Residential Zone Two (R-2) to allow for a duplex). The amendment is permanently attached to the property and will transfer to the new owner if sold.

Contact the Community Planning Division to obtain a full paper copy of the official Zoning By-Law. The cost is $50 per copy.

The Zoning By-Law is also available online.

In all zones, decks must comply with these regulations:

• Decks are not permitted within the front yard setback.

• Decks must have a minimum setback of 1.8 metres from the side property line when it is located on the driveway side and is at least 12 metres back from the front property line.

• Decks must have a minimum setback of 2 metres from the rear property line where the mean height of the structure measured from the adjacent grade to the bottom of the structure does not exceed 0.5 metres in height. If the mean height exceeds 0.5 metres, the minimum setback from the rear property line is 4 metres.

Deck (Projections into Yards) regulations are listed in Section 4.2(1) of the Zoning By-law.

In residential zones, the maximum lot coverage for all accessory buildings is 10% of the lot area or 70 m², whichever is less. A maximum of two accessory buildings are permitted on a residential lot.

Garage and Accessory Building regulations are listed in Section 4.2(3) of the Zoning By-law.

In residential zones, swimming pools require a building permit and must comply with the following regulations:

• Pool must have a minimum setback of 7.5 metres from any street line and 2 metres from any other property line.

• Pool must be enclosed by a fence, wall or other structure of at least 1.5 metres in height that includes doors and/or gates with self-latching devices to restrict access. The enclosure must have a minimum setback of 1 metre from the edge of the water.

• Pool, or any portion of the pool, must not be located directly under any electrical service wires.

Swimming Pool regulations are listed in Section 4.2(4) of the Zoning By-law.

A home occupation is permitted in any zone that permits a single detached dwelling or mini-home.

Home Business (Home Occupations) regulations are listed in Section 7.3(1) of the Zoning By-law.

A basement apartment is permitted in the R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, TP-2, TP-3, TP-4 and TP-6 zones.

Basement Apartment regulations are listed in Sections 7.3(8) of the Zoning By-law.

A maximum of 3 hens can be kept within the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, TP-2, TP-3, TP-4 and TP-6 zones.

The Keeping of Hens regulations are listed in Section 7.3(9) of the Zoning By-law.

Widening of driveways is not permitted within the first 3 metres of the front property line, otherwise you may widen the driveway by up to 2 metres more than permitted. No portion of the driveway is permitted in front of habitable space unless there is an attached garage that does not face the street.

Driveway regulations are listed in Section 5.2 of the Zoning By-law.