Which zoning by-law applies in Stoney Creek?
The City of Hamilton's zoning page for the former communities says By-law 05-200 applies to the majority of properties, and the rest are regulated by the former communities' by-laws until they are brought in, including the City of Stoney Creek Zoning By-law 3692-92. The City's interactive zoning map shows which one covers an address, and that by-law sets the size and placement of an addition or the uses a commercial unit can hold.
Does the escarpment change the approvals?
On land in the Niagara Escarpment Commission's Area of Development Control, a development permit from the Commission can be needed before a building permit. A Commission staff report on a lot on Winona Road in the former City of Stoney Creek notes that zoning by-laws are of no force or effect inside development control, with the City's 05-200 provisions underlying the Commission's decision. Check the lot before drawing anything.
Which conservation authority regulates the lot?
Hamilton is split between conservation authorities. The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority says its watershed covers about 21 per cent of the City of Hamilton, and Hamilton Conservation Authority requires written approval before building on a lot it regulates. A lot near a creek, valley or slope is checked against the right authority's map first.
What does a commercial unit in Stoney Creek need?
The same City of Hamilton building permit rules as the rest of the city: interior walls, washrooms, plumbing, sprinklers and a change of use all need a permit. The commercial permit guide lists them, and unit turnovers covers a vacant unit made ready for the next lease.
What should a Stoney Creek brief include?
The address, photos of the space or the part of the house being changed, any drawings, and the zoning by-law the City's map shows for the lot. Home additions lists the approvals in order for a house.
| Check | Where to look | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning by-law | City of Hamilton interactive zoning map. | 05-200 or Stoney Creek 3692-92 sets what can be built. |
| Escarpment | Niagara Escarpment Commission. | Inside development control, its permit can come first. |
| Conservation authority | Hamilton Conservation Authority or the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. | Its approval comes before building on a regulated lot. |
| Building permit | City of Hamilton Building Division. | Needed for walls, plumbing, washrooms and a change of use. |