FAQs

The Municipal plan is like road map that helps us figure out how and where Moncton will grow in the next 25 years. It outlines a long-term vision to ensure land development and economic growth make Moncton a great place to live, work, and play. It’s all about planning today, so we can have a vibrant, well-organized city tomorrow. 

If the Municipal Plan is the road map guiding our journey, then the Zoning By-Law is the vehicle that brings it to life. It defines how land can be used in Moncton, turning the big ideas from the Municipal Plan into specific rules that guide what can be built and where. This means the Zoning By-Law decides things like whether an area of the city is for homes, businesses, parks, mixed use or other. 

A Municipal Plan and Zoning By-Law review is an opportunity to review and update the current planning documents to better meet the needs of the current and future community and guide the City’s growth for the next 25 years. The updated Municipal Plan and Zoning By-Law will provide a more efficient development review and approval process with greater clarity of land use regulations.  

This update to the Municipal Plan and Zoning By-Law is being undertaken to satisfy the requirements of the provincial Community Planning Act and to update these documents to address changes in the community, including population and employment growth, development demands, and provincial legislative changes. A major review of these documents takes place every 10 years.  

The Municipal Plan and Zoning By-Law review is expected to take about a year and a half; however, this is subject to change.

An Inclusionary Zoning and Density Bonusing Zoning Study is being conducted as part of the Municipal Plan and Zoning By-Law review. It will evaluate the costs and benefits of inclusionary and density bonusing zoning in the development process. Inclusionary zoning requires new residential projects to include a certain amount of affordable housing, while density bonusing allows for higher building densities in exchange for providing community amenities or affordable housing.