Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the City undertaking the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review now?
Council adopted the 2051 Brampton Plan – the City’s new Official Plan. It is a statutory requirement under the Planning Act to update the City’s Zoning By-law to implement the new Official Plan.
The current Comprehensive Zoning By-law – By-law 270-2004, as amended, is also outdated and not equipped to appropriately regulate the types and intensity of development and growth that Brampton is facing today. The current zoning by-law was a consolidation of the four separate former zoning by-laws that were in effect prior to amalgamation of four Brampton’s founding communities in 1974.
The City has retained WSP Canda Group Limited as the Lead Consultant to conduct background research and prepare a new Comprehensive Zoning By-law.
The new Comprehensive Zoning By-law will layout a new clear and predictable set of rules and standards for how lands can be used and developed in Brampton. This should make the development process in Brampton easier, faster and more consistent, including when a property owner prepares for a development application and for City staff to review an application.
What are the intended objectives of this project?
The new Comprehensive Zoning By-law will implement policies set out in the 2051 Brampton Plan and follow recent provincial planning legislations and policies and the federal Housing Accelerator agreement. It will be informed by other ongoing studies and initiatives, including but not limited to the new Urban Design Guidelines, Major Transit Station Areas Review, Housing Brampton and the Brampton Parking Plan.
The new Comprehensive Zoning By-law will also:
- Update and modernize zoning regulations, definitions and approaches to match best practices.
- Use plain language and visuals so residents, property and business owners, planners and all other city-builders can easily read and understand the contents.
- Be user-friendly so any person can easily find and access zoning information relating to their property or any property of interest using the web and on an interactive map.
- Ensure a smooth transition from the current zoning rules.
- Consider the different neighbourhoods and communities in Brampton as they set to evolve and grow.
It is not within the scope of this project to consider and include site-specific zoning amendments for new potential development. To submit a development application, please contact the City's Development and Design division in the Planning, Building and Growth Management Department (e: Planning.Development@brampton.ca).
Why are there no proposed zoning information for properties within a Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) in the draft new Comprehensive Zoning By-law?
The City is undertaking a separate but parallel study to determine the appropriate zoning within Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs). A zoning by-law amendment will be brought to Council for decision by the last quarter of 2024 in accordance with the statutory Planning Act requirements. Adopted zoning provisions and development standards will be incorporated into the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law in a future draft.
Why are there no proposed zoning information for some properties along Main Street North in the draft new Comprehensive Zoning By-law?
Lands along the section of Main Street North between Church Streets and Vodden Streets are subject to a different land use control tool under the Planning Act called the Development Permit System (DPS) / Community Planning Permit System (CPPS). The Main Street North Development Permit System By-law (By-law 230-2012, as amended) applies to these lands - not the current zoning by-law (By-law 270-2004). Therefore, these lands are not included as part of the lands subject to the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law.
The City will be undertaking a comprehensive review of the DPS / CPPS as part of the future Downtown Brampton Secondary Plan Review.
There are more than 2,000 Exception Zones in the Special Section of the current zoning by-law. What is the City / Project Team’s approach to these site-specific zoning provisions and development standards?
A primary goal of the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law is to minimize the need for site-specific zoning by-law amendments and minor variance applications, so that the processing of development proposals can be streamlined and that more homes can be built faster to meet the provincial housing targets and the City's Municipal Housing Pledge.
The project team recognizes that there will be circumstances that require site-specific zoning regulations to reflect local contexts and Council's decisions. Part of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review is to undertake a comprehensive review of the current site-specific zoning provisions and development standards. This work is ongoing.
The project's Lead Consultant is preparing a Technical Memorandum on the recommended approach to the Exception Zones / Special Section in consultation with City staff. It is expected that any Exception Zones carried forward will be included in the Special Section in the future drafts of the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law.
When will the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law come into effect?
It is anticipated the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review will conclude in 2025, after which City Council will decide and adopt the proposed new Comprehensive Zoning By-law. After any resulting post-approval process, the new By-law will come into effect at the end of a transition period between the current zoning by-law (By-law 270-2004) and the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law.
What will be the transition between the current (By-law 270-2004, as amended) and the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law? What will happen to development applications during this time period?
As part of implementing a new Comprehensive Zoning By-law, the City will need to decide on a strategy to address submitted and/or approved development applications made before the enactment of the new Zoning By-law.
The project's Lead Consultant is preparing a Technical Memorandum on the recommended approach(es) to transitional clauses in the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law in consultation with City staff. The final recommended approach(es) will be reflected in future drafts of the new Zoning By-law and Recommendation Report to Council.
Once Council adopts the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law, new development proposals will be requested to comply with the new Zoning By-law.
How will the New Comprehensive Zoning By-law affect my property?
You can identify the proposed zoning on the interactive map here. The associated proposed zoning provisions and development standards can also be viewed by selecting the property or by referencing the corresponding section(s) in the draft Comprehensive Zoning By-law.
How can I participate or stay informed of the project and the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law?
The City has launched a series of public engagement and consultation events for the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law starting the first quarter in 2024. Click here to learn more about the date/time.
If you have any general inquiries about the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law project, please email CZBReview@brampton.ca.
If you want to subscribe for project updates, click here.
If you have specific comments about the proposed Comprehensive Zoning By-law draft, please provide your comments after registering to our Interested Party List.

Questions or Comments?

CZBReview@brampton.ca