Assessing inequity in zoning bylaw: a case of Edmonton, Canada

ABSTRACT Equity is a key concern for municipalities, yet current planning scholarship lacks clear, pragmatic guidance on how to identify inequity in municipal zoning bylaws. Although controversial, zoning is the primary legal tool to regulate land and its use. This study examines aspects of the current City of Edmonton zoning bylaw that are most inequitable by closely following the city’s ongoing Zoning Bylaw Renewal Initiative. Applying but also expanding the theoretical framework of equity and legal tests, the study provides a lens and a methodology to identify inequities in Edmonton’s zoning bylaw, which other Canadian municipalities can also adopt.