Rezoning

Do you need information on zoning in the City of St. John's?

The Envision St. John's Development Regulations has all the information you need, including:

• zoning maps
• land-use zones
• permitted uses in each zone
• standards for development (such as lot sizes, yard sizes, building heights and more)

Before applying for development, it is important to know the zone in which the property is located. You can then see what uses are permitted and what development standards apply.

Our Map Centre also lists planning zones.

Questions on rezoning can be directed to Planning and Development.

Amendments

Sometimes a proposed development does not meet the requirements of the City's Development Regulations. Two types of amendments are recognized:

1. Rezoning

Changing the zoning map, and in some cases, changing the Municipal Plan designation, to allow a proposed development to proceed which otherwise would have been turned down.

2. Text Amendment

Changing the text of the Development Regulations, and in some cases changing the Municipal Plan, which would allow a proposed development to proceed which otherwise would have been turned down.

The Amendment Process

Applicants for such developments are advised to discuss them with the Planning and Development division before seeking an amendment. Applications for rezoning are site-specific and therefore usually initiated by the applicant for a specific development. Applications for a text amendment often affect many properties.

Rezoning Checklist

Once the application has been officially accepted for processing, the following steps occur:

1. Staff gathers background information and refers the application to other departments and public agencies as required.  We maintain written contact with the applicant throughout the amendment process.
2. Staff submits a report to Council's Committee of the Whole, which meets biweekly. As an applicant, you can ask to speak at the meeting when your application is considered. 
3. The Committee of the Whole brings its recommendations to the next regular meeting of Council for consideration. Council then decides whether to accept the recommendations.
4. If Council decides to consider the application, the City publishes a public notice of the proposed amendment in the Telegram newspaper, and mails notices to property owners and tenants within a 150-metre radius of the subject property. Council usually sets up a public meeting to discuss the application.
5. The general public is invited to attend the public meeting, which is organized by City staff and chaired by an independent facilitator.  It is advertised in the newspaper at least 10 days beforehand. Notices are mailed at least 14 days beforehand. The applicant is asked to attend and present information about the application. City staff will also be present to discuss the proposed amendment.
6. The minutes of the public meeting are forwarded to Council for consideration. If Council agrees to proceed, Council will adopt the amendments and forward them to the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs for review.
7. When Municipal Affairs confirms that there is no provincial interest, and if an amendment to the Municipal Plan is required, the City will appoint an independent Commissioner to convene a public hearing, as required by the Urban and Rural Planning Act.
8. The general public is invited to attend the public hearing. It is advertised in The Telegram and by mail-out notice at least 14 days beforehand. The applicant will be asked to attend and present information on the application. City staff will also be present.
9. The general public is invited to send in written comments. In the event no written objections or concerns have been received by two days before the date of the public hearing, the hearing may be cancelled.
10. After the public hearing is held, the Commissioner submits a written report to Council, normally within 30 days. The report will note people's comments and concerns and make a recommendation to Council on whether the amendment should be approved, modified, or rejected. Council is not bound by the recommendations of the Commissioner but does consider them fully.
11. The Commissioner's report is tabled at a regular meeting of Council. Council then decides whether to approve the amendments. Approved amendments are forwarded to the Minister of Municipal Affairs for registration. The amendment comes into legal effect when the Minister's notice of registration is published in The Newfoundland and Labrador Gazette.

Fees

A non-refundable development fee is required to submit a rezoning application or an application for a text change to the Development Regulations. This fee must be submitted before the application can be officially accepted for processing.  

Where the proposed rezoning or text change also requires an amendment to the Municipal Plan, an additional non-refundable fee must be submitted with the application.

Engage on planning applications

The City has launched an engage page for planning applications including rezoning. The web page gives residents the opportunity to provide input and view the status of applications as they move through the City’s approval process.