Official Plan and Zoning

The Official Plan sets out the city’s long-term vision for growth and development. It:

• Establishes land use designations across the city
• Identifies where housing, employment and services should be located
• Provides policies to guide development and planning decisions

Related Documents

• Official Plan – As Amended June 8, 2026
• Schedule A – Land Use Plan (Rural Area)
• Schedule B – Land Use Plan (Urban Serviced Area)
• Schedule B1 – Land Use Plan (Urban Serviced Area – West Belleville Secondary Plan)
• Schedule B2 – West Belleville Secondary Plan Density Target Areas
• Schedule C – Road System Plan
• Schedule D – Cycling and Trails Plan
• Schedule E – Detailed Planning Areas
• Schedule E1 – Corridors
• Schedule F – Natural Hazard Features
• Schedule G – Constraint Areas
• Schedule H – Development Phasing
• Appendix A – Additional Intensification Areas
• Appendix B – Wildland Fire Hazard Areas
• Appendix C – Natural Heritage Feature
• Appendix D – Stormwater Management

Official Plan Review

The city is currently reviewing and updating the Official Plan to ensure it reflects changing community needs and aligns with provincial requirements.

The review will:

• Ensure consistency with recent provincial legislation and policies
• Address emerging housing needs and demographic changes
• Support a wider range of housing options, including “missing middle” housing
• Update policies related to intensification and mixed-use development
• Support future growth and economic development

Learn more about the review and how to participate on the Official Plan Review project page.

The Zoning By-law implements the Official Plan and regulates the use of land on a day-to-day basis.

It sets out:

• Permitted uses for each property
• Building location and setbacks
• Height, density and lot requirements
• Parking and other development standards

Zoning helps ensure that development is consistent, compatible and appropriate for each area of the city.

Related Documents

• Zoning By-law – As Amended June 2, 2026
• Zoning By-law Visual Guide
• Interactive Zoning By-law Map

The Official Plan is a policy document that guides how land is used and developed across the city over the long term.

The Official Plan is being reviewed to ensure it reflects current provincial policies, addresses changing community needs and supports future growth and housing options.

Zoning divides land into different areas, or zones, each with specific rules about how land can be used and developed.

Zoning information can be identified using the City’s zoning maps or by contacting the planning department.

An Official Plan amendment is a change to the policies or land use designations in the Official Plan.

A Zoning By-law amendment is a change to the zoning regulations that apply to a specific property or area.

An amendment may be required when a proposed use or development does not comply with the current Official Plan or Zoning By-law.

Once a complete application is submitted, it is reviewed by City staff and circulated to internal departments and external agencies for comment, as required. Applications will also be reviewed by the Planning Advisory Committee before a recommendation is provided to City Council for a decision. 

Timelines vary depending on the complexity of the application and any required public consultation or approvals.

A land use designation establishes the long-term vision for an area by classifying the land into different categories to show what types of uses can be built there, such as residential, commercial or industrial uses, while identifying spaces that must be protected, including farmland and environmentally significant features.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting the City’s planning department.