Comprehensive Zoning By-Law Amendment Review

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zoning our future

Update: Notice of the Passing of Zoning By-law Amendment Z10/26

Zoning By-law Amendment Z10/26 (Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review - Phase 2: Final Amendments) was passed by the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Ajax on June 22, 2026 under Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended. This approval included the passing of ten by-laws, as outlined below:

The Town is completing a comprehensive review of its Zoning By-law to ensure that it aligns with the Town’s Official Plan and other best practices from across Ontario.

What is a Zoning By-law?

Section 34 of the Planning Act specifies the scope and authority of Zoning By-laws. A zoning by-law is a tool that controls the use of land and buildings. A Zoning By-law identifies:

  • How land and buildings may or may not be used.
  • The size and location of buildings and structures.
  • Required lot sizes and dimensions.
  • Minimum or maximum parking space and loading space requirements.
  • Minimum and maximum building heights and densities.

A Zoning By-law cannot regulate matters such as colour, architectural theme or aesthetics of a building. Further, a Zoning By-law cannot regulate the people who may occupy a building, nor the relationship between the occupants.

The current, in-effect Zoning By-law for the Town of Ajax is Zoning By-law No. 95-2003 as amended, which was adopted by Ajax Council on July 14, 2003, and has been amended many times since it was first adopted.

Why Update the Zoning By-law?

Since 2003, the Town has passed approximately 250 Zoning By-law Amendments stemming from development applications and Town-initiated studies. During that same time, approximately 1,250 Minor Variance applications have been processed by the Committee of Adjustment.

The Planning Act requires a municipality to bring its Zoning By-laws into conformity with its Official Plan. Updating the Zoning By-law to align with the Official Plan can implement ‘as-of-right’ land use permissions, while introducing associated standards to ensure good urban design and the protection of the natural environment.

Town of Ajax Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review

Phase 1: Discussion Papers

In 2015, the Town launched the ‘Zoning Our Future’ Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review. A series of eight discussion papers were published with opportunities for the public to review and comment.

Phase 1 Discussion Papers can be viewed in the Important Documents folder.

Phase 2: Technical Reports

On June 17, 2024, Council endorsed staff report PDS-2024-15 to mark the start of Phase 2 of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review. Phase 2 initiated the release of eight (8) Technical Reports that included an assessment of applicable policies and best practices, and resulted in recommended amendments to the Zoning By-law. In addition, a draft of the proposed amendments to the Zoning By-law and Zoning Schedule Maps were released for review.

The Phase 2 Technical Reports can be viewed in the Important Documents folder.

Phase 3: Approvals Phase

Additional Dwelling Unit Amendments– Approved March 2025

On March 3, 2025, the Town’s Community Affairs and Planning (CAP) Committee endorsed staff report PDS-2025-06. Staff proposed a phased approval approach for the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review and brought forward an initial set of amendments related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), including permissions for up to four (4) dwelling units on most properties containing a detached, semi‑detached, or townhouse dwelling.

This initial set of amendments was implemented via the following Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments:

Council also provided direction to staff on various matters that had been raised previously by Council and/or by other stakeholders, to were to be addressed in the forthcoming Zoning By-law Amendments.

Final Amendments – Approved June 2026

The Zoning Our Future: Comprehensive Zoning By-law Final Amendments brought forward the remaining zoning changes within ten (10) separate Zoning By-law Amendments organized by Zoning By‑law section. A Statutory Public Meeting was held on June 1, 2026, and the 10 Zoning By-law Amendments were passed by Council on June 22, 2026 under Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended, which can be reviewed below:

Notice of the Passing of Zoning By-law Amendment Z10/26

Take notice that the Town of Ajax Council passed By-laws Number 58-2026, 59-2026, 60-2026, 61-2026, 62-2026, 63-2026, 64-2026, 65-2026, 66-2026 and 67-2026 on June 22, 2026, under Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended.

Only a specified person, public body, a registered owner of land to which the by-law would apply, or the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as per the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended, may appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) in respect of this By-law by filing a Notice of Appeal, no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 20, 2026.

No specified person, public body, or registered owner of land to which the by-law would apply, shall be added as a party to the hearing of the appeal unless, before the By-law was passed, the person or public body made oral submissions at a public meeting or written submissions to the Council or, in the opinion of the OLT, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party.

For further details, please review the Notice of Passing here.

Stay Connected

For those wishing to obtain updates on the project please contact ZoningOurFuture@Ajax.ca.

Update: Notice of the Passing of Zoning By-law Amendment Z10/26

Zoning By-law Amendment Z10/26 (Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review - Phase 2: Final Amendments) was passed by the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Ajax on June 22, 2026 under Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended. This approval included the passing of ten by-laws, as outlined below:

The Town is completing a comprehensive review of its Zoning By-law to ensure that it aligns with the Town’s Official Plan and other best practices from across Ontario.

What is a Zoning By-law?

Section 34 of the Planning Act specifies the scope and authority of Zoning By-laws. A zoning by-law is a tool that controls the use of land and buildings. A Zoning By-law identifies:

  • How land and buildings may or may not be used.
  • The size and location of buildings and structures.
  • Required lot sizes and dimensions.
  • Minimum or maximum parking space and loading space requirements.
  • Minimum and maximum building heights and densities.

A Zoning By-law cannot regulate matters such as colour, architectural theme or aesthetics of a building. Further, a Zoning By-law cannot regulate the people who may occupy a building, nor the relationship between the occupants.

The current, in-effect Zoning By-law for the Town of Ajax is Zoning By-law No. 95-2003 as amended, which was adopted by Ajax Council on July 14, 2003, and has been amended many times since it was first adopted.

Why Update the Zoning By-law?

Since 2003, the Town has passed approximately 250 Zoning By-law Amendments stemming from development applications and Town-initiated studies. During that same time, approximately 1,250 Minor Variance applications have been processed by the Committee of Adjustment.

The Planning Act requires a municipality to bring its Zoning By-laws into conformity with its Official Plan. Updating the Zoning By-law to align with the Official Plan can implement ‘as-of-right’ land use permissions, while introducing associated standards to ensure good urban design and the protection of the natural environment.

Town of Ajax Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review

Phase 1: Discussion Papers

In 2015, the Town launched the ‘Zoning Our Future’ Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review. A series of eight discussion papers were published with opportunities for the public to review and comment.

Phase 1 Discussion Papers can be viewed in the Important Documents folder.

Phase 2: Technical Reports

On June 17, 2024, Council endorsed staff report PDS-2024-15 to mark the start of Phase 2 of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review. Phase 2 initiated the release of eight (8) Technical Reports that included an assessment of applicable policies and best practices, and resulted in recommended amendments to the Zoning By-law. In addition, a draft of the proposed amendments to the Zoning By-law and Zoning Schedule Maps were released for review.

The Phase 2 Technical Reports can be viewed in the Important Documents folder.

Phase 3: Approvals Phase

Additional Dwelling Unit Amendments– Approved March 2025

On March 3, 2025, the Town’s Community Affairs and Planning (CAP) Committee endorsed staff report PDS-2025-06. Staff proposed a phased approval approach for the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review and brought forward an initial set of amendments related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), including permissions for up to four (4) dwelling units on most properties containing a detached, semi‑detached, or townhouse dwelling.

This initial set of amendments was implemented via the following Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments:

Council also provided direction to staff on various matters that had been raised previously by Council and/or by other stakeholders, to were to be addressed in the forthcoming Zoning By-law Amendments.

Final Amendments – Approved June 2026

The Zoning Our Future: Comprehensive Zoning By-law Final Amendments brought forward the remaining zoning changes within ten (10) separate Zoning By-law Amendments organized by Zoning By‑law section. A Statutory Public Meeting was held on June 1, 2026, and the 10 Zoning By-law Amendments were passed by Council on June 22, 2026 under Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended, which can be reviewed below:

Notice of the Passing of Zoning By-law Amendment Z10/26

Take notice that the Town of Ajax Council passed By-laws Number 58-2026, 59-2026, 60-2026, 61-2026, 62-2026, 63-2026, 64-2026, 65-2026, 66-2026 and 67-2026 on June 22, 2026, under Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended.

Only a specified person, public body, a registered owner of land to which the by-law would apply, or the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as per the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended, may appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) in respect of this By-law by filing a Notice of Appeal, no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 20, 2026.

No specified person, public body, or registered owner of land to which the by-law would apply, shall be added as a party to the hearing of the appeal unless, before the By-law was passed, the person or public body made oral submissions at a public meeting or written submissions to the Council or, in the opinion of the OLT, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party.

For further details, please review the Notice of Passing here.

Stay Connected

For those wishing to obtain updates on the project please contact ZoningOurFuture@Ajax.ca.

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Page last updated: 30 Jun 2026, 05:21 PM