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Step #7: Zoning Regulations

Discover if your business can legally operate at your chosen location and what Zoning is.

Zoning

Before you open your business - particularly BEFORE you sign a lease or buy a property - you need to make sure your type of business can operate at that location. The way you determine if you can open or expand at a certain location is to understand how the property is zoned (allows) and if there are any additional requirements (e.g. parking, how far the building needs to be from the road etc.).

Zoning regulates:

  • How land can be used
  • Where buildings and other structures can be located
  • Types of buildings (commercial, industrial, residential) that are permitted at a particular address
  • How the property may be used (lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights, and distance from the street).

How do I know if my business can open at a specific address?

You need to apply for a Zoning Verification/Property Report, which will tell you if the proposed use is permitted (or not) on that particular property. By visiting the Planning Division on the 5th floor, City Hall, you can verify a potential location with a quick, verbal check done using the City of Hamilton's Interactive Zoning Mapping to confirm that the zoning of the property permits the use.

If the use of your proposed location is not recognized (the type of business you wish to run in the location), but the zoning permits it within your location, you can apply for a Building Permit for the "Change of Use" (a Building Permit with no construction). For more information contact the Hamilton Building Division.

Purpose of Zoning Verification/Property Report application

If you have checked the zoning of the property (verbally by visiting the Planning Division on the 5th floor, City Hall) and you are advised that your intended use is permitted, it is strongly suggested that you next obtain a Zoning Verification/Property Report Application.

A Zoning Verification/Property Report Application is an official document that will currently give you information such as:

  • Confirm if the intended use is permitted at a certain location
Note: The use that may exist at a location is not always what the City of Hamilton recognizes the use as. For example, the recognized use may have been located on a property without the benefit of a required building permit.

A Zoning Verification will also provide you with the required documentation to:

Have zoning related questions?

Send the Hamilton Panning Division (zoning inquiries) an email. Be sure to include the specific address of the location you are inquiring about for quicker service.

Home-based Businesses

If you are operating or plan to operate a home-based business in Hamilton, check with the City of Hamilton's Zoning department to ensure you can legally operate your business from your home.

How do I apply for a Zoning Verification/Property Report?

Applications can be completed in-person or a completed application can be emailed to ZoningRequest@hamilton.ca. Fees apply.

To apply in person please visit:

Planning Division
City Hall
71 Main Street West, 5th Floor
Hamilton, ON

Accepted method of payment: Debit, VISA, Mastercard, or cheque.

Please visit the City of Hamilton's Zoning Verification Report Application online resource for more information, application requirements, downloadable application, and applicable fees. 

Location

It is important that you choose a location that fits the needs and wants of your industry, customers, budget, and is permitted within the applicable Zoning By-law. The City of Hamilton offers tools and resources to assist in finding available locations for rent/lease or purchase, as well as identifying what uses are permitted.

How do I find a location?

  1. The Hamilton Site Selector - An online tool available to search current properties that are for sale or lease within Hamilton. It is a collaborative effort between the Regional Commercial Network of the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) and the City of Hamilton’s Economic Development Division. Visit the Hamilton Site Selector tool. Currently unavailable.
  2. Connect with an expert - It is recommended to work with a Commercial Real Estate agent to identify locations that fit your business needs and budget. Contact the Regional Commercial Network of the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) at www.rahb.ca.
  3. Invest in Hamilton - Local online resource that provides detailed economic data and key demographics to help you understand who lives and operates in certain sectors of Hamilton. 
  4. Business Improvement Areas (BIA) - Allows local business people and property owners to join together to promote economic development in their district. Explore all 11 Hamilton's BIA's.

Useful Links & Guides:

Additional Services & Resources:

  • City of Hamilton Planning Division:
    (905) 546-2424 x 2719
  • Hamilton Economic Division: 1-800-868-1329
  • Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington: 905.529.8101