Departments & Services

AdministrationFinanceEngineering, Public Works, and OperationsPlanning and Development ServicesAirportCemeteriesAnimal ControlBusiness LicensingHighway 16 Regional Transit ServiceBylaw Enforcement

Zoning

Home  /  Departments & Services  /  Planning and Development Services  /  Zoning

Zoning is a way of regulating the use of land by designating properties for a specific use or range of uses, density, siting and building form – for example, whether a property can be used for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes, and what kind of building can be located on it.

In 2013 the District of Houston adopted Development Bylaw No. 1040, as amended - Consolidated (2025) which regulates the following zoning areas:

• R1 - One Family Residential Zone
• R2 - Two Family Residential Zone
• R3 - Manufactured Home Park Zone
• R4 - Multi-Family Residential Zone
• A1 - Rural Agricultural Zone
• A2 - Rural Residential Zone
• C1 - Core Commercial Zone
• C2 - Service Commercial Zone
• C3 - Campground Zone
• M1 - Light Industrial Zone
• M2 - Heavy Industrial Zone
• P1 - Public and Institutional Zone
• P2 - Park and Recreation Zone

Additional Guidelines Include:

• Manufactured Home Park Regulations
• Development Permit Guidelines
• Nuisance Regulations - Bylaw No. 1114 (2021)
• Sign Regulations
• Guidelines for Keeping of Chickens

Note: Bylaw No. 1193 - Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing was adopted on June 18, 2024 in compliance with Bill 44, “at least one additional housing unit (secondary suite) within a detached dwelling that would otherwise be a single-family dwelling” or “at least one additional housing unit within another building on the same parcel or parcels of land on which a detached single-family dwelling is located.”

Forms Guidelines and Applications:

• Re-Zoning Application
• Re-Zoning Guidelines
• Re-Zoning Fee Schedule

Zoning Maps:

• Zoning Map
• Zoning Map Inset #1
• Zoning Map Inset #2
• Zoning Map Town Centre
• Flood Plain Map
• Flood Plain Map 2

Legal Non-Conforming Use:

At the time a new land use regulation bylaw is adopted, if an existing use of land or a building is lawfully used and it does not conform to the bylaw, then it may be continued as legal non-conforming use unless:

• The use is discontinued for a period of six months (subject to normal seasonal and agricultural practices)
• More than 75% of the value of the building or structure above its foundation is damaged or destroyed

In most cases, a legal non-conforming use cannot be expanded; however, it can be maintained under certain circumstances. If the use and density of an existing building conforms to a new land use regulation bylaw, but the building's siting, size or dimensions do not, the building may be maintained, extended or altered as long as it does not result in further contravention of the bylaw.

Any new use of land or a building is subject to the new bylaw.

Click the link for more information on legal non-conforming uses as described under the Local Government Act, Part 14, Division 14 - Non-conforming Use and Other Continuations.