Ontario Construction News staff writer
Richmond Hill adopts first comprehensive zoning by-law to guide growth
Richmond Hill, Ont. — Richmond Hill Council has adopted the city’s first comprehensive zoning by-law (CZBL), a key step in guiding development and supporting the city’s projected growth.
The new by-law implements Richmond Hill’s Official Plan by regulating how land can be used, including where buildings can be located, how tall they can be, how much parking is required, and what activities are permitted on each property.
Ontario’s Planning Act requires municipalities to pass a new zoning by-law within three years of updating an official plan. Richmond Hill’s Official Plan update has been underway for several years, and city staff hosted more than 13 in-person and virtual engagement sessions, as well as Council public meetings, to gather feedback for the CZBL.
The by-law consolidates more than 40 zoning by-laws dating back to the 1960s, modernizing development standards and streamlining processes to better align with the city’s changing growth needs.
City officials say the CZBL will enhance the development approval process, helping to build more homes faster, protect environmentally sensitive areas, and attract new businesses and jobs.
Key features of the CZBL include:
- Simplifying over 100 residential zones into 12 citywide zones.
- Providing a user-friendly, fully accessible online format.
- Modernizing standards for growth centres, neighbourhoods, green spaces, and corridors to better integrate land use and public transit.
- Advancing zoning for the Richmond Hill Centre to promote development in the city’s highest-intensification area.
- Protecting environmental lands such as the Oak Ridges Moraine and Greenbelt.
- Unlocking Housing Accelerator Fund support by fulfilling three of nine commitments to remove barriers and speed up housing development.
“Passing the CZBL is a significant milestone for Richmond Hill,” said a city spokesperson. “It ensures our planning policies are clear, accessible, and effective, while supporting growth and preserving the natural and built environment for future generations.”