Official Plan, Zoning By-law, and CIP Review

The City of Kenora is reassessing the current Official Plan, Zoning By-law, and Community Improvement Plans (CIPs). The review process will result in new strategic development documents that will help to address many community priorities.

Community Improvement Plan

We have completed the review of the three previous CIPs for Harbourtown Centre, Keewatin, and the Former Mill Site. A single, integrated Community Improvement Plan for the entire City of Kenora was approved by Council on February 17, 2026. The new CIP contains expanded and enhanced financial incentive programs, with an added focus on fostering housing development opportunities and providing related incentives across the City.

Official Plan and Zoning By-law

The City has started the review of its Official Plan and Zoning By-law with help from consultants WSP and metro economics. This process will create new versions of both documents.

The objectives and policies of the Official Plan and the requirements of the Zoning By-law intend to achieve a balanced approach to addressing the issues of land development, economic development, and the management of land uses, infrastructure, and resources affecting the City.

The City’s current Official Plan and Zoning By-law were approved in 2015. A review and update of the Official Plan must be done regularly to ensure its objectives and policies stay relevant and meet all legal requirements, including the Planning Act and the Provincial Planning Statement of 2024. The Zoning By-law must be updated also to match the new Official Plan.

City Council will adopt the new Official Plan and then it will be sent to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval. Once the Official Plan is approved, Council will then adopt the new Zoning By-law. The Official Plan and Zoning By-law review is expected to be completed in 2027. View the process and timeline for the review:

Phase 1 - project initiation and pre-consultation, fall 2024
Phase 2 - background review and policy recommendations, fall 2024 to winter 2025
Phase 3 - draft Official Plan and Zoning By-law, winter 2025 to fall 2026
- Watch for engagement opportunities, such as open houses and public meetings
Phase 4 - final Official Plan, fall to winter 2026
Phase 5 - final Zoning By-law, spring 2027

Official Plan and Zoning By-law final report

The Final Policy Directions and Recommendations Report (September 2025) is now available for viewing.

The Report identifies key policy directions and addresses policy conformity gaps that will serve as a roadmap for preparation of the Draft Official Plan and Zoning By-law documents.

The Final Policy Directions and Recommendations Report builds on the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Background Report (May 2025). The discussions and directions put forth in this Report are key to applying and promoting local and provincial planning interests, while being sensitive to the existing context in Kenora and the community’s future.

Final Policy Directions And Recommendations Report September 2025

Background reports

Two background reports have been prepared in support of the Reviews. View the reports:

Official Plan and Zoning By-law Background Report (May 2025)

Community Improvement Plan Background Report (May 2025)

View Display Boards from March 5, 2026 Open House

What is an Official Plan?

The Official Plan sets out the vision, goals, objectives, and policies for growth and development within the City within a specified planning horizon. An Official Plan is the cornerstone for decision-making related to land use and development, and must be kept current to reflect the vision and goals the community is trying to achieve. The City of Kenora’s new Official Plan will provide land use policy and direction for the next 25 years, to the year 2051.

An Official Plan helps to ensure:

Compatibility of neighbouring land uses (e.g., residential, commercial, employment, parks and open space);
An appropriate mix and amount of development;
Effective management and/or protection of natural resources;
Protection and preservation cultural heritage resources;
Cost-effective and timely delivery of infrastructure and municipal services;
Protection of surface and groundwater; and
Sustainable economic and community growth.

Specific policies in each of these areas provide direction on how development should occur. The Official Plan also includes a series of Schedules (i.e., maps) that identify land use designations where specific existing and future land uses are permitted.

What is a Zoning By-law?

A Zoning By-law is a legal document and planning tool which implements the policies of the Official Plan by establishing and assigning various Zones to all properties in the City. It also establishes standards that regulate land uses and how a property may be developed within each Zone.

A Zoning By-law also establishes:

A series of Schedules (i.e., maps) that illustrate the location of Zones across the City;
Detailed standards such as lot size, lot coverage, and setbacks which determine where buildings and structures can be located on a property; and
General provisions for specific land uses such as accessory buildings and structures, home businesses and home industries, and special setbacks for development adjacent to watercourses and waterbodies, railway corridors, and other features.
Other development requirements, such as those related to building height, parking, and landscaping.

Zoning helps to avoid or reduce land use conflicts between incompatible land uses by prescribing the types of uses that are permitted in specific areas. Zoning can also be used to protect or enhance the character of a community or area through development standards.

Get involved in the Reviews

Throughout the Review process, there will be many opportunities to provide input and participate in in-person, online, and hybrid engagement events!

Stay tuned for future community engagement opportunities, like an upcoming Community Survey.

Your input is needed to help establish a common vision and make sure that vision is clearly represented in new documents. Your feedback will shape the objectives and policies of the Official Plan and the requirements of the Zoning By-law.

Residents, business owners, and organizations have valuable information to share in this process, such as:

Are you thinking about subdividing or developing your land?
Are you interested in adding an additional dwelling unit (i.e., secondary dwelling unit), like a basement or upper-storey apartment, to your property?
Do you think there is a need for more diverse housing options in the City?
Do you wish you had improved access to businesses and services? Would you like to see more greenspaces and trails in your community?
Are you concerned about protecting natural areas?
Where should the City invest in municipally-led improvements, like streetscaping and infrastructure?

Project contacts

Stay updated on the project's progress by signing up for the project email list at surveys@kenora.ca.

For further information or to submit your comments and questions about the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Review, please contact Janis Pochailo, RPP, MCIP, Director of Planning and Building Services, City of Kenora, 807-467-2192 or jpochailo@kenora.ca.

Planning framework

View the planning framework to become familiar with the Provincial and Municipal responsibilities of the planning function.

Planning framework

Planning framework
Provincial, general, high-level	Municipal, detailed, site-specific
Planning Act - Provincial legislation that sets ground rules for land use planning in Ontario.	City of Kenora Official Plan - provides policies for matter of provincial interest, that all municipalities must be consistent with.
Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 - provides policies for matters of provincial interest, that all municipalities must be consistent with.	City of Kenora Zoning By-law - Implements the Official Plan and set out permitted uses and performance standards (e.g., setbacks, building heights) for each Zone.
	City of Kenora Community Improvement Plan - planning and economic development tool to promote community revitalization.

Coloured chart of Provincial and Municipal responsibilities within the Planning Function