Zoning and Official Plan
Official Plan
The Town of Grimsby Official Plan is a document which is intended to provide general guidance for growth and development in the Town until the year 2031. It was adopted by Council in 2009 following extensive public consultation.
The Official Plan guides all planning decisions in the Town. This means that:
- Council and municipal officials must follow the Plan;
- All new services, sewer or watermains, for example, must conform to the Plan; and
- All by-laws, including zoning and related bylaws, must conform with the Official Plan.
The Town of Grimsby Official Plan implements the policies of the Province of Ontario and of the Niagara Region Official Plan, while providing greater detail in terms of land use designations and policies which reflect specific characteristics of the Town.
The Official Plan is not set forever. The plan can be changed or amended as the community's needs change. For more information about applying for an Official Plan Amendment, please see below.
The Official Plan was last consolidated in August 2018. Please contact the Planning Department at planning@grimsby.ca to obtain the most up-to-date Official Plan information, or to discuss the Official Plan policies.
Zoning By-law
The Town of Grimsby Zoning By-law (By-law 14-45, as amended) is a By-law which controls the use of land throughout the Town. It states exactly:
- How land may be used;
- Where buildings and other structures can be located;
- The types of buildings that are permitted and how they may be used; and
- The lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights and setbacks from the street.
The Official Plan sets out the Town's general policies for future land use. The Zoning By-law puts the Official Plan into effect and provides for its day-to-day administration. It contains specific requirements that are legally enforceable. Construction or new development that doesn't comply with the Zoning By-law is not allowed, and the Town will refuse to issue a building permit.
Zoning By-law 14-45, as amended, was last consolidated in August 2019. Please contact the Planning Department at planning@grimsby.ca to obtain the most up-to-date zoning information.
How to Find the Zoning of a Property |
The Zoning By-law includes schedules. Schedules are maps used to show where particular zoning regulations apply.
To use the schedules to find the zoning of a particular property, follow these steps:
Please note that the Zoning By-law is meant to be read in its entirety, and there may be additional regulations elsewhere in the By-law that apply to development on a property. Contact the Planning Department at planning@grimsby.ca to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date zoning information for a property. |
Making a Planning Application
For more information on how to make a planning application (Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment, Site Plan, Draft Plan of Subdivision/Condominium), including information on requesting a Pre-Consultation Meeting, please visit the Planning Applications page.
Information on minor variance and consent applications can be obtained by visiting the minor variance and lot creation pages.
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