What Can I Do in Edmonton's CB Zone?

Introduction

The City of Edmonton’s Zoning Bylaw 20001 has been in effect for nearly a year now, and it’s already changing how properties are developed across the city. With new zones like CB (Business Commercial), property owners and developers have fresh opportunities—and a few new rules to navigate.

Replacing the CHY (Highway Corridor) and CB2 (General Business) zones on sites outside Edmonton’s main streets and nodes and corridors network, the CB zone is geared toward commercial development that needs high visibility and larger site sizes. Whether you’re curious about what’s allowed or what’s changed, we’ve got you covered with this quick guide to the CB zone.

Development Types

The CB zone is all about flexibility for businesses that need room to grow, attract customers, or operate on visible, high-traffic sites. While primarily designed for commercial uses, the CB zone also permits limited light industrial activities. However, it doesn’t allow for residential development—except for supportive housing.

If your vision includes large retail spaces, big-box developments, or light industrial operations like self-storage, the CB zone might be the perfect fit.

Permitted Uses and Key Features

The CB zone permits a range of uses, from restaurants to recreation facilities. Here’s a breakdown:

• Commercial and Community Uses: Restaurants, cafes, bars, retail shops, health services, offices, daycares, and libraries.
• Industrial Uses: Includes self-storage facilities and crematoriums.
• Specialized Facilities: Health care facilities (like hospitals, detox centres, or continuing care facilities) are permitted but are capped at a maximum floor area of 2,000 m².

What’s different? There are no size limits for most uses in the CB zone, making it ideal for large-scale developments.

Height and Floor Area Ratio (FAR)

The maximum height for most buildings in the CB zone is 16.0 metres (about four storeys), while hotels are allowed to reach up to 30.0 metres (about nine storeys).

Remember, Edmonton’s development planners can’t approve variances on height, so these limits are firm unless you go through the appeal process.

The CB zone uses floor area ratio (FAR) to control building size. The maximum FAR in the CB zone is 3.5, which is comparable to the CG zone.

How to calculate FAR: Multiply your lot size by the FAR. For example, a 1,600 m² lot with an FAR of 3.5 would allow for a building with a maximum floor area of 5,600 m².

Setbacks

Setbacks regulate how far your building must be from the property line. In the CB zone, here’s what you need to know:

• Setbacks from a Street:
  • 4.5 metres (local and collector roads).
  • 6.0 metres (arterial roads).
• Setbacks from an Alley:
  • None, except for portions of a hotel over 23.0 metres in height, which must be set back 3.0 metres.
• Setbacks from Parks and Residential Zones:
  • 3.0 metres from parks.
  • 6.0 metres from residential zones.
  • For hotels over 23.0 metres, the setback increases to 9.0 metres if adjacent to a residential zone with a 12.0 metre height limit.

Driveways, Parking, and Drive-Throughs

• Driveways and Parking: The CB zone allows street-facing driveways and parking access—even if there’s an alley behind your site. However, placement must align with City of Edmonton transportation requirements.
• Drive-Throughs: Permitted, but with conditions. They’re generally allowed on corner sites along collector or arterial roads or on sites larger than one hectare. Designs must minimize pedestrian and vehicle conflicts.

Landscaping

Landscaping is required for all new developments in the CB zone. The standard is one tree and two shrubs per 30 m² of setback area, ensuring the zone balances commercial activity with a visually appealing streetscape.

Conclusion

The CB zone opens up a world of possibilities for business and light industrial uses, providing flexibility and the capacity for large-scale development. Whether you’re considering retail, self-storage, or even a hotel, the CB zone could be your next opportunity.

Need help understanding how zoning affects your property? At Situate, we specialize in zoning analysis, rezoning, and development consulting. Reach out to explore how we can guide your project to success!