Proposed zoning by-law housekeeping amendments

Norfolk County is proposing a housekeeping amendment to Comprehensive Zoning By-law 1-Z-2014. The housekeeping amendment of the Zoning By-law allows for improving zoning provisions, ensuring alignment with provincial legislative updates, addressing new definitions, correcting outdated terminology, and updating outdated references.

This engagement page provides information about the proposed changes and offers an opportunity to submit comments online. An in-person open house is also being held for those who wish to attend. Attendance is not required to provide feedback.

Review detailed changes

A redlined version of the proposed housekeeping amendments is available under “project documents” for those wishing to review the detailed changes.

The proposed amendments include, but are not limited to, the following:

Changes to allow the County to request a declaration of compliance with the requirements of the zoning by-law.

Includes new definitions, such as primary dwelling unit, temporary farm worker accommodation, development, garden suite, surplus farm residence, and gross floor area.

Also includes amendments to existing definitions, including additional residential dwelling unit, group home, home industry, convenience store, and cemetery.

This section also includes corrections to references to provincial legislation and updates to align with the terminology of the 2024 Provincial Planning Statement.

Includes revisions related to:

  • Boathouses
  • Additional residential dwelling units
  • Setback provisions for decks and unenclosed porches
  • Minimum building elevation datum
  • Mobile homes
  • Number of dwellings per lot
  • Uses permitted in all zones
  • Surplus farm residence severance properties
  • Site plan control

New general provisions are proposed for occupancy restrictions and pedestrian means of ingress and egress.

Includes amendments to:

  • Required parking spaces and stacking spaces for certain uses
  • Location of parking on a lot
  • Parking provisions within the Central Business District (CBD) Zone

New proposed requirements address bicycle parking spaces, drive-throughs, delivery spaces, and parking garages, which may be permitted in Urban Residential Type 5 and 6 Zones, Central Business District (CBD) Zones, and Residential Commercial Business (CRB) Zones.

Includes provisions to permit parking garages in high-density residential zones, specifically Urban Residential Type 5 (R5) and Urban Residential Type 6 (R6) Zones.

Several permitted uses are removed where they are now addressed through more comprehensive, defined terms.

Permitted uses in commercial zones are updated to include uses such as micro-breweries, wineries as accessory uses to restaurants in specific zones, food and beverage production, retail stores, department stores, and food service vehicles.

Expanded permitted uses to include contractor shops and food and beverage processing.

Crematoriums are removed as a permitted use, along with all special provisions for crematoriums previously permitted in industrial zones.

Introduces special provisions for campgrounds currently permitted in Open Space (OS) and Open Space – Tent and Trailer (OST) Zones.

Expanded permitted uses to include greenhouse structures and introduces special provisions for temporary farm worker accommodation and value-added agricultural uses.

Open house

Interested parties and residents may attend the open house to learn more about the proposed amendments, ask questions, and speak with County staff. The open house is an additional public consultation that Norfolk County has chosen to complete, and is not mandatory under the Planning Act.

Date

April 22, 2026

Time

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location

Talbot Gardens

10 Talbot Street North, Simcoe

Second floor, Multi‑purpose Room

Share feedback online

Comments may be submitted online by those unable to attend the open house.

Next steps

A statutory public meeting under the Planning Act will be held on June 2, 2026, to present the proposed amendments and receive public comments. A separate notice of the statutory public meeting will be provided.