Ontario Zoning Bylaw – 3 Things You Need To Know
- nafzigerholdingsin
- Aug 19
- 4 min read
'I had no idea that I was subjected to Ontario's Zoning By-Law by my municipality while I was planning my home improvement project.' - Many Ontario Residents
When you are starting your construction project in Ontario, having blueprints is just the beginning. Many projects get halted due to the zoning requirements your property is subject to.
Zoning bylaw is governed by your municipality and is set with the help of your local municipal politicians. These bylaws determine the size of the structure you are legally allowed to build, how tall it can be, how close to the property lines you are allowed to go and how much green space you must have.
It can be a daunting task to make sure your project fits within both the Ontario Building Code and comply with your local by-laws. Often projects are held up due to non-compliance with zoning, so it’s important that before you fall in love with your building plans you know what by-laws you are subject to.
Here are three things you need to know while you’re planning your next project.
Here are three things you need to know about Ontario Zoning Bylaw.
What Zone is your property in?
Discovering your property zone is a simple task and can, in most cases, be determined by the provincial GIS mapping system. The provincial GIS mapping system is an interactive, online map that shows the property lines, property zones and subsequent bylaws in play. Each zone will have its individual rules that must be followed when building a structure.
Once you have determined the zone your property is in you can then find this zone in your municipal zoning by-law. These by-laws are posted on your municipality’s website.
Each zone will have its individual rules that must be followed when building a structure.
Does your project fit within the Zoning By-Law?
Each zone will have the same statistics. In general, they include:
Min. lot size
Min. lot frontage
Min. property line offsets (side yard, front yard, rear yard)
Max. height – broken into accessory building as well as dwelling unit
Max. lot coverage – broken into accessory building and dwelling unit
Min. soft landscaping – including green space and granular paving
Requirements for placement of accessory buildings.
This list will vary depending upon which municipality you live in. Make sure to check the ‘General Guidelines’ as well as your zone-specific by-laws when planning your project.
Often accessory buildings and pool requirements are covered in the general section and not found in the zone-specific guidelines. In some cases, deck requirements are found in the general section as well.
When you are designing your project, knowing your property boundaries is essential and the building department will require you to show these boundaries in your drawing package.
Depending upon what you are building you can show these boundaries either on a legal survey or a site plan. A legal survey must be prepared by an Ontario Land Surveyor or a Civil Engineer and will be the most accurate way to denote your property lines. A site plan can be prepared by an architectural drafter and can be re-created by using the GIS mapping system. Some projects may require a geotechnical survey to be completed to show the contours of the land and how your structure will fit within these elevations.
A survey may be required for your project if you are building a custom home while a site plan is often acceptable for smaller projects like a deck or an accessory structure.
What if your project doesn't fit within the by-laws?
Sometimes a project doesn’t fit within the zoning by-laws, and your municipality has a process that a homeowner can go through to either receive a ‘minor variance’ or to re-zone the property so the project can move forward.
Each municipality has its own process when attempting to skirt the bylaws so working closely with the zoning department is critical in this process. In general, you will need the following to make a zoning application:
Site plan showing the existing and proposed structures, lot lines and any decks or balconies with a table outlining the zoning statistics.
Architectural layouts that are to scale clearly showing existing and proposed elements.
Scaled elevations of the structure showing all exterior sides with dimensions and heights.
Typically, going through zoning approvals is a timely task. The Committee of Adjustment is often composed of volunteers and will meet, at most, once a month. In practice, if your neighbours are in agreement with your project and it is a minor change to your zoning statistics, you have a good chance for approval. Often these types of applications are refused when you have neighbours that oppose your proposal or if you’re asking for a variance that is not supported by your municipal planning department.
Zoning requirements are often an afterthought for homeowners, which can become tedious and costly if your planning phase doesn’t include time for a zoning check. To be sure your project fits within the zoning by-law, check with your municipality directly to help you determine exactly what parameters you are required to work within.
About The Author
Kristen Sachs – Ontario Drafting Services
Kristen Sachs is passionate about helping homeowners beautify their homes and properties by providing high quality technical drawings for residential building projects. With over 15 years of experience her team has created a system that helps you from concept to completed project smoothly and efficiently.
