Week 1 - How to Use a Zoning By-law

In order to use the Zoning By-law most easily, a property owner should follow each of the steps listed below to determine what provisions apply to their particular property.

1. The first step to using the By-law is to refer to the Zone Schedules (e.g. maps) that are contained at the back of the By-law to determine in which zone category or categories your property is located. The zone category will be indicated on the Schedules by a symbol or abbreviation. For example, you may see a symbol such as “MUC” that applies to your property. This would indicate that your property is within the ‘Mixed Use Commercial Zone’.

2. The next step to using this By-law is to determine what uses are permitted on your property. By-law has different sections which identify the permitted uses for each zone in the Town. There are definitions that can assist you if you are not sure of the nature of a use or how it has been defined for the purposes of this By-law. Words that are defined are highlighted bold throughout the By-law. If a word is not in bold lettering, it is not specifically defined. Uses that are defined and then not identified as permitted uses within a particular zone are not permitted in that specific zone.

3. The next step is to determine what standards may apply to the uses on your property. Sections of the By-law identify the standards for each zone including minimum lot area, minimum frontage, minimum yards, maximum lot coverage for buildings, and the maximum permitted height of buildings.

4. Now that you are aware of the uses permitted on your property and the specific zone Standards that apply to those uses, reference should be made to the General Provisions of this By-law which are more generic set of standards that apply across a number of zones throughout the Town.