Zoning for Low-Carbon Technologies

Zoning for Low-Carbon Technologies is a comprehensive review of Toronto’s City-wide Zoning By-law 569-2013 with a focus on climate action. The study provides an opportunity to modernize the City-wide zoning by-law to support the implementation of Toronto’s climate strategy, TransformTO, and contribute towards the City’s goal of being net zero by 2040.

The study will look for opportunities to facilitate climate actions across the city and make it easier for residents and businesses to retrofit buildings, switch to heat pumps, generate more renewable energy, and charge electric vehicles.

As part of the first phase of study, the City is proposing to modernize the zoning rules for home retrofits, renewable energy devices and other low-carbon technologies, including:

  • new or updated zoning rules for ground- and wall-mounted energy devices (such as heat pumps, air conditioning units, and solar energy devices) in Residential zones
  • new zoning standards for residential scale energy storage devices in Residential zones
  • technical amendments for roof-mounted solar energy devices, in accordance with provincial changes to the Electricity Act
  • updates to the zoning regulations related to building over-cladding
  • new zoning standards for electric vehicle charging equipment in and around parking lots, including solar parking canopies above parking areas

Future phases of the study will propose additional changes as research and consultation continue.

Date: March 2, 2026
Time: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Meeting Link: Virtual Meeting Registration

Date: March 5, 2026
Time: 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Meeting Link: Virtual Meeting Registration

Draft recommendations related to this project will be posted here once available.