The City of Richmond Hill is undertaking a comprehensive review of all the in force Zoning By-laws. It is the intent that the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review will culminate in one document that will establish "as-of-right" permissions for all properties in the City and enable residents and landowners to develop their lands in a predictable and consistent manner. The new Zoning By-law will:
- Conform to the policies and provisions of the City's Official Plan;
- Provide for a consistent and predictable approach to similar land uses on a City-wide basis;
- Reflect modern development trends and standards
- Provide for appropriate protection for stable neighbourhoods and sensitive areas; and
- Provide for ease of administration and increased accessibility to the public in a readily available and easily understood web-based format.
Zoning By-laws affect all properties in Richmond Hill and ensure that development occurs in a responsible and predictable manner.
What is a Zoning By-law?
Zoning By-laws regulate:
- Types of uses that can occur on individual properties;
- Minimum lot frontages and lot sizes;
- Size, height and location of buildings and structures that can be located on a property;
- Amount of landscaping and amenity spaces required on a property;
- Amount of parking and loading spaces required based on the type of use; and
- Use of contaminated lands, sensitive or vulnerable areas, natural features and areas.
How Can I Participate?
Project Timeline
Zone Richmond Hill will take place in four phases.
| Phase 1 - Background Research |
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Research existing Zoning By-laws and related documents as they presently apply to properties in the City:
- Undertake a background review to understand the state of the City's existing Zoning By-laws;
- Undertake an existing zoning and land use analysis;
- Analyzing opportunities for innovation including new zoning mapping tools and methods to support the Official Plan vision;
- Undertake Building Typology studies; and
- Seek stakeholder consultation through staff reports, presentations and workshops.
| Technical Papers |
Community Uses Technical Paper
The City is presently undertaking a technical paper on community uses. This paper will address:
- public and private schools;
- places of worship;
- day nurseries;
- social services;
- cultural services; and
- quasi-public/private uses such as other privately operated public facilities.
The purpose of this technical paper is to inform a zoning approach for community uses in the Comprehensive Zoning By-law project. The new Zoning By-law seeks to permit community uses as-of-right on properties that would conform to the Official Plan and be sensitive to the Richmond Hill context.
The technical paper is presently in the background research phase. The City will seek input from the public in the near future. Please stay tuned for updates on an upcoming public information session by subscribing for notifications or by submitting your comments. The City is aiming to complete this paper by Summer 2020.
Implementation Tools Technical Paper
The City is presently undertaking a technical paper on implementation tools prescribed by the Planning Act. This paper will address:
- the form of a Zoning By-law
- Community Planning Permit System; and
- Minor Variance Criteria
The purpose of this technical paper is to inform one or more zoning approach appropriate to implement the land use and built form controls in the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Project.
The Technical paper is presently in the background research phase. The City will seek input from the public in the near future. Please stay tuned for updates on an upcoming public information session by subscribing for notifications or by submitting your comments. The City is aiming to complete this paper by Summer 2020.
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| Typology Studies |
Low Rise Building Typology
The Official Plan designates residential areas in the City as Neighbourhoods. Low rise medium density residential uses such as townhouses, apartments, and mixed use residential and commercial buildings are permitted in the Neighbourhoods subject to detailed policies such as location and compatibility.
The City is presently undertaking a Low-Rise Medium Density Building Typology Study which will consider low rise medium density residential uses in residential-only and mixed use building forms. The Study will focus on:
- the placement of building forms appropriate in the Neighbourhoods; and
- the site design considerations to implement the building forms.
The Study findings will inform the Comprehensive Zoning By-law with:
- the opportunity to pre-zone lands for low rise medium density uses; and
- to establish appropriate zoning standards related to the building forms.
The Study is presently in the background research phase. The City will seek input from the public in the near future. Please stay tuned for updates on an upcoming public information session by subscribing for notifications or by submitting your comments. The City is aiming to complete this paper by Fall 2020.
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| Phase 2 - Strategic Directions |
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Seek direction from Council on the development of the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law:
- Prepare draft Strategic Direction Report(s) based on background information compiled in Phase 1;
- Obtain stakeholder and Council feedback and utilize these comments in developing the final Strategic Directions Report(s), including public workshops and presentations to the business and building groups and organizations; and
- Updates and development of Infill Studies and Urban Design Guidelines will be developed during this phase and will include stakeholder engagement through public workshops.
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| Phase 3 - Development of New By-law |
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Draft the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law document, including structure and content:
- Prepare the Key Directions Reports, Individual Discussion Papers and Digital Visualization Tool for the various components of the City's new Comprehensive Zoning By-law;
- Prepare the draft Comprehensive Zoning By-law and arrange stakeholder workshops/open houses to obtain input on the various components of the draft Zoning By-law; and
- Prepare a User's Guide on how to read and use the draft Zoning By-law and release as part of this stage.
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| Phase 4 - Approval of New By-law |
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Approval and Implementation of the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law
- Submit a final draft of the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law and a draft of the Digital Visualization Tools through the Statutory Council Public Meeting;
- Arrange stakeholder meetings following the Council Public meeting to discuss further issues that may arise during Phases 1 through 4;
- Submit final draft of the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law for Council approval;
- Update a series of complimentary implementation tools including existing City rules, regulations and standards; and
- Submit an Implementation Tools Report to Council in tandem with the final draft of the Zoning By-law for approval.
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