A Zoning By-law controls the use of land in our community. It is a legally enforceable document. Construction or new development that does not follow the Zoning By-law is not allowed. It tells us how land, buildings, and properties can be used (eg. residential or commercial), where buildings and other structures can be placed, and how big and tall buildings can be. It tells you what you are allowed to do with your property, like widening your driveway, adding an addition to your home, and requirements for things like landscaping, parking, sheds and garages. It regulates height, shape and use of buildings. It's a key document that helps implement Barrie’s new Official Plan.
Why does Barrie need an updated Zoning By-law?This is the first new Zoning By-law for Barrie in 13 years. The City realizes that some land use planning best practices have changed, and we have to plan for growth.
The new Zoning By-law will implement the vision and policies of Barrie’s recently approved Official Plan.
The City wants to ensure we have a document that is user-friendly for residents and the development community. The new document aims to include more graphics, diagrams and plain language—making it easier for all to use.
How does the new Zoning By-law affect me?Some examples include rules for building decks and sheds, parking requirements, and whether you can build a coach house in the backyard.
How does zoning impact my neighbourhood?
In most cases your neighbours will have the same permissions for their property as you do on yours.
If the Zoning By-law allows you to build a shed 0.6 metres off a lot line, your neighbour can do the same on their lot.
Zoning helps prevent incompatible land uses from being next to each other, for example, a manufacturing plant in a neighbourhood area.
The new Zoning By-law will permit additional height and density in all neighbourhood areas.
What's my zone?
Zones are applied to a property through zoning maps. Each zone has a list of rules that provide details about what you can and cannot do on a property.
Will I be able to change the zoning of my property through the latest review process?
Using Barrie's Official Plan as the basis, all zoning categories have been reviewed through the process of creating the new Zoning By-Law. Individual rezonings aren't being considered through this review at this time. A rezoning on an individual property requires a full rezoning application under the Planning Act.
Why are there multiple zone categories?
The Zoning By-law is required to implement the land use policies as defined by Barrie’s Official Plan, which is the long-term plan for growth and development. The land use designations of the Official Plan determine where people will live (neighbourhood areas), protects natural heritage and open space, identifies where employment and commercial businesses will be located, and where intensification should occur. The proposed zoning categories (eg. neighbourhood low, neighbourhood intensification, commercial district, etc.) directly correlate to and reflect the policies of the Official Plan.
What is built form?
Built form is the shape and size of a building. The built form describes what a building looks like, how tall it is, how much land it takes up, how far it is set back from the sidewalk, street, property lines, and how it relates to other buildings and open spaces around it.
What were the main changes in the first draft of the new Zoning By-law?
The changes in the first draft of the Zoning By-law provide more permissive and flexible zoning categories, high quality public realm while responding to zoning trends and best planning practices.
What is a setback?
A setback is the minimum distance which a building or structure must be set back from a property line, street, environmental feature (eg. river/stream, wetland, shoreline or flood plain). Setbacks in a Zoning By-law establish minimum distances from a property line to the outer walls of buildings, to provide adequate access, to avoid conflicts with structures, provide privacy, and public safety. Setbacks may also allow access to public utilities buried below ground, or for the protection of nearby environmental features like wetlands or wood lots.
What's regulated by setbacks?
What is a special provision and how does it affect my property?
Special provisions (SPs) are By-Laws that introduce area- or site-specific zoning standards, such as building setbacks or height limits, to facilitate development or recognize unique circumstances. These were often implemented to facilitate development, usually subdivisions. This is why SPs typically affect broad areas vs. individual lots.
Why is this change being made to the in-effect special provision(s)?
Staff recommend removal of special provisions where the development has occurred and the area is built out. Any standards introduced by special provision By-Law XYZ will be replaced by standards in the proposed Zoning By-Law provides. In most cases, the standards in the proposed Zoning By-Law are slightly less restrictive and will permit more housing options and uses.
How will the removal of the in-effect special provision affect my property now and into the future?
The repeal/removal of an in-effect special provision will mean that a property will no longer be subject to area or lot-specific zoning standards. Rather, the property will be subject to the generic standards of the zone in which a property is located.
How can I find the special provisions affecting my property?
To assist property owners review the special provisions affecting their property, as well as information on whether the special provisions is proposed to be kept or removed, the City has prepared a mapping tool.
This tool enables property owners to look up the current and proposed zoning of their property. More importantly, the mapping tool allows residents to review the unique zoning standards introduced by the special provision By-Law that applies to their property.
How do I know if the in-effect special provisions should be kept or removed?
City staff have reviewed all in-effect special provisions to determine whether they should be kept or removed. This was done by reviewing the in-effect zoning standards introduced by the special provision By-Law against the standards in the proposed Zoning By-Law. In most cases, special provisions By-Laws were implemented to facilitate development that has already occurred, and as such they are no longer required. Special provision By-Laws related to built-out developments are proposed to be removed. However, special provision By-Laws related to ongoing development are proposed to be maintained and will form part of the new zoning By-Law.
Do I have to submit feedback?
Property owners that disagree with staff’s recommendation as to whether an SP should be kept or removed must do so in writing by mail to: Attn: Director of Development Services, Barrie City Hall, 70 Collier Street, P.O Box 400, Barrie ON, L4M 4T5. Feedback can also be provided by email to newzoningbylaw@barrie.ca.
I am a single property owner living in my home in a neighbourhood that is already developed/built-out. Why have I received this letter?
As a property owner, you may own property subject to a special provision which is technically applicable but has no practical use today because your neighbourhood is built out. These special provisions may relate to minor technical details, such as minimum lot sizes, minimum frontage requirements, etc. City staff are obligated to provide notice that a change is proposed, even if these special provisions have little to no practical application.
