NOTE: On January 31, 2024, Council enacted a new Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2024-19. The new Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2024-19 is subject to appeal. Not all properties within the City are affected by the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2024-19. Please click here to determine if your property is affected by this new Zoning By-law. Areas that are greyed out on the attached interactive map are not included in the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2024-19. 

Zoning By-laws

You need to follow Markham’s zoning by-laws when you build. Our by-laws cover:

• Land use
• Building use
• Structure size, height, location, and more

For example, the City's Zoning By-laws tell you how close to the lot line you can build. They also tell you whether you can put locate a certain type of business at a certain address in Markham.

Use the Zoning Search tool to get zoning information for any property in Markham.

Read our city-wide by-laws:

• Deck By-Law [PDF] (By-Law 142-95)
• Delegation By-Law [PDF] (By-Law 2002-202)
• Home Occupation By-Law [PDF] (By-Law 53-94)
• Municipal Services By-Law [PDF] (By-Law 2005-104)
• Park Dedication By-Law [PDF] (By-Law 195-90)
• Parking By-Law 28-97 [PDF] Office Consolidation
• Site Plan Control By-Law [PDF] (By-Law 262-94)
• Site Alteration By-Law [PDF] (By-Law 2011-232)
• Tax Reduction - Heritage Property By-Law [PDF] (By-Law 2003-341)
• Tree Preservation By-Law [PDF] (By-Law 2013-136)

You can view or by Zoning By-laws at the City's Planning Department. You’ll find us at:

Markham Civic Centre
Thornhill Entrance
101 Town Centre Boulevard
Markham, Ontario, L3R 9W3

Zoning Preliminary Review

Zoning Preliminary Reviews are offered for low rise residential, multiple residential and non-residential projects. The service includes a review of preliminary plans and documentation to determine a proposed project's compliance with current zoning by-laws prior to the submission of either a building permit or a Planning Act application.

The fee for this service is based on the type of project. Refer to the Service Fee section of our Fee Schedule for current rates. Please be advised, the Service Fees identified include two (2) review cycles (initial submission and one re-submission). Submissions beyond the second review cycle will incur supplementary review fees in accordance with Markham’s Building By-law.

Note: Where land division is proposed, a single application can be made for both the severed and retained parcels. However, fees will be charged on a per lot basis based on the scope of work proposed.

Zoning Preliminary Reviews are applied for online using ePLAN. Please refer to the Zoning Preliminary Review Checklist and the Zoning Preliminary Review Quick Reference Guide for more information on the documents and drawings required to be submitted.

All uploaded files must comply with our ePLAN Submission Standards. For detailed information on using ePLAN, please review our ePLAN Steps to Success online guide. It provides an overview of the system as well as helpful reference sheets for each step in the process.

Our target review timelines for the first review cycle of a Zoning Preliminary Review are below measured in business days.  The timelines begin from the date the Zoning Preliminary Review fees are paid in full.