Zoning By-law Update

Phase I will update the zoning of lands within the Town’s Countryside Area as shown on Schedule A1 of the Official Plan. The focus of Phase I will be to carry forward the policies and land use designations of the Environmental Protection Area, Agricultural Protection Area and Rural Area as shown on Schedule A2 of the Official Plan into zoning provisions and mapping. A video has been created to help explain the first phase of the process. 

Phase II will address the zoning of the remaining lands in Town that are within settlement areas as well as the general provisions for all zones. Settlement areas are shown on Schedule A1 of the Official Plan and include the Urban Area (Keswick), Towns and Villages (Sutton/Jackson’s Point and Pefferlaw), Hamlet, and the Lakeshore Residential Area. Phase II is scheduled to begin in 2025.

Modified By-law As Approved 

Table of Concordance for Schedule C Detailed Illustrations

Table of Concordance for Special Provisions

Schedule A - Area Covered By This By-law

Schedule B - Zoning Schedules

Schedule C - Detailed Illustrations

Schedule D - Source Water Protection Areas

Appendix 1 - LSRCA Regulation Limit (O. Reg. 197-06)

Appendix 2 - Minister's Zoning Order (O. Reg. 251-22)

Appendix 3 - Planning Width of Street Allowance

This information is provided as a public resource and for convenience purposes only.  The official By-law should always be consulted for accuracy purposes.

In order for a use to be permitted and established, it must comply with the applicable requirements of the Zoning By-law for such use. 

Permitted Residential Uses

• Single detached dwelling
• Additional dwelling unit in a single detached dwelling
• Additional dwelling unit in a detached building

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• Day care, private home
• Home occupation
• Short-term rental accommodation

Permitted Residential Uses

• Dwelling legally existing on the effective date of this By-law
• Single detached dwelling
• Additional dwelling unit in a single detached dwelling
• Additional dwelling unit in a detached building
• Temporary accommodations for seasonal farm workers

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• Agricultural use
• Cannabis production facility, designated
• Cannabis production facility, licensed
• Conservation use
• Day care, private home         
• Home industry
• Home occupation
• Kennel
• Short-term rental accommodation

Notwithstanding the permitted non-residential uses listed above, any cemetery, church, parking lot for school buses and commercial vehicles, police station, and bus or truck terminal legally existing prior to the effective date of this By-law shall be a permitted use.

Permitted Residential Uses

• Dwelling legally existing prior to the effective date of this By-law
• Single detached dwelling
• Additional dwelling unit in a single detached dwelling
• Additional dwelling unit in a detached building
• Temporary accommodations for seasonal farm workers

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• Agricultural use
• Cannabis production facility, designated
• Cannabis production facility, licensed
• Conservation use
• Day care, private home        
• Home industry
• Home occupation
• Short-term rental accommodation

Notwithstanding the permitted non-residential uses listed above, any cemetery, church, parking lot for school buses and commercial vehicles, police station, and bus or truck terminal legally existing prior to the effective date of this By-law shall be a permitted use.

Permitted Residential Uses

• Dwelling legally existing on the effective date of this By-law

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• Conservation use
• Day care, private home         
• Existing agricultural use
• Home occupation
• Passive recreational uses, trails and walkways
• Short-term rental accommodation

Permitted Residential Uses

• One accessory dwelling for the owner, manager or caretaker of a permitted and established recreational use; or,
• One dwelling unit in a storey above the first storey or within the rear of a building containing a permitted and established commercial use

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• Bowling alley
• Day care, private home
• Golf ball driving range
• Golf course
• Golf course, miniature
• Hawker or pedlar use
• Hotel
• Leisure vehicle sales establishment
• Marina
• Motel or motor hotel
• Motor vehicle fuel bar
• Museum
• Park
• Place of amusement
• Existing recreational vehicle parks
• Refreshment vehicle, bicycle unit or cart
• Restaurant
• Retail store, convenience
• Short-term rental accommodation
• Tent campground
• Theatre
• Tourist information centre

Permitted Residential Uses

• One dwelling unit in a storey above the first storey or within the rear of a building containing a permitted and established non-residential use, other than a mechanical garage

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• Bakery or bakeshop
• Bank
• Bowling alley
• Building supply and equipment establishment
• Business or professional office
• Catering establishment
• Clinic, health care
• Clinic, veterinary, but not including outdoor canine runs or animal containment areas
• Club, commercial or private
• Dry cleaning establishment
• Equipment sales establishment
• Garage, mechanical
• Garden centre
• Hawker or pedlar use
• Hotel
• Kennel
• Laundromat
• Leisure vehicle sales establishment
• Motel or motor hotel
• Motor vehicle cleaning establishment
• Motor vehicle fuel bar
• Motor vehicle sales and/or rental establishment – automobile, commercial and\or recreational vehicles
• Place of amusement
• Printing shop
• Refreshment vehicle, bicycle unit or cart
• Restaurant
• Retail store, convenience
• Service shop, heavy, light or personal
• Studio
• Terminal, bus or truck
• Theatre
• Tourist information centre
• Wholesale establishment within a building of which at least 25% is used for retail sales; retail sales area may not exceed 185 m²

Permitted Residential Uses

• One accessory dwelling for the owner, manager or caretaker of a permitted and established non-residential use

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• Any industrial undertaking that is conducted and wholly contained within an enclosed building and is not a prohibited use pursuant to Section 5.43
• Cannabis production facility, designated
• Cannabis production facility, licensed
• Commercial use incidental to, and on the same site as, a permitted and established industrial use
• Contractor’s or tradesman’s shop
• Dry cleaning plant
• Equipment sales establishment
• Garage, mechanical
• Motor vehicle cleaning establishment
• Printing shop
• Public storage building
• Service shop, heavy or light
• Warehouse
• Wholesale establishment

Permitted Residential Uses

• One accessory dwelling for the owner, manager or caretaker of a permitted and established non-residential use

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• All uses permitted in the M1 zone
• Building supply and equipment establishment
• Bulk fuel storage establishment
• Garage, autobody
• Garage, bus or truck
• Manufacturing or industrial establishment, not necessarily conducted and contained within a building, excluding a salvage yard
• Motor vehicle sales establishment – commercial and recreational vehicles
• Terminal, bus or truck
• Truck driving centre
• Welding shop

Permitted Residential Uses

• Prohibited

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• Aggregate crushing establishment
• Aggregate recycling establishment
• Aggregate screening establishment
• Aggregate washing establishment
• Asphalt plant
• Batching plant
• Manufacture of concrete products
• Pit
• Quarry

Permitted Residential Uses

• Prohibited

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• Recycling facility, motor vehicles
• Storage depot

Permitted Residential Uses

• Prohibited

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• Recycling facility
• Sewage treatment facility
• Waste disposal site

Permitted Residential Uses

• One single detached dwelling

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• Aerodrome (private)
• Airport
• Club, private
• Day care, private home
• Home occupation

Permitted Residential Uses

• Prohibited

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• Conservation use
• Existing cemetery
• Golf course
• Park
• Refreshment booth

Permitted Residential Uses

• One accessory dwelling or dwelling unit for the owner, manager or caretaker of a permitted and established non-residential use

Permitted Non-Residential Uses

• Auditorium
• Church
• Clinic, health care
• Club, private
• Day care, private home
• Day nursery
• Existing cemetery
• Hospital, private or public
• Nursing home
• School, private or commercial
• School, public

In order to determine what can be done with a particular property, the following steps should be undertaken:

1. Review Schedule ‘A’, Area Covered by this By-law, to determine if the property is subject to this By-law or Zoning By-law 500. If the lands are identified as being subject to Minister’s Zoning Order (O. Reg. 251/22), refer to Section 3.5 and Appendix 2, Minister’s Zoning Order (O. Reg. 251/22).
2. Review Schedule ‘B’, Zoning Schedules, to determine the zoning of the property. First, refer to the Index Map on Schedule ‘B1’ to find which specific Zoning Schedule the property is located on. Next, refer to the specific Zoning Schedule to determine the zoning of the property. The zone boundaries are shown as a black line and the zone categories are identified by a black zone symbol. If the zone symbol is followed by a hyphen and number (e.g. ‘RU-C-1’, ‘AP-8’, ‘EP-14’), then the land is subject to site-specific special provisions.
3. Once the zoning of the property has been determined, refer to Sections 7 through 22 for the specific requirements applicable to each zone. Each zone contains listed permitted residential and non-residential uses, the requirements for residential and non-residential uses, and applicable special provisions. In some circumstances, Schedule ’C’, Detailed Illustrations, are used in association with a special provision to provide additional mapping detail to assist the reader to better understand the By-law requirements.
4. Refer to Section 5, General Provisions, for other requirements that may be applicable to the use and/or development of the property. This includes requirements for aspects of land use and development such as accessory uses, buildings or structures, fencing, home industries, home occupations, on-farm diversified uses, parking and loading, swimming pools and much more.
5. Review Schedule ‘D’, Source Water Protection Areas, to determine if the property contains Highly Vulnerable Aquifers. If Highly Vulnerable Aquifers are identified on the property, refer to Section 3.3.
6. Review Appendix ‘1’, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority Regulation Limit, to determine if the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority regulates the property or portions thereof. For more detailed mapping of the Regulation Limit, visit the Conservation Authority’s website to access their Interactive Regulation Mapviewer (www.lsrca.on.ca/maps). If the property is regulated, refer to Section 3.4. It is also recommended that you contact the Conservation Authority to inquire about specific permit requirements and development constraints.
7. A Zoning By-law is a dynamic document that is amended over time as demands and policies governing land use change. While the Town strives to keep this By-law up-to-date through consolidation, more recently approved Zoning By-law Amendments for a particular property may not be included in the version of the By-law you are using. In this regard, the Planning Division (planning@georgina.ca) should be contacted to confirm if the property has been subject to a recent Zoning By-law Amendment approval.
8. A Minor Variance approved by the Committee of Adjustment provides relief from one or more provisions of the Zoning By-law to legalize existing development or to allow a proposed development to proceed. Minor Variances are not reflected in the Zoning By-law, but they are recorded by the Town and kept in the property file. To determine if your property benefits from an approved Minor Variance, please contact the Town’s Building Division (building@georgina.ca).

Countryside Zoning By-law (November 2023) Red Line Revisions

Countryside Zoning By-law (November 2023)

Table of Concordance for Schedule C Detailed Illustrations

Table of Concordance for Special Provisions

Schedule A - Area Covered By This By-law

Schedule B - Zoning Schedules

Schedule C - Detailed Illustrations

Schedule D - Source Water Protection Areas

Appendix 1 - LSRCA Regulation Limit (O. Reg. 197-06)

Appendix 2 - Minister's Zoning Order (O. Reg. 251-22)

Appendix 3 - Planning Width of Street Allowance

Countryside Zoning By-law (March 2023) Redline Revisions

Countryside Zoning By-law (March 2023)

Special Provisions Table of Concordance (March 2023)

Schedule A - Area Covered by this By-law

Schedule B - Zoning Schedules

Schedule C - Detailed Illustrations

Schedule D - Source Water Protection Areas

Appendix 1 - LSRCA Regulated Area

Appendix 2 - Minister's Zoning Order

Proposed Countryside Zoning By-law (September 2022)

Special Provisions Table of Concordance
Proposed Zoning By-Law to remove Countryside from Zoning By-law 500

Schedule A - Context Map
Schedule B - B1
Schedule B - B2
Schedule B - B3
Schedule B - B4
Schedule B - B5
Schedule B - B6
Schedule B - B7
Schedule B - B8
Schedule B - B9
Schedule B - B10
Schedule B - B11
Schedule B - B12
Schedule B - B13
Schedule B - B14
Schedule B - B15
Schedule B - B16
Schedule B - B17
Schedule B - B18
Schedule B - B19
Schedule B - B20
Schedule B - B21
Schedule B - B22
Schedule B - B23
Schedule B - B24
Schedule B - B25
Schedule C - Detailed Illustrations Table of Concordance
Schedule C - Detailed Illustrations
Schedule D - Source Water Protection Areas

Appendix 1 - LSRCA Regulation Limit
Appendix 2 - Minister's Zoning Order

Cover Page
Table of Contents
Section 1 - Title, Area Covered and Application
Section 2 - Definitions
Section 3 - Zone Classification and Schedules
Section 4 - Interpretation
Section 5 - General Provisions
Section 6 - Residential Uses
Section 7 - Rural Countryside Zone (RU-C)
Section 8 - Agricultural Protection Zone (AP)
Section 9  - Environmental Protection Zone (AP)
Section 10 - Residential Zone (R)
Section 11 - Commercial Recreation Zone (CR)
Section 12 - Rural Commercial Zone (RC)
Section 13 - Restricted Industrial Zone (M1)
Section 14 - General Industrial Zone (M2)
Section 15 - Extractive Industrial Zone (M3)
Section 16 - Storage INdustrial Zone (M4)
Section 17 - Disposal Industrial (M5)
Section 18 - Airfield Zone (A)
Section 19 - Open Space (OS)
Section 20 - Institutional (I)
Section 21 - Other Zone Requirements for Commercial Uses
Section 22 - Administration
Schedule A to By-law in Section 1

In the March 30, 2022 staff report (Report DS-2022-0027) to the Council, an analysis of approximately 200 site-specific zonings is referenced. Each site-specific zoning has a related “summary sheet” with a proposed recommendation. Site-specific zonings are identified by a dash and number following a general zone category (e.g. RU-123). Site-specific zonings are created when a property goes through a Zoning By-law Amendment process and do not apply to every property. Due to the length of the summary sheets, they were not included in the report but instead have been posted below. 

To view the site-specific zoning review summary sheet related to your property, follow the below steps:

1. Find your roll number. A roll number is a 15-digit number specific to your property and can be found on your tax bill (e.g. 197000012560300). If you need assistance finding your roll number please contact Service Georgina at 905-476-4301.
2. Use your role number to locate the summary sheet associated with you property. You will only need digits 8 to 13 of your roll number to search for your summary sheet (e.g. 197000012560300). You can also find the summary sheet related to your property if you know the site-specific zoning of your property (e.g. M1-4).
3. The summary sheets are organized into 4 separate files, grouped by roll numbers in ascending order.
4. Click on the PDF file that your roll number falls within.
5. Use the search function in your PDF reader (in windows Ctrl+F, for Mac Command+F) to search for your property.
6. Enter your 6-digit roll number or site-specific zoning in the search bar and press enter to search.

If you need assistance finding your roll number please contact Service Georgina at 905-476-4301.

Summary sheets for roll numbers 010015 to 024273
Summary sheets for roll numbers 024274 to 108605
Summary sheets for roll numbers 108610 to 117946
Summary sheets for roll numbers 117960 to 139870

The Town understands the importance of public and stakeholder engagement in the planning process and encourages feedback and comments.

A Public Engagement and Communications Plan for Phase I outlines the project team’s approach to how and when engagement and communications with landowners, residents and businesses within the study area will occur.

Upcoming public engagement opportunities include:

• The Town is requesting written comments on the Proposed Countryside Zoning By-law and associated zoning by-law and official plan amendments.
• A  second Public Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 15, 2023 to present the  proposed Countryside Zoning By-law (October 2023) to Council and recommend its approval. See the Notice for further details. 
• Refer to "How can I stay informed and provide my comments?" in the FAQs section of this webpage to learn how you can provide your comments outside of formal engagement opportunities.

• November 15, 2023 - Countryside Zoning By-law Report No. DS-2023-0097)
• April 18, 2023 - Proposed Countryside Zoning By-law and Associated Official Plan Amendment (Report DS-2023-0036)
• March 30, 2022 – Draft Countryside Zoning By-law (Report DS-2022-0022)
• Dec. 8, 2021 – Phase I Update and Discussion Paper (Report DS-2021-0110)
• Aug. 18, 2021 –Phase I Public Engagement and Communications Plan (Report DS-2021-0078)
• June 23, 2021 – Phase I Update Report (Report DS-2021-0060)
• Sept. 9, 2020 –Zoning By-law No. 500 Conformity Exercise Introduction Report (Report DS-2020-0068)

• Phase I Public Engagement and Communications Plan
• Project Work Plan
• Project Gantt Chart (Timeline with task) - March 2022
• Existing Zoning with Official Plan Land Use

A technical working group has been established to provide technical expertise at key milestones or as the need arises during the project. The working group includes representation from the Development Services Department, York Region Community Planning Branch and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.

Zoning by-laws are the principal regulatory tool municipalities use to implement the policies of an official plan. Zoning by-laws control the use of land in a community by stating exactly:

• How land may be used
• Where buildings and other structures can be located
• The types of buildings permitted and how they may be used
• The lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights and densities (the number of people, jobs and building floor area per hectare), and setbacks from the street and other property lines

Compliance with the zoning by-law is required to receive a building permit.

To learn more about zoning by-laws, check out the Citizen’s guide to land use planning – zoning by-laws.

Yes. Zoning By-law No. 500 is the Town’s comprehensive zoning by-law. This means all properties within the Town are assigned a zone category with specific permitted uses and regulations.

Follow the How to Find Zoning By-law Provisions for a Property step-by-step guide to locate the zoning of your property.

The Town is undertaking a statutory planning exercise to update Zoning By-law No. 500 to bring it into conformity with the Official Plan.

Development Services staff will complete the majority of the work with assistance from the Information Technology Services Division, the Communications Division and the Town’s retained consultant, Hardy Stevenson Associates Ltd.

A technical working group has been established which also includes representatives from the York Region Community Planning Branch and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.

The review and update is scheduled to take place between May 2021 and May 2022. See the Project Gantt Chart (Project Timeline with Tasks) for more details.

Since compliance with a zoning by-law is required by law to receive a building permit, zoning by-laws are generally the planning document that connects members of the public to the larger Ontario planning system.

Land use planning in Ontario takes place within a hierarchy as shown in the diagram below. The hierarchy ranges from the Ontario Planning Act at one end to the zoning by-law at the opposite end.

Local official plans and secondary plans must comply with the upper-tier policy documents of the Region and the Province, while providing a local vision for how the community will evolve over time.

Zoning by-laws are the primary tool used to implement the policies, permitted uses and land use designations contained in local official plans and secondary plans.

To learn more about the components of the Ontario planning system that apply to land use planning and development in Georgina, visit the Policy Planning webpage.

Figure: Ontario planning system hierarchy

The study area for Phase I includes all lands within the rural countryside area of the Town as shown on the Key Map provided below.

The Town is fulfilling its statutory requirement in accordance with Section 26(9) of the Planning Act to ensure the zoning by-law conforms to its Official Plan. This section states that within three years after a revision to an official plan comes into effect, the Town is required to amend all zoning by-laws in effect in the municipality to ensure they conform with the policies and land use designations of its official plan.

The Town’s Official Plan came into force and effect on Nov. 23, 2016, following a review and update of the 2002 Official Plan. The Official Plan establishes an updated vision, policies and land use designation in mapping to guide growth and development while protecting the Town’s natural resources.

If your property is located within the study area, there is a good chance it will be rezoned in some way. This may affect the uses that are permitted on your property, and where buildings and structures for permitted uses may be located.

Updates and information related to the project will be posted on this webpage.

Notices of upcoming public engagement events will be advertised on this webpage, in the Georgina Advocate and through the Town’s social media platforms.

To be put on the project mailing list to receive updates and notifications or to share your thoughts and comments, email ZoningBylawUpdate@georgina.ca.

To speak with someone at the Town regarding this project, contact:

Tolek Makarewicz, MCIP, RPP
Senior Policy Planner
Planning Policy Division
Development Services Department
Town of Georgina
905-476-4301 ext. 2297