Zoning legislation is one strategy municipal governments use to actualize district land use plans and growth strategies. In Canadian cities, zoning laws regulate how land is used, notably within urban environments to determine the structures that can be built, the operations that can take place, and how the social culture develops. Zoning legislation can impact the supply of homes, housing diversity, and affordability. As such, when planning for livable Canadian cities, considering zoning policy is an essential preliminary step. By understanding the implementation and impact of zoning in Canadian cities, we can better understand the intersection between housing, mobility, community wellness, and, ultimately, how to create urban environments livable for all Canadians.
Why is Zoning Significant to Livable Canadian Cities?
Zoning policies are a direct form of governmentally responding to and addressing the needs of city residents. For example, the city of Vancouver has been widely acknowledged as undergoing a ‘housing crisis’ concerning the city’s affordability and livability. Inclusive re-zoning reforms, such as permitting the construction of higher-density housing, are critical for increasing the housing supply and balancing city growth with livability. However, implementation of zoning policies must be done thoughtfully and with foresight, as uncoordinated zoning reform could result in unintended consequences - infrastructure strain through rapid densification, disruption of established city communities, and inequitable development opportunities. Understanding zoning subdivisions and policies is the first step in applying zoning to successfully create livable Canadian cities.
Scope
✔Understand a variety of zoning restrictions and their impact on livable city development.
✔ Gain insight into contemporary public responses to zoning.
Within city planning, there are a variety of zoning designations and laws specifically for residential, commercial, and industrial districts. Urban centers face specific challenges, such as managing population growth and density with livability. Within municipal zoning restrictions, some subdivisions limit the type of residences that can be built upon the land. Balancing residential zoning with industrial and commercial districts is key to achieving the desired standard of living for future and current residents. Specificities within municipal zoning bylaws often undergo miscellaneous amendments, designed to continuously improve the alignment of zoning bylaws with addressing civilian needs.
Single-Family
Single-family zoning restricts residential areas to detached homes on individual lots, often excluding other types of housing such as duplexes or townhouses. This policy, prevalent in many Canadian cities, emerged in the early 20th century to promote suburban-style living. However, its effects have contributed to urban sprawl, increased housing costs, and resulted in a lack of diversity in housing options, making it harder for cities to meet the needs of growing and diverse populations.
A graph of detached house zones in Toronto, 2016. Detached house zones often undergo reform, and this image may not be current. However, it provides context for the historical division of land within Toronto.
Multi-Unit
Multi-unit zoning is a land-use regulation policy that allows the development of residential buildings with multiple units, such as duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, and apartment complexes, on a single property. This zoning type supports higher-density housing, which can increase the overall supply of homes and improve land use efficiency. Many Canadian cities face a ‘missing middle,’ which in simple terms is an insufficient supply of duplexes and low-rise walk-up apartments. In response to rising housing demand and affordability challenges, several Canadian cities have implemented multi-unit zoning policies to encourage urban growth and sustainable development.
