Where zoning came from
Before zoning, a landowner could put up a building of any height, anywhere on the lot, and use it for any purpose. As cities industrialized, factories began to affect the health of the people living beside them. Separating industrial, commercial and residential uses was the first solution, and it created a healthier, more stable environment. As cities grew and the car arrived, regulation became the main tool for managing that growth.
Zoning and land use bylaws
In Canada, planning is regulated by each province, so the rules differ from one province to the next. "Zoning bylaw" and "land use bylaw" are the most common names for local planning rules. In Alberta, every municipality adopts a land use bylaw under the Municipal Government Act, and each property is placed in a district within it.
What zoning regulates
What happens there
A house, a shop, an office or a gas station.
How much
The number of units or the floor area.
What it looks like
Height, setbacks and lot coverage.
When the zoning does not fit
If your project does not fit the current district, you have options: a rezoning to change the district, a development permit with relaxations, or an appeal if a decision has gone against you. Before you buy, a zoning review tells you where you stand.