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Town of Caledon Zoning By-law
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How To Use This By-law
HOW TO USE THIS BY-LAW
INTRODUCTION
These pages explain the purpose of this Zoning By-law and how it should be used. These
pages do not form part of the Zoning By-law passed by Council and are intended only to make
the Zoning By-law more understandable and easier to use.
This By-law applies to all lands in the Town of Caledon except those lands that are within the
Niagara Escarpment Development Control Area, not including Terra Cotta, Cheltenham,
Inglewood and Mono Mills, or are the subject of By-law 87-229, By-law 88-83, By-law 88-113
and By-law 89-24. The application of this By-law to lands within the Oak Ridges Moraine
Conservation Plan will not take effect until By-law 2008-50 comes into force under the Oak
Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2001. The application of this By-law to lands that are under
appeal through the environmental and open space zoning by-law will not take effect until a
decision is made by the Ontario Municipal Board for the site specific appeals of By-law 2007-42.
PURPOSE OF THIS ZONING BY-LAW
The purpose of this Zoning By-law is to implement the policies of the Town of Caledon Official
Plan. The Official Plan contains general policies that affect the use of land throughout the
Municipality. These policies specify where certain land uses are permitted and, in some
instances, specify what regulations should apply to the development of certain lands.
The Official Plan is a general document that is not intended to regulate every aspect of the built-
form on a private lot. In the Province of Ontario, this is the role of the Zoning By-law. Once an
Official Plan is in effect, any Zoning By-law passed by Council must conform to the Official Plan.
For example, if the Official Plan stated that lands in the vicinity of a significant natural feature
are to remain in their natural state, the Zoning By-law would prohibit the erection of buildings or
structures on those lands.
The statutory authority to zone land is granted by the Ontario Planning Act. The Planning Act
specifies what a By-law can regulate. A Zoning By-law can:
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prohibit the use of land or buildings for any use that is not specifically permitted by the
By-law;
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prohibit the erection or siting of buildings and structures on a lot except in locations
permitted by the By-law;
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regulate the type of construction and the height, bulk, location, size, floor area, spacing,
and use of buildings or structures;
Town of Caledon Zoning By-law
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regulate the minimum frontage and depth of a parcel of land;
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regulate the proportion of a lot that any building or structure may occupy;
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regulate the minimum elevation of doors, windows or other openings in buildings or
structures;
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require parking and loading facilities be provided and maintained for a purpose permitted
by the By-law; and,
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prohibit the use of lands and the erection of buildings or structures on land that is:
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subject to flooding;
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the site of steep slopes;
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rocky, low-lying, marshy or unstable;
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contaminated;
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a sensitive groundwater recharge area or head water area;
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the location of a sensitive aquifer;
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a significant wildlife habitat area, wetland, woodland, ravine, valley or area of
natural and scientific interest;
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a significant corridor or shoreline of a lake, river or stream; or,
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the site of a significant archaeological resource.
HOW TO USE THIS BY-LAW
In order to reference this By-law most easily, a property owner should follow each of the steps
listed below to determine what permissions apply to their particular property.
1.
LOCATE THE PROPERTY ON A MAP
The first step to using this By-law is to refer to the zone maps that are contained at the
back of the By-law to determine in which zone category your property is located. The
zone category will be indicated on the schedules by a symbol or abbreviation. For
example, you may see a symbol such as "A3" beside your property. This would indicate
that your property is within the "Small Agricultural Holdings" Zone. The zone symbols or
abbreviations are explained in Section 2 of the By-law. Your lands may also be subject
to an Overlay zone (e.g "T"). Please note the overlay symbol.
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Section 2 also provides assistance to help you identify the zone boundaries on the Zone
Maps. For example, if your property appears close to a zone boundary and you are not
sure how to determine exactly where that boundary is located, refer to Section 2.4 of the
By-law. Section 2 also identifies the types of Overlay zones that may apply to your lands.
2.
BY-LAW AMENDMENTS
A Zoning By-law is not a static document; it is amended over time as demands and
policies governing land use change. Before proceeding any further, you should verify
that your property is not the subject of an earlier Zoning By-law amendment. While the
Town strives to keep this By-law up-to-date, more recent amendments may not be
included in the version of the By-law you are using. Staff in the Town's Planning
Department will be able to assist you to confirm if your property has been subject to a
more recent By-law amendment.
3.
ZONE PROVISIONS
The next step to using this By-law is to determine what uses are permitted on your
property. Sections 6 to 12 of the By-law identify the permitted uses and zone standards
for each zone in the Municipality.
The definitions in Section 3 can assist you if you are not sure of the nature of a permitted
use or how it has been defined for the purposes of this By-law. Words that are defined in
Section 3 are italicized throughout the By-law. If a word is not italicized, it is not
specifically defined. Uses which are not listed as permitted uses within a particular zone
are not permitted in that zone.
You have now identified the zone in which your property is located and have identified
what uses are permitted on your property. The next step is to determine what standards
may apply to the uses on your property. Sections 6 to 12 of the By-law also identify the
zone standards for each of the zone categories in the Municipality including standards
for minimum lot area, minimum frontage requirements, minimum yard requirements,
maximum lot coverage for buildings, maximum permitted height of buildings and in some
cases, the minimum required landscaped open space on the lot.
4.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Now that you are aware of the uses permitted on your property and the specific zone
standards that apply to those uses, reference should be made to Section 4 of this By-
law. Section 4 contains a more general set of standards known as 'General Provisions'
that apply to all properties in all zones throughout the Municipality. For example, the
general provisions contain standards that regulate the location of accessory structures
on a lot, height exceptions, and non-conforming/non-complying uses that apply to all
properties regardless of what zone the property is located. In addition, the General
Provisions contain standards and regulations respecting the Overlay zones.
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5.
PARKING, LOADING AND DELIVERY
Section 5 provides the parking, loading and delivery requirements for all uses permitted
in the Municipality. If you are considering changing the use of your property or adding a
new use to your property, you should review Section 5 to ensure that you are aware of
the parking requirements for the proposed use.
6.
EXCEPTIONS, HOLDING ZONES AND TEMPORARY USES
The Zone symbol for your property may have included a special number suffix (e.g. "RE-
2" or "A-341") or a letter suffix (e.g. "RE-H2 or RR-T2). These indicate that the lands are
subject to a Zone Exception, Holding Zone, or a Temporary Use Zone. A Zone
Exception is a set of site specific regulations that apply to your lands and that provides
use and performance standards that are different than the parent zone. Zone exceptions
are numbered consecutively and can be found in Section 13.1 - Table 13.1. Holding
Zones can be found in Section 13.3 - Table 13.3, and Temporary Uses can be found in
Section 13.4 - Table 13.4.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CAN'T MEET THE BY-LAW'S REQUIREMENTS?
Sometimes it is not possible to meet all of the By-law's requirements and therefore a permit or
approval cannot be issued. What do you do then? You could consider revising your building
plans so they will meet all the requirements or, for new uses, you could look for lands that will
"fit" your use. If these are not viable options, then you should discuss with Planning staff the
other options that may be available, including either an application for minor variance or an
application for rezoning. You are encouraged to talk to the Town's Planning Department as
early as possible in order to review your plans and determine what course of action best suits
your needs.
DESCRIPTION OF BY-LAW COMPONENTS
This By-law contains fourteen sections which together provide the land uses and standards
applicable to all lands within the Municipality. These sections are as follows:
Section 1
Interpretation and Administration
Section 2
Establishment of Zones
Section 3
Definitions
Section 4
General Provisions
Section 5
Parking, Loading and Delivery
Section 6
Residential Zone Provisions
Section 7
Commercial Zone Provisions
Section 8
Industrial Zone Provisions
Section 9
Institutional Zone Provisions
Section 10
Agricultural and Rural Zone Provisions
Section 11
Environmental Policy Area Zone Provisions
Section 12
Open Space Zone Provisions
Section 13
Exceptions, Beacon Hall Lands, Holding Provisions and Temporary Use
Zones
Section 14
Enactment
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Schedule A Zone Maps
Schedule B Structural Envelopes (SE) Maps
Schedule C Wayside Pits
Appendix 1
Lot Line/Yard Illustrations
Appendix II
Minimum Distance Separation Formula I and II
The purpose of each of these sections are as follows:
SECTION 1 - INTERPRETATION AND ADMINISTRATION
This section of the By-law specifies:
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what lands are covered by the By-law;
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that every parcel of land in the area covered by the By-law is to conform and comply with
the By-law; and,
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what penalties can be levied against a person or a corporation if they contravene any
provision in the By-law.
SECTION 2 - ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONES
This section establishes the Zones that apply to the lands covered by the By-law. This section
also describes how to determine the location of the Zone boundaries on the Zone Maps.
SECTION 3 - DEFINITIONS
It is necessary to define words in a Zoning By-law because it is a legal document. A By-law
must be drafted so that it can be enforced in a court of law. These definitions will help provide
clarity in the By-law and ensure that the By-law and its intent are applied consistently.
SECTION 4 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
This section contains a number of regulations that apply to certain types of uses, buildings or
structures regardless of where in the Municipality or in what zone they are located.
SECTION 5 - PARKING, LOADING AND DELIVERY
Parking, loading and delivery facilities are required for almost all uses within the Municipality.
This section provides the requirements for these facilities including such regulations as the
number of spaces required for residential and commercial uses, minimum driveway width,
minimum parking space size and the location of parking facilities on a lot.
SECTIONS 6 TO 12 - ZONE PROVISIONS
Sections 6 to 12 identify the uses that are permitted in each Zone category. The effect of these
Zones is to only permit certain uses in various parts of the Municipality. The only main uses
permitted in a zone are those that are specified in the By-law. If a use is not specifically
mentioned as a permitted use in a zone then it is not permitted. Similarly, if a use is defined in
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Section 3 of the By-law but does not appear as a permitted use in any zone, then it is not a use
permitted by the By-law.
Sections 6 to 12 also contain a number of standards that control the placement, bulk and height
of a building on a lot. This includes standards such as minimum lot size, minimum frontage,
maximum building height or the maximum coverage of a building on a lot.
SECTION 13 - ZONE EXCEPTIONS AND SPECIAL PROVISIONS, 'BEACON HALL' LANDS,
HOLDING ZONES, AND TEMPORARY USE ZONES
This Section provides a consolidated list of properties that are subject to Zone Exceptions,
Holding Provisions and Temporary Use Zones.
These sections contain a listing of property-specific exceptions to the By-law that have been
granted by Council for individual or groups of properties. For example, the minimum front yard
required in a specific Zone may be 7.5 metres. However, the required front yard may be
reduced to a lesser number if deemed appropriate. This reduction may be accomplished by
amending the By-law and excepting the property from the general standard. Exceptions are
denoted on the Zone Schedules by the Zone symbol designating certain lands followed by a
dash and a number, for example "A3-8".
SECTION 14 - ENACTMENT
This section contains the signatures of the Mayor and the Clerk who signed the By-law when it
was passed by Council in accordance with Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990 c.P. 13,
as amended.