Shaping your City: Know your Zone

The City of Pickering is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of it's existing Zoning By-laws. The review will look at all properties and corresponding zones in Pickering, including residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial properties. The resulting new zoning by-law will provide a streamlined way for the City to manage land use and future development.

The purpose of the Zoning By-law review is to...

  • Consolidate our multitude of zoning by-laws;
  • Update zoning to reflect Official Plan policies and associated development guidelines;
  • Complete necessary research to ensure the new by-law is consistent with current legislation, policy and trends; and
  • Public access to the by-law text and mapping through the City’s website.

We are in Phase 2 - Upcoming Virtual Open House

In response to comments on the First Draft of the Zoning By-law, provisions for Short-term Rentals, Driveway Widening, and several new areas will be included in Draft #2. Virtual Open Houses will be held on Tuesday September 19 and Thursday September 21. Each session will include open discussion and an opportunity to ask questions.


Registration for the Virtual Open Houses: https://forms.gle/n3puSesshhY8PhPBA 

The first Draft of the Zoning By-law Text and Zoning By-law Interactive Map are available for review
Interactive Zoning MapFirst Draft of the Zoning By-law Text
Preview of the Interactive Zoning Map Preview of the Zoning By-law Text

 *Exceptions are not included in Draft #1 of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law. Draft #1 only consolidates former Parent By-laws. Please look for Exceptions in Draft #2.    

For comments received after February 28, 2023, staff will review and consider the submission as part of the Third Draft of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review. To check new releases of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law and other updates on Let’s Talk Pickering, please click here.

What is a Zoning By-law?

A Zoning By-law controls the use of land in your community. The zoning for a specific property can tell you exactly:

  • how the land may be used
  • the types of buildings and structures that are permitted
  • where buildings and other structures can be located
  • the minimum required dimensions and setbacks for buildings and structures
  • parking requirements
  • building heights
  • and much more.

The City of Pickering is regulated by six parent Zoning By-laws 2511, 2520, 3036, 3037, 7364/14 and 7553/17.

Aside for the Seaton Urban Area (7364/14) and City Centre (7553/17) Zoning By-laws, the other by-laws are outdated and do not reflect current policies and trends. It is the City’s intention that through this review, the older by-laws will be updated to reflect Pickering’s Official Plan, current development trends, and simplify the processing of building permits and development applications.

Project Status
  • Phase 1 (February 2020 - March 2021) Released discussion papers, held multiple open houses to present the findings of the discussion papers and obtained feedback from the community.
  • Phase 2 (June 2022 - September 2023) Finalize additional provisions, review and integrate comments, streamline exceptions, and further consolidation of zones for Draft #2 CZBL
    • The City is currently within Phase 2 of the Study.
  • Phase 3 (Winter 2023 - Spring 2024) Release of Draft #2 CZBL with a report to Planning & Development Committee for a Statutory Meeting. Draft #2 will include all provisions and consolidated exceptions. Prior to the meeting, a summary of the City’s response to comments on Draft #1 will be posted..

Reports, Discussion Papers, Videos & Other Documents

Phase 0 - Prior to Project Initiation

Report PLN 18-19
Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review Work Plan

Report PLN 29-19
Consulting Services for the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review

Initiating Project - Introduction Video

Want to learn more about this project? Watch this introduction video: https://youtu.be/RUE6f3GGQZU

Alternatively, please download the narrative for this video below.

Phase 1 - Discussion Papers

1: Guiding Principles and Parameters

2: Review and Assessment of Existing Parent By-laws

3: Residential Areas

4: Employment Areas

5: Mixed Use/Intensification Areas

6: Agricultural/Rural/Hamlet/Open Space/Environmental Areas

7: Parking, Active Transportation and Loading

8: Cannabis Production and Retail Businesses

Phase 2 - First Draft Zoning By-law and Interactive Mapping

First Draft of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law

First Draft of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Interactive Map

Report PLN 36-22

Report PLN 24-23

Phase 2 - Drop-in Session and Virtual Public Open House Summary Sheets

 

Get Involved

Know your Zone: Let's Talk Pickering

Pickering's City Development welcomes you to visit our Lets Talk Pickering project page to stay informed, receive project updates, and to provide your feedback and questions on the Comprehensive Zoning By-law. 

Upcoming events:

Phase 2 Virtual Open House (Webex) - September 21, 2023

A virtual open house will take place on September 21, 2023 (7pm - 9pm)

Phase 2 Virtual Open House (Webex) - September 19, 2023

A virtual open house will take place on September 19, 2023 (7pm - 9pm).


Past events:

Phase 2 Virtual Open House (Webex) - May 16, 2023 (North Pickering focused)

A Virtual Public Open House took place on May 16, 2023 (7pm - 9pm)

Phase 2 Drop-in Session at Chestnut Hills Complex - January 26, 2023

A Drop-in Public Open House took place on January 26, 2023 (2pm - 5pm & 6pm - 8pm).

Phase 2 Virtual Open House (Webex) - February 15, 2023

A Virtual Public Open House took place on February 15, 2023 (7pm - 9pm)

 

Comments received by/before February 28, 2023 are being reviewed and considered by Staff. These comments will be addressed in an upcoming Comment Matrix. Comments submitted prior to February 28, 2023 will be considered and responded to with the release of the Second Draft of the Zoning By-law.

Phase 1 Electronic Public Open House

An Electronic Public Open House was held on Thursday November 5, 2020 to present the draft Discussion Papers.

  • Draft Discussion Papers, summary videos and handouts are available under "Reports, Discussion Papers, Videos & Other Documents"
  • Watch the Electronic Public Open House here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDgyUzbRUoE 

Phase 1 Electronic Council Meeting

The City of Pickering is concluding Phase 1 of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review, as such staff have prepared a report to Council presenting the key findings and recommendations from the 8 Discussion Papers completed within Phase 1 and comments received from the public and stakeholders. In addition, the City’s consultant, WSP, will present an overview of the Discussion Papers. The meeting took place on Monday, March 22, 2021 at 7:00 pm.

Contact:

Mimi Lau, Senior Planner, Zoning & Administration
Email: mlau@pickering.ca   
Telephone: 905.420.4660, ext. 1099

For all zone related inquiries, please visit Zoning By-laws and Requests for Zoning Information.

If you would like to be added to the interested party list, please email zonereview@pickering.ca.
Alternatively, you can sign-up for email notifications on website updates only, by subscribing below.