Zoning · Burlington · Agricultural

RG zone, Burlington: Rural Greenlands

Part 8, Sections 1-3, Tables 8.2.1 and 8.3.1 of the City of Burlington Zoning By-law 09-2026 / 2020.

A rural zone for farms, conservation lands and low-intensity outdoor recreation, where a single detached house is allowed on a large (10 hectare) lot with generous setbacks.

Is a property in the RG zone? Enter its address and the lookup returns the zone and these standards, including any site-specific exception.

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What the RG zone permits

  • Agricultural uses
  • Detached Dwelling
  • Forest, Wildlife, Fisheries Management Projects
  • Archaeological, Conservation Projects
  • Transportation and Utility Facilities (essential facilities only, Table 8.2.1 note (b))
  • Recreation Establishment (only non-intensive outdoor recreation such as walking trails, nature viewing, bird watching as the principal use, Table 8.2.1 note (e))

Standards

RequirementBy-law
Minimum lot area (interior lot)100000 m²
Minimum lot width (interior lot)90 m
Minimum front yard10 mTable 8.3.1 'Yard abutting a street': 10 m. Applies to every yard that abuts a street, including a flankage yard on a corner lot.
Minimum interior side yard5 m
Minimum exterior side yard10 mNo separate flankage row; Table 8.3.1 'Yard abutting a street' 10 m applies to any yard abutting a street.
Minimum rear yard10 m
Maximum building height11 mMaximum dwelling height: 2 1/2 storeys to 11 m (Table 8.3.1). Applies to the dwelling; buildings accessory to agriculture have no maximum height (s.3.5).
Maximum lot coverage25 %s.3.2: Agricultural use no maximum; Recreational Establishment 5%; Other uses 25%.

Other provisions in this section

  • Lot area in Table 8.3.1 is stated as 10 ha (= 100,000 m2); lot width 90 m (Table 8.3.1, RA and RG column).
  • Yard abutting a pipeline easement: minimum 7 m (Table 8.3.1).
  • Lot coverage (s.3.2): no maximum for agricultural use; 5% for a recreational establishment; 25% for other uses.
  • Buildings and structures accessory to agriculture (s.3.5): permitted in a side or rear yard only, subject to the Minimum Distance Separation Formula; no maximum height; no maximum floor area; setback from a street line 10 m; setback from a property line 3 m.
  • Minimum Distance Separation (s.1.1): no new building on a lot adjacent to a property with livestock buildings except per MDS I (does not apply to a dwelling on the same property as the livestock use); no livestock building constructed or enlarged except per MDS II.
  • Transportation and Utility Facilities: only essential facilities permitted (Table 8.2.1 note (b)).
  • Recreation Establishment: only non-intensive outdoor recreational activities (walking trails, nature viewing, bird watching, etc.) as the principal use (Table 8.2.1 note (e)).
  • Holding Zone (s.1(a)): where the zone is prefixed 'H', permitted uses per Part 11 s.1.1 and development is premature until the 'H' is removed per Part 11 s.1.2.
  • All uses subject to Part 1 (General Conditions and Provisions) and Part 14 (Exceptions to Zone Designations) (s.1).
  • Not permitted in RG (RA only): Veterinary Services, Riding Academy, Recycling Depot, Wayside Pit or Quarry, Portable Asphalt Plant, Accessory Farm Commercial, Accessory Farm Dwelling Unit; sections 3.3 (Accessory Farm Commercial, 250 m2) and 3.4 (Accessory Farm Dwelling Unit, max two units within 100 m of principal farm dwelling) therefore apply only to RA.

Source: Part 8, Sections 1-3, Tables 8.2.1 and 8.3.1, By-law 09-2026 / 2020 (City of Burlington), checked 2026-09-12. General provisions elsewhere in the by-law (parking, driveways, accessory buildings) also apply, and a numbered exception on the parcel can change any value here. Treat this as a pre-check, not a sign-off.

Other agricultural zones in Burlington: RA