All properties within the geographic area of the City are part of our integrated zoning scheme and are subject to land use provisions in the Development Management Scheme, which forms part of the Municipal Planning By-law.
Consult the overarching by-law
All properties within the geographic area of the city are part of our integrated zoning scheme and are subject to land use provisions in the
Development Management Scheme.
Within the zoning categories are land uses that are permitted ‘as of right’; in these cases, no additional approval is required from the City. Consent, occasional and special uses are permitted only with the City’s approval.
Single Residential zonings
Single residential zonings are designed to provide locations for predominantly single-family dwelling houses in low-to-medium density neighbourhoods, with a safe and pleasant living environment. There are controlled opportunities for home employment, additional dwellings and low intensity mixed-use development on a single residential property.
General Residential zonings
General residential zonings are designed to provide a healthy, safe and pleasant environment for urban living at higher densities. It promotes efficient urban development, manages the pressure of urban growth and reduces urban sprawl.
Different zonings and subzonings allow for different levels of development intensity, particularly in relation to height and floor space. Within these zonings there are controlled opportunities for home employment and low-intensity mixed-use development.
Community zonings
Community zonings are intended for social uses directed at community needs, such as educational, religious, welfare or health services. Community buildings are important social and urban design focal points, and prominent architectural forms should be encouraged. There are two community zonings, with CO1 serving predominantly local community needs, and CO2, which caters for a wider community and potentially a greater intensity of development.
Local Business zonings
Intermediate Business Zoning creates a suitable interface between business districts and adjacent residential areas, where low-impact offices and associated uses are permitted, but where higher impact retail uses are controlled. Local Business Zoning 2 is appropriate for local neighbourhood shops, and allows for a range of compatible land uses.
General Business and Mixed-use zonings
General business zonings are designed to promote economic development in business districts and development corridors, and include a wide range of land uses such as business, residential and community uses, although industrial development is restricted.
By contrast, mixed-use zonings are suitable for completely mixed areas in terms of land use, including industrial, business and residential development. Such mixed-use zonings need to be applied with care to ensure that conflict between residential and industrial development is minimised.
Industrial zonings
Industrial zonings are designed to accommodate manufacturing and related processes ranging from general industrial uses which may have some impact on surrounding areas, to hazardous or noxious uses which have a potentially high impact and must be carefully managed.
Industrial development has particular requirements for road and waste infrastructure, and industrial-zoned land should generally be reserved for industrial purposes to optimise this infrastructure and mitigate potential impacts. In the General Industrial Zoning two different subzonings accommodate variations of built form, and opportunities are provided for consent uses associated with industrial areas, such as factory shops. A specific zoning is provided for noxious and risk industries.
Utility, Transport and National Port zonings
Government facilities, whether national, provincial or municipal, should be zoned according to their use, not ownership. For example, municipal offices should be zoned an appropriate business zoning. However, certain government activities cannot be classified into other zonings, and can be included in the Utility zoning. This zoning also accommodates uses and infrastructure required for utility services that are not necessarily owned by an organ of state.
Transport zonings are designed to facilitate efficient operation of the various transport systems. There is a close relationship between transportation and development, and appropriate development can help to promote public transport. Provision is made for controlled mixed-use development in certain transportation zones, provided the operation of the transport system is not compromised.
At times transport systems run along defined corridors but at different height levels, and there are opportunities for air rights and underground rights, whereby appropriate development can be constructed at a different level to the transport system without compromising the operation thereof.
Open Space zonings
Different types of open space fulfil different functions. Certain open spaces have particular importance as nature, cultural heritage or environmental areas and a separate zoning facilitates the management of these areas. This zoning provision is made for the development of amenities to meet the needs of tourists and visitors. Other open spaces have a more active role in addressing the sporting and recreation needs of the community.
Public open space has an important status because of its contribution to the recreation needs of the general public, and the difficulty of replacing public open space once lost. The development management scheme also recognises special areas of open space that are not designated as public open space, but may be privately owned.
Agricultural, Rural and Limited Use zonings
Agricultural land should generally be protected from developments that render the land less suitable for agriculture, or detract from its aesthetic and cultural value. Aside from sustaining a valuable economic sector, agricultural land can help to promote stability of the urban edge, conserve naturally sensitive areas and maintain rural characteristics which are valued by the community. Unnecessary subdivision of farms should be avoided and economically viable units must be maintained.
Agricultural activities should not be subject to unreasonable limitations because the economic viability of the agricultural sector is important. Complementary activities to conventional agriculture can assist with the viability of the sector, and to this end, compatible uses are permitted as consent uses, provided the latter do not detract from agriculture as the main farming activity.
Where non-agricultural uses are permitted, such uses should form an integral part of the agricultural undertaking. A distinction is made between large farms which are zoned AG and smallholdings zoned as RU zoning, which can accommodate a range of peri-urban activities. A transitional mechanism, the LU zoning, deals with land that was zoned as undetermined in previous zoning schemes, and limits development to existing lawful uses only.
FAST FACT
The Municipal Planning By-Law has been amended to include secondary dwellings, veterinary practices, filming, recycling centres and renewable energy structures as additional uses under certain categories as either primary, additional or consent.
