- Use the Search By-laws tool and enter a keyword (e.g. Fence) or a by-law number (e.g. 22-001).
- Narrow your search results by using the Category and Sort By filter options.
- Browse the search results. To view a PDF version, click on the by-law number and title of your choice.
The online listing is updated as City Council passes new by-laws.
Disclaimer: By-laws contained in this section have been prepared for the purpose of convenience only and are not certified true copies. Where available, office consolidated versions, combining the original By-law and any amendments, are provided for ease of use. For accurate reference, consult copies of the official By-laws and documents in the Records Division of the Office of the City Clerk.
For by-laws and documents that are not available in an electronic format, email clerk@hamilton.ca.
The by-laws include those enacted, amended and repealed by City Council, as well as those enacted, amended and repealed by the Ontario Municipal Board, Ontario Land Tribunal or Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. The City of Hamilton provides online access to reference copies of current by-laws dating from 2004 to the present.
There may be one or more subject categories assigned to each by-law depending on context. Selecting a specific category can narrow your search.
By-laws are the official rules that define how the City is governed
Documents
The M11 Zone permitted uses:
- Alcohol Production Facility (By-law No. 18-219, August 17, 2018)
- Aquaponics (By-law No. 18-266, September 12, 2018)
- Building and Lumber Supply Establishment
- Building or Contracting Supply Establishment
- Cannabis Growing and Harvesting Facility (By-law No. 18-266, September 12, 2018)
- Commercial Motor Vehicle Sales, Rental and Service Establishment
- Communications Establishment
- Conference or Convention Centre
- Courier Establishment
- Educational Establishment
- Equipment and Machinery Sales, Rental and Service Establishment
- Greenhouse (By-law No. 18-266, September 12, 2018)
- Hotel
- Industrial Administrative Office
- Laboratory
- Labour Association Hall
- Manufacturing
- Motor Vehicle Collision Repair Establishment
- Motor Vehicle Service Station
- Office
- Private Power Generation Facility
- Repair Service
- Research and Development Establishment
- Surveying, Engineering, Planning or Design Business
- Trade School
- Tradesperson’s Shop
- Transport Terminal
- Transportation Depot
- Warehouse (By-law No. 17-220, October 25, 2017)
The M13 Zone located primarily at Piers 11 - 12, 14, 15, and 22-24 permits specific industrial uses that are integral to the functioning of the Hamilton Port Authority and uses supporting shipping and navigation activities. This Zone is found primarily on lands owned by the Hamilton Port Authority and located north of Burlington Street and along Hamilton Harbour.
The M14 Zone located primarily at Piers 25 to 27 permits specific industrial uses that are integral to the functioning of the Hamilton Port Authority and uses supporting shipping and navigation activities. This Zone is found primarily on lands owned by the Hamilton Port Authority and located north of Burlington Street and along Hamilton Harbour.
The C1 Zone is generally located abutting or within the interior of a residential neighbourhood, where permitted commercial and residential uses are intended for residents in the immediate area. Types of built form include one- and two-storey buildings such as converted dwellings and “Main Street” commercial buildings where the scale, height, and bulk, are compatible to the surrounding residential neighbourhood.
The C2 Zone permits commercial uses intended to serve residents within the surrounding neighbourhood, as well as residential uses. This Zone is found primarily along collector or arterial roads, with the built form ranging from small scale one-storey commercial plazas to the clustering of commercial buildings under 2,000 square metres built close to the street. The scale, height, and bulk, are compatible with the surrounding residential neighbourhood.
The C3 Zone permits local commercial uses intended to serve residents within the surrounding neighbourhoods. Located primarily along collector or arterial roads and within close proximity to residential neighbourhoods, the built form within this Zone generally consists of larger commercial plazas to a maximum of 10,000 square metres.
The C4 Zone includes large format shopping centres, such as Limeridge Mall, and the Centre on Barton, which are characterized by commercial uses serving a regional market. The blend of uses within this zone includes retail, personal service, institutional, office and residential uses. The built form provides for a comfortable and vibrant pedestrian environment that is compact and transit supportive.
The C5 Zone is found along collector and arterial roads where the zone permits a range of retail, service, commercial, entertainment, and residential uses serving the surrounding community. The built form encourages an active transit supportive, pedestrian environment that is anchored by single or mixed-use buildings oriented towards the pedestrian realm. Although residential uses are permitted, either as a single or mixed-use building, this zone is predominantly commercial.
The C5a Zone is typically located along pedestrian oriented streets where permitted commercial and residential uses create an active and vibrant pedestrian realm. Built form consists of buildings with only commercial uses at-grade and residential, commercial and limited institutional uses on the upper floors to encourage a pedestrian and transit-supportive environment. The range of permitted commercial uses along with their built form, are intended to meet the needs of residents and visitors while creating an inviting pedestrian environment.
The C7 Zone permits large-format commercial uses catering to the travelling public and in turn, the built form is reflective through the presence of large buildings. The uses found within the C7 Zone are typically land intensive which may require outdoor storage and sales areas.
The TOC1 Zone is located along collector and arterial roads that function as higher order transit corridors. The Zone provides for a mixture of service commercial, retail and residential uses in stand-alone or mixed use buildings. The intent of the built form requirements is to create complete streets that are transit supportive and will provide for active, and pedestrian oriented streets.
The TOC2 Zone is located along collector and arterial roads which function as higher order transit corridors. The intent of the TOC2 Zone is to maintain areas of the corridor for uses that provide the daily and weekly services required for the local residents and surrounding community. The TOC2 Zone permits a mix of commercial and residential uses, however the priority of these areas is to maintain and provide service commercial and retail uses to meet the needs of the local community.
The TOC3 Zone is located along collector and arterial roads that function as higher order transit corridors. The Zone recognizes the residential nature of sections of the corridor and the need to maintain these areas for residential purposes in the future. The built form requirements allow for medium-density development, however this zone also recognizes existing built form.
The S2 Zone permitted uses:
- Agriculture (By-law No. 18-219, August 17, 2018)
- Catering Service
- Commercial Recreation
- Craftsperson Shop
- Day Nursery
- Farm Product Supply Dealer
- Financial Establishment
- Medical Clinic
- Motor Vehicle Service Station
- Office
- Personal Services
- Private Club or Lodge
- Repair Service
- Restaurant
- Retail
- Studio
- Veterinary Service
- Veterinary Service – Farm Animal
The S3 Zone permitted uses:
- Agriculture (By-law No. 18-219, August 17, 2018)
- Community Garden (By-law No. 21-189, October 13, 2021)
- Day Nursery
- Educational Establishment
- Library
- Place of Worship
The E1 Zone applies to all properties that contain legally Existing commercial uses. This Zone recognizes and permits those uses that have been legally established prior to the enactment of this By-law. It is not the intent to add properties to the E1 Zone subsequent to the enactment of this By-law. Special Exceptions have been applied to some E1 Zone properties to identify the specific Existing Use(s) permitted.
The E2 Zone applies to all properties that contain legally Existing industrial uses. This Zone recognizes and permits those uses that have been legally established prior to the enactment of this By-law. It is not the intent to add properties to the E2 Zone subsequent to the enactment of this By-law. Special Exceptions have been applied to some E2 Zone properties to identify the specific Existing Use(s) permitted.
The U1 permitted uses is Airport.
The U3 Zone is for parking purposes such as a municipal parking lot or a private parking lot either as a surface lot or structured parking. An Urban Farmer’s Market is also permitted in the U3 Zone.
For the purpose of the Waterfront Zones, Figure 10 of Schedule F – Special Figures identifies the Blocks referenced in the Waterfront – Multiple Residential (WF1) Zone, Waterfront – Mixed Use (WF2) Zone and Waterfront – Prime Retail Streets (WF3) Zone.