Week 2 - Definitions

The Zoning By-law provides guides on how to use the Definitions section of the document. It states that all words within the body of any section, subsection or table that are bolded are defined in By-law. Each of the uses defined are distinct and separate from other defined uses unless the definition indicates otherwise. Unless otherwise defined, the words and phrases used in this By-law are defined as per the Canadian Oxford Dictionary.

Here are some of the key definitions to be aware of:

• Accessory Building or Structure means a detached building or structure, the use of which is incidental to, subordinate to and exclusively devoted to the principal use in the main building located on the same lot.
• Building means a structure occupying an area greater than 10.0 m2 consisting of any combination of a wall, roof and floor, or a structural system serving the function thereof, including all associated works, fixtures and service systems.
• Dwelling Unit means one or more habitable rooms designed, occupied, or intended to be occupied as living quarters as a self-contained unit and shall, at a minimum, contain sanitary facilities, a kitchen, and accommodation for sleeping.. The dwell-ing units regulated by By-law are defined below:
• Additional Dwelling Unit means a dwelling unit that is self-contained, subordinate to and located within the same building or on the same lot as/of a principal dwelling unit.
• Duplex Dwelling means a building having a maximum of two dwelling units.
• Garden Suite means a detached dwelling unit that is accessory to the principal dwelling unit on the same lot and which is designed to be portable.
• Multiple Dwelling means a dwelling unit in a building containing four or more dwelling units each with an entrance that is independent or through a shared hall-way, landing and/or external stairwell.
• Principal Dwelling means a dwelling unit that has a greater floor area than the accessory dwelling unit in the same dwelling.
• Semi-Detached Dwelling means a dwelling unit in a building that is divided vertically into two dwelling units that share a common wall above and below grade.
• Single Detached Dwelling means a dwelling unit in a building containing only one dwelling unit, but does not include a mobile home.
• Townhouse Dwelling means a dwelling unit in a building that is vertically divided above and below grade into a minimum of three dwelling units, each of which has an independent entrance to the outside to the front, rear and/or side of the building and a yard abutting at least two of the exterior walls of each dwelling unit.
• Triplex Dwelling means a building having three dwelling units.
• Height means with reference to a building or structure, the vertical distance measured from the established grade of the wall of the building or structure facing the front lot line.
• Floor Area, Gross means the aggregate of the areas of each floor of a building or structure above or below grade, measured between the exterior faces of the exterior walls of the building or structure, or where there are common walls between us-es or buildings or structures; measured to the centreline of a common wall. The calculation of gross floor area excludes the areas of each floor used, or designed or intended for the parking of motor vehicles, unless the parking of motor vehicles is the principle use of the building or structure.
• Floor Area, Net means the aggregate of the gross floor areas of a building above or below grade, but excluding: Motor vehicle parking areas within the building; Stairways and common hallways; Elevator shafts and other service and mechanical shafts; Service/mechanical rooms and penthouses; Washrooms; Waste/recycling rooms; Staff locker, staff restrooms and staff lunch rooms; Loading areas within and outside a building; Any space with a floor to ceiling height of less than 1.8 metres; and, Any part of a basement that is unfinished is used solely for storage purposes and is not accessible to the public.
• Through Lot means a lot that is not a corner lot but has frontage on more than one street or highway. If a lot is a through lot, both of the lot lines abutting the street or highway are deemed to be front lot lines.
• Lot Coverage means that percentage of the lot covered by the horizontal area of all buildings and structures excluding swimming pools. Lot coverage in each zone shall be deemed to apply only to that portion of such lot that is located within said zone.
• Lot Frontage means the horizontal distance between the interior side lot lines and/or exterior side lot lines, with such distance being measured perpendicularly to the line joining the mid-point of the front lot line with the mid-point of the rear lot line at a point on that line that is 6.0 metres from the front lot line.
• Exterior Side Lot Line means the lot line of a corner lot, other than the front lot line, which divides the lot from a street or highway.
• Front Lot Line means the lot line that divides the lot from the street or highway.
• Interior Side Lot Line means a lot line, other than a rear lot line that does not abut a street or highway.
• Rear Lot Line means the lot line opposite to, and most distant from, the front lot line. For the purpose of this definition, if two side lot lines join at a point, that point shall be deemed as a rear lot line.
• Platform means an accessory structure attached to or separate from a main build-ing, which may be open, or roofed, and which may be screened-in, but not fully enclosed, with or without access to the ground, the floor of which is above finished ground level. A platform does not include any stairs.
• Short Term Rental Unit means a dwelling or dwelling unit, that in whole or in part, is rented or available for rent with the intention of financial compensation for an occupancy period of not more than 28 consecutive days but shall not include a bed and breakfast establishment, hotel, motel or any other use otherwise defined by this By-law.