Request a zoning letter

If you need a zoning letter, you can send a written request to the City. Your request must contain specific details depending on what you need it for.

A zoning letter is not the same as zoning approval. It is written confirmation that the appropriate approvals have been granted.

Zoning approval for a new business is granted through a Zoning Certificate of Occupancy and/or a building permit for construction.

Guidelines for zoning letters

All requests for a zoning letter must be on company letterhead or in standard letter format, dated and signed by the requestor.

Your letter must include:

  • Your name and phone number
  • Who the letter should be addressed to and the mailing address
  • The legal municipal address and legal description of the property you are inquiring about

Your letter must also indicate exactly what information you need to obtain, such as:

  • What is the current zoning of the property
  • Whether a specific use was approved on the property
  • What the parking requirements are for a specific use
  • Any other questions related to zoning

Opening a business on the property

If you’re planning to open a business at the property, confirmation that your use is permitted can only be provided through the approval of a Zoning Certificate of Occupancy.

These are typically requested by TSSA when propane tanks are going to be stored on the site.

Your request must indicate exactly what information you need to obtain, including:

  • Your name and phone number
  • Who the letter should be addressed to and the mailing address
  • The legal municipal address and legal description of the property
  • Whether propane sales are part of a SWAP program. If they are, your letter must indicate:
    • What size the cylinders are
    • How many cylinders there will be
    • Where the SWAP cage(s) be located on the property
  • Is it a larger propane tank? If so:
    • What size it the tank?
    • How many tanks will there be?
    • Is the tank accessory to a legally existing use on the property? If so, give a detailed description of the use.

Site plan and location

Along with the letter, you must provide a site plan that shows the proposed location of the propane tank.

The tank cannot be located on required parking spaces or landscape buffers.

Check the restrictions for propane tanks in table 2.1.2.1.1 and 2.1.2.2.3 of the Zoning By-law.

This letter is used to satisfy a condition of your land division application as required by the Committee of Adjustment. The letter confirms that the severed and/or retained lands comply with the applicable Zoning By-law regulations.

Your request must indicate exactly what information you need to obtain, including:

  • Your name, contact information signature and the date
  • Land division application number
  • The legal municipal address of the property
  • Specific condition number
  • One copy of a registered reference plan or two copies of an unregistered reference plan that shows severed and retained lands
  • One copy of the Land Division Decision
  • One copy of any applicable minor variance decision

Depending on the type of land use, you may also need to submit:

Surveyor’s schedule

The schedule must show the area and frontages of severed and retained lands.

If side lot lines are parallel, measure the frontage as the perpendicular distance between the side lot lines.

If side lot lines are not parallel, measure the frontage 7.5 metres back from and parallel to the front lot line.

Survey

Existing buildings and structures remaining on the severed or retained lands must comply with Zoning By-law regulations.

Existing buildings and structures remaining on the severed or retained lands that do not comply with the by-law must either be removed from the property or obtain the necessary minor variance(s) for compliance. If buildings and structures are being removed, this work must be done prior to the release of this zoning letter and may require a demolition permit.

The survey must show the new setbacks to existing buildings and structures to all new proposed lot lines.

Site plan and site statistics

If minimum on-site parking requirements need to be confirmed (usually for an industrial or commercial property), you’ll need to submit a fully developed site plan. The plan must indicate the dimensions of all existing parking spaces, disabled persons parking spaces and loading spaces.

You may also be asked to submit site statistics that show:

  • Gross floor area
  • Number of parking spots required and provided
  • Applicable parking rate(s)

Compliance reports

To request information such as subdivision assumption dates, outstanding violations of work orders, outstanding by-law enforcement complaints, or outstanding permits, you must purchase a compliance report.

How to apply

Submit your request via email to zoning@mississauga.ca.

A zoning letter will cost $236.05. You can pay the fee by electronic fund transfer or wire transfer.

We’ll email the zoning letter to you. If it’s a severance letter, we’ll send it directly to the Committee of Adjustment.

Contact us

If you need more information, please call 311 (905-615-4311 outside City limits).