Zone Clarington

• ZONE Clarington – Introduction (PDF)
• Secondary Apartments (PDF)
• Agricultural and Related Land Uses (PDF)
• Rural Residential Lots (PDF)

• ZONE Clarington - Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review Project 
  (PSD-060-17, September 11, 2017)
• Rural Special Event Venues and Agri-tourism Uses (PSD-069-18, September 10, 2018)
• Release of a Proposed Draft Zoning By-law for Clarington (PSD-082-18, December 10, 2018)
• Next Steps on Zone Clarington (PSD-040-19, September 30, 2019)
• Zone Clarington, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Comments (PSD-008-20, February 24, 2020)

The ZONE Clarington team carried out a series of public open houses after the release of a First Draft Zoning By-law in November of 2018. The team continues to accept written comments and respond to questions and information requests from Advisory Committees of Council, organizations, businesses and residents. If you have questions, comments, or would like to be kept advised of future events and reports to Council, it is encouraged that you register using the methods listed below.

The Planning Act, which sets out the ground rules for land use planning in Ontario, requires that municipalities review and update their municipal zoning by-law(s) to conform to their Official Plan no later than three years after the Official Plan comes into effect. After a comprehensive review, an amendment to the Clarington Official Plan was adopted by Council on November 1, 2016, and approved by the Region of Durham on June 19, 2017.

New zoning will likely be adopted in some places to meet the land uses described in the updated Official Plan. With Clarington's two existing Zoning By-laws, the opportunity to consolidate Zoning By-laws 84-63 and 2005-109 into one comprehensive Zoning By-law
will help to avoid redundancy, improve consistency and will allow for easier use.

• Definitions
• General and special provisions
• Zone categories and site-specific exceptions
• Zoning by-law layout and design

When the proposed zoning comes into effect, there will be no change to the requirements imposed upon your property. You can continue living in your home or operating your business without any implications, provided the uses continue 'as-is.'

Once a use or structure is removed, the legal non-conforming status stops. To make changes to a legal non-conforming use or structure, permission may be required through a Zoning By-law amendment or minor variance if the proposed changes do not comply with the new zoning of the property. 

We encourage the community to participate in the ZONE Clarington consultation process so that we can consider your concerns at every stage of the project. Public meeting dates will be advertised at least two weeks in advance of their scheduled times.

Once the Zoning By-law has been approved by Council, you may be able to appeal it to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. The Municipality must give notice of the new by-law's passing within 15 days of its approval. You will then have 20 days after the notice of the passing of the by-law to file a notice of appeal with the Municipal Clerk.

Zoning establishes a set of rules so that the community has a common understanding of how property will be used. The Municipality enforces the Zoning By-law to protect the rights of all its residents. When an individual applies for a building permit, municipal staff are required to ensure that the proposed use, building or structure complies with the Zoning By-law. If the proposed use, building or structure does not comply, the building permit cannot be issued.

If a building permit was not required and there is a violation of the Zoning By-law, Municipal By-law Enforcement will meet with the property owner to discuss what is needed to make the property comply with current zoning. If the owner does not take steps to correct the problem, the Municipality may lay charges against the property owner.