Zoning By-law Overview

The City of London’s Zoning By-law establishes and regulates the use of land by implementing the policies of a City's Official Plan. It provides the municipality with a legally enforceable means of regulating land use and scale and intensity of development. Zoning also serves to protect areas by preventing incompatible uses, and establishing appropriate standards for development. Zoning by-laws contain specific, legal regulations - for example, what uses are permitted, how high buildings can be constructed, the maximum number of residential units allowed and the amount of off-street parking required.

How does zoning work?

The City is divided into "zones", where different land uses are permitted. There are zones, for example, which permit single detached dwellings, while others permit apartment buildings, and still others permit shopping centres or industrial uses. In the older or developed areas of London, most of the lands are zoned for specific uses or ranges of uses commonly found in an urban municipality. In undeveloped parts of the City, land is often in a zone which does not allow urban development, unless an amendment to the Zoning By-law is approved.

What is the process for applying to change the Zoning By-law?

The Planning Act allows municipalities 120 days to process an application for Zoning By-law amendment – from the time that a complete application is submitted to the municipal council decision.

Z.-1 Zoning By-law

Proposal Summary template

Zoning By-law amendment application forms

Zoning By-law amendment application fees

How are Zoning By-law amendment applications evaluated?

How do individuals, neighbourhoods and others participate in the Zoning amendment process?

A Primer on Land Use Planning in the City of London