Zoning By-law Review

​A Zoning By-law is an important tool for the municipality as it promotes compatible land uses and encourages the development in an orderly fashion of a variety of mixed uses throughout the community. The Zoning By-law provides detailed regulations pertaining to each Zone. These regulations include the permitted land uses, maximum building height, minimum setbacks of buildings from property lines, maximum lot coverage, minimum/maximum floor area, minimum lot sizes and minimum on site parking requirements. Issues such as accessory buildings, pool locations and home occupations are also addressed.​

​The Zoning By- law implements the goals and policies as outlined in the Township's Official Plan. Zoning standards and associated mapping separates lands into distinct zone classifications such as residential, commercial, industrial, open space and environmental protection zones. Within each zone category standards are further outlined to address matters such as the types of permitted uses, appropriate lot size and setbacks of buildings. These standards provide legally enforceable regulations for development, which is administrated by the Township's Development Services Department to ensure the Township's standards are upheld.​​​

​The Township's current By-law 97-95 has been updated over time, but a comprehensive review has not been undertaken since the By-law's approval in 1997. Legislation in the Planning Act requires municipalities to update their Zoning By-law within three (3) years of a new Official Plan coming into effect. The Township's updated Official Plan was adopted by Council on October 5, 2022 and was approved by the County of Simcoe on November 14, 2023.

The goal of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review is to revise and update the Township's current zoning standards primarily to implement the policies of the Township's updated Official Plan and also update standards related to the general provisions to apply current progressive planning practice and regulations.​

The Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review is being conducted to assess the structural components of the Bylaw as listed below:

• Definitions and Interpretation
• General Provisions
• Parking Standards
• Residential Provisions
• Commercial Provisions
• Industrial and Business Park Provisions
• Institutional Provisions
• Open Space and Environmental Protection Provisions
• Site Specific Exceptions
• Administration and Enforcement
• Zoning mapping

A number of known Zoning By-law matters that also need to be addressed in the Comprehensive Review, include the following:

• By-law provisions which are no longer relevant
• Outdated performance standards
• New land uses and uses/terms that require better clarity/definition​

In addition to ongoing research on best practices and updating Zoning By-law Schedules, planning staff have determined that certain zoning provisions should be reviewed, updated and considered by Council prior to the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law being brought forward for consideration. Some existing provisions are inconsistent with recent provincial policy directives and policies in the new Township Official Plan and are generating multiple Zoning By-law amendment and Minor Variance applications. There are also gaps in the Zoning By-law that should be addressed.

The following is a list of specific provisions that Council has approved for review in order of priority:

1. Accessory Residential Units in designated Settlement, Shoreline and Rural areas
2. Accessory Structures
3. Source Water Protection Provisions
4. On-farm diversified uses
5. Shipping Containers
6. Home Occupations/Home Industry
7. Parking Standards
8. Model Homes
9. Bed and Breakfast Establishments
10. Short Term Rental Accommodations** (**Priority to be reviewed by Council now that the OLT decision on the Official Plan Appeal of the STRA policies has been issued)

It is intended that each of these topics be the subject of a separate report outlining options and proposing zoning provisions for consideration. Statutory public meetings would be held by Development Services Committee to receive input on the recommended approach. Based on feedback and input from members of Council and the public, a Zoning By-law Amendment (ZBA) would be prepared and recommended for approval. Subject to workload, Staff are proposing to bring forward one or two topics per month for Council’s consideration.

Once a ZBA is approved and the appeal period concluded, the new provisions would be incorporated in the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law.

​You can visit this site for updates and there will be opportunities for you to provide comments and input by participating in Open Houses and Public Meetings.​

We'll provide information about the project through a range of methods and channels:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Website
• Email zoningbylawreview@oro-medonte.ca

To submit any comments or concerns, please complete the Zoning By-law Feedback Form.