Zoning

In order to put into effect the objectives and orientations set out in their development plans, it is incumbent on municipalities to divide their territory into zones and to decide which uses are permitted in each zone under the zoning by-laws.

Zoning also allows a municipality to control land use, building types and disposition as well as the general appearance of buildings.

According to a publication issued by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, zoning is one of the means to be used:

To develop the territory in an orderly manner and to control land use.
To protect the natural and physical characteristics of the territory.
To ensure the profitability of investments that have already been made, by concentrating development in areas where services and municipal infrastructures already exist.
To promote the public interest when faced with a variety of development projects by ensuring that the municipality has the financial capacity to undertake the work and that the taxpayer will not suffer any repercussions as a result.
To minimize the inconvenience to neighbourhoods; protect the privacy of persons; ensure the general welfare, health, and public safety of the population by protecting the people from nuisances that are judged incompatible with the immediate neighbourhood; and generally promote the quiet enjoyment of property.
To protect the significant characteristics of a neighbourhood by prohibiting the insertion of disparate elements; to control the quality of buildings, signs and landscaping.

The Town of Brome Lake enacted its first zoning by-law – By-Law 24 - in 1972. Sections 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 adequately summarize the nature of a zoning by-law:

The objective of this by-law is to co-ordinate order and harmony in the development of the territory and to enact minimum requirements for construction and for the general development of the territory.
The ultimate goal of this by-law is to achieve an optimal use of the territory; to preserve the natural and rural character of the municipality; to protect the natural resources such as the forest, the rivers and water courses, the fauna; to conserve those resources which constitute the basis of recreational development in the region.

This by-law was revised and corrected in 1986, 1994 and in 2004, as required by the adoption of new legislation, by the Development Plan promulgated by the MRC of Brome-Missisquoi and the municipality’s own Planning program.

Zoning By-law no 353 (in French only - updated version)

Plans:
Zoning plan 1/3
Zoning plan 2/3
Zoning plan 3/3

Click here to access to the old by-laws documents (in the Virtual Library section).

For more information, please contact the Planning Service at (450) 243-6111 or by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .