Zoning & land use — Sarnia, Ontario

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

The City of Sarnia, Ontario has 44 adopted bylaws on file: Fence By-Law No. 44 of 1998 (Consolidated, incl. amendments to 2018); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 10 – Urban Residential 4 Zone (UR4); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 11 – Urban Residential 5 Zone (UR5); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 12 – Suburban Residential 1 Zone (SR1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 13 – Private Residential Community 1 Zone (PRC1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 14 – Downtown 1 Zone (D1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 15 – Commercial Centre 1 Zone (CC1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 16 – General Commercial 1 Zone (GC1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 17 – General Commercial 2 Zone (GC2); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 18 – General Commercial 3 Zone (GC3); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 19 – Community Commercial 1 Zone (COC1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 2 – Definitions; Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 20 – Highway Commercial 1 Zone (HC1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 21 – Office Commercial 1 Zone (OC1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 22 – Local Commercial 1 Zone (LC1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 23 – Institutional 1 Zone (I1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 24 – Business Park 1 Zone (BP1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 25 – Business Park 2 Zone (BP2); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 26 – Light Industrial 1 Zone (LI1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 27 – Light Industrial 2 Zone (LI2); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 28 – Heavy Industrial 1 Zone (HI1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 29 – Heavy Industrial 2 Zone (HI2); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 3 – General Regulations; Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 30 – Resource Extraction 1 Zone( RE1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 31 – Major Transportation 1 Zone (MT1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 32 – Major Open Space 1 Zone (MOS1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 33 – Open Space 1 Zone (OS1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 34 – Waterfront 1 Zone (W1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 35 – Hazard 1 Zone (H1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 36 – Interim Use 1 Zone (IU1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 37 – Environmental Pro Area 1 Zone (EPA1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 38 – Temporary Use Zone (T); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 39 – Holding Zones (H); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 4 – Zones and Zone Symbols; Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 5 – Rural 1 Zone (RU1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 6 – Rural Residential 1 Zone (RR1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 7 – Urban Residential 1 Zone (UR1); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 8 – Urban Residential 2 Zone (UR2); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 9 – Urban Residential 3 Zone (UR3); Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Zoning Map Parts – Schedule A; Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Zoning Schedule B; Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Zoning Schedule C; Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Zoning Schedule D; Zoning By-Law No. 85 of 2002, Part 1 - Introduction, verified 2026-10-19.

Fence By-Law No. 44 of 1998 (Consolidated, incl. amendments to 2018) adopted bylaw

Regulates construction and height of fences citywide, including a corner-lot daylight-triangle sightline rule and a maximum 0.75m solid-fence height near intersections; addresses the common resident question of allowable fence height.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 10 – Urban Residential 4 Zone (UR4) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 10 – Urban Residential 4 Zone (UR4). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 11 – Urban Residential 5 Zone (UR5) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 11 – Urban Residential 5 Zone (UR5). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 12 – Suburban Residential 1 Zone (SR1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 12 – Suburban Residential 1 Zone (SR1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 13 – Private Residential Community 1 Zone (PRC1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 13 – Private Residential Community 1 Zone (PRC1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 14 – Downtown 1 Zone (D1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 14 – Downtown 1 Zone (D1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 15 – Commercial Centre 1 Zone (CC1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 15 – Commercial Centre 1 Zone (CC1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 16 – General Commercial 1 Zone (GC1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 16 – General Commercial 1 Zone (GC1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 17 – General Commercial 2 Zone (GC2) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 17 – General Commercial 2 Zone (GC2). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 18 – General Commercial 3 Zone (GC3) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 18 – General Commercial 3 Zone (GC3). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 19 – Community Commercial 1 Zone (COC1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 19 – Community Commercial 1 Zone (COC1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 2 – Definitions adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 2 – Definitions. Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 20 – Highway Commercial 1 Zone (HC1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 20 – Highway Commercial 1 Zone (HC1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 21 – Office Commercial 1 Zone (OC1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 21 – Office Commercial 1 Zone (OC1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 22 – Local Commercial 1 Zone (LC1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 22 – Local Commercial 1 Zone (LC1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 23 – Institutional 1 Zone (I1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 23 – Institutional 1 Zone (I1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 24 – Business Park 1 Zone (BP1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 24 – Business Park 1 Zone (BP1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 25 – Business Park 2 Zone (BP2) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 25 – Business Park 2 Zone (BP2). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 26 – Light Industrial 1 Zone (LI1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 26 – Light Industrial 1 Zone (LI1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 27 – Light Industrial 2 Zone (LI2) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 27 – Light Industrial 2 Zone (LI2). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 28 – Heavy Industrial 1 Zone (HI1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 28 – Heavy Industrial 1 Zone (HI1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 29 – Heavy Industrial 2 Zone (HI2) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 29 – Heavy Industrial 2 Zone (HI2). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 3 – General Regulations adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 3 – General Regulations. Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 30 – Resource Extraction 1 Zone( RE1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 30 – Resource Extraction 1 Zone( RE1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 31 – Major Transportation 1 Zone (MT1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 31 – Major Transportation 1 Zone (MT1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 32 – Major Open Space 1 Zone (MOS1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 32 – Major Open Space 1 Zone (MOS1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 33 – Open Space 1 Zone (OS1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 33 – Open Space 1 Zone (OS1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 34 – Waterfront 1 Zone (W1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 34 – Waterfront 1 Zone (W1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 35 – Hazard 1 Zone (H1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 35 – Hazard 1 Zone (H1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 36 – Interim Use 1 Zone (IU1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 36 – Interim Use 1 Zone (IU1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 37 – Environmental Pro Area 1 Zone (EPA1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 37 – Environmental Pro Area 1 Zone (EPA1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 38 – Temporary Use Zone (T) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 38 – Temporary Use Zone (T). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 39 – Holding Zones (H) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 39 – Holding Zones (H). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 4 – Zones and Zone Symbols adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 4 – Zones and Zone Symbols. Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 5 – Rural 1 Zone (RU1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 5 – Rural 1 Zone (RU1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 6 – Rural Residential 1 Zone (RR1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 6 – Rural Residential 1 Zone (RR1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 7 – Urban Residential 1 Zone (UR1) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 7 – Urban Residential 1 Zone (UR1). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 8 – Urban Residential 2 Zone (UR2) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 8 – Urban Residential 2 Zone (UR2). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Section 9 – Urban Residential 3 Zone (UR3) adopted bylaw

Part of City of Sarnia Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 (Planning Act s.34); Section 9 – Urban Residential 3 Zone (UR3). Section PDF posted on city site.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Zoning Map Parts – Schedule A adopted bylaw

Zoning map/schedule for City of Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Zoning Schedule B adopted bylaw

Zoning map/schedule for City of Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Zoning Schedule C adopted bylaw

Zoning map/schedule for City of Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002.

Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002 - Zoning Schedule D adopted bylaw

Zoning map/schedule for City of Sarnia Zoning By-law 85 of 2002.

Zoning By-Law No. 85 of 2002, Part 1 - Introduction adopted bylaw

Core enacting section of the City's comprehensive Zoning By-law under Planning Act s.34, regulating use of land and the character/location/use of buildings and structures citywide to implement the Official Plan; the full by-law is split into 39 zone-specific sections and map schedules.

Zoning By-law | City of Sarnia (Planning)

Landing page linking all 39 sections plus schedules of the current Zoning By-law; notes a comprehensive Zoning By-law Review is underway following the City's 2022 Official Plan, so a full replacement by-law is expected.

Machine-readable: zoning.json · Official website: https://www.sarnia.ca · Last verified 2026-10-19 · Zoning & land use across Ontario · Zoning & land use in other municipalities