Official Plan, Zoning & Land Use Planning

Town of Ajax Official Plan

The Town of Ajax Official Plan focuses on land use and contains goals and policies that guide the physical, social and economic growth of our community. The Official Plan establishes a vision of the future urban structure, protects important environmental areas and will serve as the basis for managing change within our community for the next 25 years.

The Ontario Planning Act also requires local municipalities, including the Town of Ajax, to review their Official Plan every 10 years after a new Official Plan is approved, or 5 years after a Comprehensive Review is completed by amendment. The Town of Ajax Official Plan is currently under review and details are available on the IMO page of ajax.ca. In addition, as of January 1, 2025, Durham Region became an “upper-tier municipality without planning responsibilities”. As a result of this the Regional Official Plan, has now become part of the Area Municipal Official Plans of Durham’s eight municipalities, including the Town of Ajax. More details are available on the Region of Durham website.

Development Decisions

The Official Plan includes policies that help make development decisions, including:

How to protect the natural environment;
Where to put new housing, businesses and shopping areas, parks, schools and places of worship;
What types of housing, employment and shopping areas to include;
What type of infrastructure (roads, transit, water and sanitary, stormwater and waste management) will be needed;
How to address, mitigate and adapt to climate change;
How to protect cultural assets; and
What urban design and environmentally sustainable principles should be followed when developing.

Read the Town of Ajax Official Plan

Zoning

Zoning helps guide how land is used and developed in the Town of Ajax. Learn how zoning regulations work, how to find zoning information for your property, and what steps to take if you need a zoning change.

What is Zoning?

Zoning is a tool used by the Town of Ajax to regulate:

How land may be used;
Where buildings and structures can be located;
The types of buildings that are permitted; and
Development standards such as lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights, building setbacks and driveway widths

Zoning By-law

While the Town’s Official Plan sets out the general policies for future land use, the Zoning By-Law puts the plan into effect and provides for its day-to-day administration.

Zoning By-Law 95-2003 is a comprehensive Zoning By-Law that was passed by Ajax Town Council on July 14, 2003. The Zoning By-Law is updated from time to time to reflect Zoning By-Law Amendments approved by Ajax Town Council or the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) and to implement the policies of the Ajax Official Plan.

Steps to Understand Zoning Regulations for a Property

To determine all the applicable permissions, prohibitions and development standards for a property, all sections of By-law 95-2003 should be reviewed. Follow these steps to ensure you understand all the zoning regulations that apply to a property. Further information about these steps is provided in the Preamble section of Zoning By-law 95-2003.

Step 1 – Locate the property on a map to determine the zone and other special provisions (Zoning Maps; Exception Maps; Section 8 – Special Schedules; and Section 2 – Establishment of Zones).
Step 2 – Check for property specific amendments regulating development on the property (Section 7 – Zoning Exceptions; Section 9 – Holding Provisions, Temporary Use Zones and Interim Control Zones; Section 10 – Minister’s Zoning Orders; and Minor Variances (1)).
Step 3 – Review the permitted uses and development standards for the zone that applies to the property (Section 6 – Zone Provisions).
Step 4 – Review all other sections of the By-law to determine all other applicable zoning regulations (Section 4 – General Provisions; and Section 5 – Parking, Loading and Queuing Requirements).
Step 5 – Ensure you understand the terms and words used in the By-law. Several words and terms in the By-law are italicized which indicates that there is a corresponding definition. Check Section 3 – Definitions to ensure a clear understanding of italicized words and terms. There are also Explanatory Notes at the end of By-law 95-2003 that provide illustrations of various permitted uses and development standards used in the By-law.

(1) Minor Variances are not included in Zoning By-law 95-2003. Minor Variances from 2020 onward can be found on the Town’s Planning Application Dashboard (Planning Applications). For Minor Variances prior to 2020, please contact Planning Services at planningservices@ajax.ca

Minor Variances

If you are planning to develop your property in a way that is generally permitted by the Town but fails to meet one or more of the detailed standards of the Town’s Zoning By-Law, you may be able to apply for a Minor Variance. Unlike Zoning By-law Amendments, which are designed to address major incompatibilities with the Zoning By-Law, Minor Variances are designed to address minor incompatibilities.

Decisions on Minor Variances are made by the Committee of Adjustment, a specialized body appointed by Town Council. The applicant must demonstrate to the Committee that the variance is necessary and why there are practical difficulties in carrying out the strict regulations of the Zoning By-law. In order for a variance to be approved, it must be demonstrated that the application is:

Minor in nature;
Appropriate and desirable in for the area;
In keeping with the purpose and intent of the Zoning By-Law; and
In keeping with the purpose and intent of the Official Plan.

Further information about Minor Variances, including the application form, is available on the Committee of Adjustment page.

Contact email: planningservices@ajax.ca