Zoning & land use — Owen Sound, Ontario

What can I build? Do I need a development permit?

The City of Owen Sound, Ontario has 11 adopted bylaws on file: Building By-law No. 2023-091; Development Charges By-law No. 2023-106; Encroachment By-law No. 2020-100; Fortification of Land By-law No. 2005-018; Moving of a Building By-law No. 1978-049; Pre-Consultation By-law No. 2022-073; Regulate Mobile Home Parks By-law No. 1971-3568; Site Plan Control By-law No. 2019-185; Swimming Pool Fence By-law No. 2010-090; Temporary Encroachment By-law No. 2024-092; Zoning By-law No. 2010-078 (Implementing By-law), verified 2026-08-23.

Building By-law No. 2023-091 adopted bylaw

Governs building permit requirements, fees and administration under the Ontario Building Code for construction within the City.

Development Charges By-law No. 2023-106 adopted bylaw

Imposes development charges on new development within the City to fund growth-related infrastructure.

Encroachment By-law No. 2020-100 adopted bylaw

Regulates and permits permanent encroachments onto City property/right-of-way (e.g. structures, decks) adjacent to private land.

Fortification of Land By-law No. 2005-018 adopted bylaw

Restricts fortification/security hardening of buildings and land that could impede emergency access, per the Municipal Act.

Moving of a Building By-law No. 1978-049 adopted bylaw

Regulates the permit process for moving a building over or along City streets.

Pre-Consultation By-law No. 2022-073 adopted bylaw

Requires mandatory pre-consultation with the City before applications for zoning by-law amendment, official plan amendment, site plan or subdivision approval.

Regulate Mobile Home Parks By-law No. 1971-3568 adopted bylaw

Regulates the establishment and operation of mobile home parks within the City.

Site Plan Control By-law No. 2019-185 adopted bylaw

Designates the City as a site plan control area and sets the process/requirements for site plan approval of development.

Swimming Pool Fence By-law No. 2010-090 adopted bylaw

Requires fencing/enclosure standards around outdoor swimming pools on residential properties.

Temporary Encroachment By-law No. 2024-092 adopted bylaw

Permits and regulates temporary encroachments onto City property (e.g. construction staging, patios) with permit conditions.

Zoning By-law No. 2010-078 (Implementing By-law) adopted bylaw

The City's comprehensive Zoning By-law establishing zones, permitted uses, setbacks and lot standards; full text is split across numbered sections and 21 schedule maps on the zoning by-law page.

Zoning By-law 2010-078 - zoning by-law page (sections & maps index)

City page hosting all 15 sections and 21 zone-map schedules of the consolidated Zoning By-law 2010-078, plus a link to the interactive GIS zoning map viewer.

Machine-readable: zoning.json · Official website: http://www.owensound.ca/ · Last verified 2026-08-23 · Zoning & land use in other municipalities