Employment Area Review

Employment Areas within the City of Hamilton are lands set aside for non-residential uses such as manufacturing, warehousing, and research and development.

Through Bill 97, the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023, the definition of “Area of Employment” in the Planning Act has been amended and narrowed to exclude institutional and commercial uses. Additionally, the Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) was implemented on October 20, 2024. The policies within the PPS significantly impact the way municipalities plan for and protect employment lands over the long-term. Report PED24203 detailed the changes in detail and outlined staff’s two-phased approach for addressing the legislative and policy changes.

Phase 1 may include the preparation of an Urban Hamilton Official Plan Amendment, as well as an amendment to the West Harbour Setting Sail Secondary Plan Area, to expressly state that the permitted uses in employment areas shall be in alignment with the Planning Act definition of “Area of Employment.” The amendments must include the introduction of policies to specifically exclude uses which are not permitted under the Planning Act and permit the continuation of lawfully established excluded uses.

Phase 2 may include a detailed review of the City’s existing employment area policies, which may include the following: a re-assessment of the City’s employment land need to the current planning horizon of 2051, potential revisions to existing employment area boundaries, the review and introduction of potential revisions to the regulations of the 14 Industrial Zones in Zoning By-law No. 05-200, consideration of potential revisions to Commercial Designation policies, and an investigation of whether industrial, manufacturing, and small-scale warehousing could be located in strategic growth areas. Phase 2 may also include the preparation of several background reports and studies, such as an updated Land Needs Assessment and Employment Area Inventory, to inform the review work.

Key Terms:

• Area of Employment: Defined under the Planning Act and contains specific reference to uses which are permitted in these areas. 

• Employment Area: Defined in the Provincial Planning Statement (PPS 2024) and expands upon the definition in the Planning Act.

• Designated Employment Lands: Lands designated for employment uses in the Urban Hamilton Official Plan.

• Employment Uses: Land uses, including manufacturing, warehousing, office, and commercial uses which provide jobs. These may not be designated. 

Learn More About the Employment Area Review