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The City is reviewing its Zoning By-law to update regulations and is proposing to introduce Form Based Zoning in residential areas. Form Based Zoning will help the City simplify its overall zoning regulations.
Meridian Planning Consultants has been retained by the City to assist with the review of the new Zoning By-law to ensure that the By-law is easy to understand and interpret.
What is Form-Based Zoning?
Form Based Zoning focuses on the physical form of development (i.e., height, building placement) rather than the separation of use and dwelling types. It shifts away from traditional zoning which can be restrictive and complex in practice. Form Based Zoning supports the development of "missing middle" housing to help support our growing City.
Form Based Zoning is intended to be incorporated into the new comprehensive zoning by-law in only residential areas. Staff are considering the following 4 new zones which would apply City-wide:
- RR - Detached, private services
- R1 - Detached, attached and multiple (3 storey maximum)
- R2 - Detached, attached and multiple (4 storey maximum)
- R3 - Attached and multiples (5-15 storey maximum, subject to tall building standards)
This project is one of nine initiatives the City committed to through the Housing Accelerator Fund agreement with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
Check out the Resources tab to find the latest draft of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law.
Current Zoning By-law 150-85
The City's current Zoning By-law came into effect in 1987 and is very restrictive and a barrier to housing. The current By-law places properties into discrete zones based on dwelling type and density. Currently, there are 16 unique residential zones, each with individual standards such as permitted dwelling type, maximum density, frontage, lot area, and setbacks.
City staff are working towards completing a new comprehensive Zoning By-law that will reflect current planning practices and community standards.
Part of this new approach is supporting what is referred to as "missing middle housing".
You may have heard the term Missing Middle around housing, but what is the Missing Middle? Where did it go? Watch this video to find out why Middle went missing and to understand this housing concept:
Missing Middle Housing:
Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF)
The Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) is a federal government program designed to help increase the number of houses across Canada. The City of Cambridge does not actually build houses, that is the work of developers and builders in the City. HAF provides funding to help municipalities remove barriers and fast track approvals to increase the number of houses being built and see shovels in the ground faster.
The HAF program includes a funding agreement in which the City is required to complete nine local initiatives/projects aimed to boost housing supply.
What is the Planning Act?
The Planning Act is provincial legislation that sets out the ground rules for land use planning in Ontario.
What is a Zoning By-law?
The legal and enforceable tool used to implement Official Plan policies, which is a requirement by the Planning Act.
How does this project affect me?
Every property in the City is regulated through the Zoning By-law and if you own, lease or rent property within the City, the new Zoning By-law could affect you.
Get Involved
Staff have planned additional opportunities for community engagement.
Join us at one of our upcoming community drop ins throughout the month of June (check out the Upcoming Events tab for more information). Staff will be at the following locations: City Hall, Cambridge Centre, Langs, David Durward Centre, Hespeler Scout House and more!
Form Based Residential Zoning Workshops
In April 2025, staff hosted three public engagement workshops using sample locations across the City. The workshops explored form based zoning and ways to add more housing to residential neighbourhoods that is compatible in form and character with the varying contexts across the City.
Currently, staff are conducting a survey related to the content and materials from the workshop, which can be found under documents.
The survey goes through the various test sites and explores how missing middle housing can be added to residential neighbourhoods using the proposed zone regulations (the "blue box"). The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes. Have a say and fill out the survey!
Other public comments and submissions can be sent directly to the listed contacts.
