Zoning · Hamilton · Commercial
S2 zone, Hamilton: Settlement Commercial (S2) Zone
Section 12.4 (Regulations: Section 12.4.3) of the City of Hamilton Zoning By-law 05-200, as amended by 15-173, 18-219, 21-070, 21-189, 24-137, 25-155.
A small-scale commercial zone for rural settlement areas, allowing shops, offices, restaurants, services and similar businesses on lots of at least 0.4 hectares.
Is a property in the S2 zone? Enter its address and the lookup returns the zone and these standards, including any site-specific exception.
Check an addressWhat the S2 zone permits
- Agriculture (restricted per 12.4.11 to growing of crops, apiaries, agro-forestry, maple syrup production)
- Catering Service
- Child Care Centre
- Commercial Recreation
- Craftsperson Shop
- Farm Product Supply Dealer
- Financial Establishment
- Medical Clinic
- Motor Vehicle Service Station
- Office
- Personal Service
- Private Club or Lodge
- Repair Service
- Restaurant
- Retail
- Studio
- Veterinary Service
- Veterinary Service – Farm Animal
Standards
| Requirement | By-law |
|---|---|
| Minimum lot area (interior lot) | 4000 m²0.4 hectares (= 4,000 m²) |
| Minimum front yard | 3 mStated as 'Minimum Yard Abutting a Street' 3.0 m; applies to any yard abutting a street (front and flankage) |
| Minimum interior side yard | 3 m3.0 m; 6.0 m where abutting a Settlement Residential (S1) Zone or a Settlement Institutional (S3) Zone |
| Minimum exterior side yard | 3 mStated as 'Minimum Yard Abutting a Street' 3.0 m; applies to any yard abutting a street |
| Minimum rear yard | 7 m |
| Maximum building height | 10.5 m |
Other provisions in this section
- Restricted uses (12.4.11): agricultural uses limited to growing of crops, apiaries, agro-forestry and maple syrup production (By-law 21-189).
- Prohibited uses (12.4.2) on lands in Vulnerable Area 1 (Schedule F, Figures 5.0-5.3): Part V EPA waste disposal sites involving mine tailings, land farming of petroleum refining waste, PCB waste storage, untreated septage to land, injection of liquid waste into a well, hazardous waste storage; hazardous waste management facility; waste management facility; snow storage facility greater than 1 ha; salt storage facility of 5,000 tonnes or more; motor vehicle service station; motor vehicle collision repair establishment.
- Prohibited uses (12.4.2) on lands in Vulnerable Area 2: Part V EPA waste disposal sites involving injection of liquid waste into a well; waste disposal facility.
- Prohibited uses (12.4.2) on lands in Vulnerable Area 3 (Figure 5.0, Schedule F): Part V EPA waste disposal sites involving application of untreated septage to land.
- Motor Vehicle Service Station (12.4.3 f): notwithstanding yard regulations b), c) and d), fuel pump islands, fuel pumps and canopies must be set back a minimum 4.5 m from any lot line.
- Outdoor storage (12.4.3 g): no outdoor storage of goods, materials or equipment; display of goods or materials for retail purposes is permitted.
- Planting strip (12.4.3 h): a minimum 3.0 m planting strip must be provided and maintained abutting a street, except at points of ingress/egress and where abutting an S1 or S3 Zone.
- Visual barrier (12.4.3 i): required along any lot line abutting a Settlement Residential (S1) or Settlement Institutional (S3) Zone, per Section 4.19.
- Accessory buildings (12.4.3 j): per Section 4.8 of the By-law (By-law 21-070).
- Parking (12.4.3 k): per Section 5 of the By-law.
Source: Section 12.4 (Regulations: Section 12.4.3), By-law 05-200 (City of Hamilton), 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 commercial zones in Hamilton: C1, C2, C3, C6, C7, E1, TOC2