FAQ - What is a Zoning Bylaw?

A Zoning Bylaw is sort of like a “good neighbour” bylaw. It is a detailed legal document that that regulates land use and establishes development standards in order to:

• Reflect applicable policies from a community's Official Community Plan.  
• Optimize the types of uses that are best suited for a particular area or “zoning district”.  Zoning districts:
  • Separate incompatible land uses (e.g. a house next to a landfill).
  • Set out development standards, such as how far your house must be setback from your property line or setting the maximum height of a fence.
  • Support economic development opportunities by shaping the best use of land and planning for future expansion of land and services in advance of development (being “shovel ready”).
• Enhance public safety and minimize property damage and liability by regulating development in the flood zone and in other hazardous areas.
• Protect natural resources and sensitive lands (e.g. shorelines, heritage sensitive areas) by regulating development near these lands.
• Provide greater certainty, predictability and stability for residents and businesses. Certainty doesn't always mean that a zoning district will stay the same forever; it also means certainty in processes, for example, by setting out a transparent development permit application process and clear development regulations for each zoning district. This common “play book” prevents personal opinion and inconsistent reasoning in the development review process.  
• Provide for the health, safety and general welfare of residents.

​Click here for more information on Zoning Bylaws from the Community Planning branch, Ministry of Government Relations.

Good to Know
A zoning bylaw does not regulate people.  For example, a zoning bylaw cannot regulate who can live where, who can own land or buy or rent a house, or define a use by referring to a personal characteristic.  A zoning bylaw can only regulate: where and how a use can be located (i.e. by “zoning district” and through lot requirements), form, intensity of use, and related development standards and conditions.  

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