Are Zoning By-Laws Inflating the Cost of Your Project?
If you’re planning a home improvement project that alters the exterior dimensions of your property, you’ll need to navigate a zoning review to ensure compliance with municipal by-laws. Zoning regulations were initially designed to maintain community standards, enhance safety and accessibility, and support sustainable development. For the most part, they serve these purposes well.
However, in certain cases, the rigid application of by-laws can miss the mark entirely—doubling design expenses, delaying permit approvals by months, and unnecessarily entangling homeowners in bureaucratic red tape.
Case in Point: The Porch Enclosure Dilemma
Many homes in East York, Riverdale, Danforth, and Leslieville were built 80 to 100 years ago. These smaller, often semi-detached homes were designed without modern conveniences like front hall closets. As a result, many homeowners seek to enclose their porches to create much-needed storage and establish a temperature buffer between their home and the outdoors.
A seemingly straightforward renovation, right? Not quite.
The Roadblock: Committee of Adjustment and Zoning Setbacks
Under current zoning by-laws, a porch enclosure is considered a front addition, making it subject to strict front yard setback requirements.
Here’s a real example of a building permit application that was denied:
- Front Yard Setback Issue: The City-wide Zoning By-law No. 569-2013 requires a minimum front yard setback of 3.13 meters. The proposed porch enclosure maintained the existing setback of 0.89 meters—a measurement that was originally approved by the city when the home was built over 90 years ago.
- Outcome: The homeowner was forced to submit an application to the Committee of Adjustment (COA), incurring nearly $3,000 in fees and facing months of delays—only for the committee to recognize the setback as a pre-existing condition and grant approval.
The Soft Landscaping Requirement: Another Unnecessary Hurdle
Zoning by-laws also dictate a minimum percentage of soft landscaping per property to prevent excessive runoff and ensure proper rainwater absorption. While this requirement makes sense for large new builds that might eliminate green space, it is unnecessarily applied to porch enclosures—even when the renovation does not alter the roof area or reduce soft landscaping.
This blanket application of by-laws forces homeowners to undergo expensive and time-consuming processes, despite their projects having no negative impact on the environment or neighbourhood.
The Solution: A By-Law Exemption
This situation highlights the need for a specific exemption in zoning by-laws to account for minor modifications like porch enclosures. The good news? Change is possible. Over the years, zoning by-laws have been modified to address inefficiencies, but it takes political action to make it happen.
We have reached out to Councillor Brad Bradford’s office for support but have yet to receive a response. However, elected officials are far more likely to take action when they receive a significant number of emails on the same issue.
Take Action: Support a By-Law Petition
If you’ve encountered similar frustrations with the Committee of Adjustment, zoning by-laws, or excessive red tape, we invite you to join us in pushing for change.
Send us a quick email at contact@d2build.ca with ‘By-Law Petition’ in the subject line, and we will send you a petition to support.
Together, we can advocate for practical solutions that prevent unnecessary costs and delays while maintaining the integrity of our neighbourhoods.
