London, Ontario, Bicycle Parking Requirements
The City of London’s 2025 Zoning By-law (Z.-1) provides comprehensive regulations for both short-term and long-term bicycle parking, including design standards and requirements by building type. These are located in Section 4.19.14 (Bicycle Parking Requirements) and Section 4.19.15 (Design Characteristics for Bicycle Parking).
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Bicycle Parking Definitions
- Short-Term Bicycle Parking:
- Intended for visitors and transient users.
- May be outdoors.
- Must be easily accessible and located near main entrances.
- Long-Term Bicycle Parking:
- Intended for employees, residents, and other regular users.
- Must be indoor, accessible, secure, and weather-protected.
- Required for most residential and non-residential buildings.
Required Bicycle Parking by Facility Type
Residential Uses
| Residential Use | Short-Term Requirement | Long-Term Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment buildings and lodging houses (≥11 units) | 0.1 per unit | 0.9 per unit |
| Residential care facilities | 3 + 0.1/100 m² GFA | 0.1/100 m² GFA |
| Cluster dwellings (≥11 units) | 0.1 per unit | None |
| Conversions / ≤10 units | Exempt | Exempt |
Non-Residential Uses
| Use Tier | Examples | Short-Term Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Office (medical/dental), restaurant, school (commercial), clinic, grocery, retail, hospital, place of worship, community centre, etc. | 3 + 0.3 per 100 m² GFA |
| Tier 2 | Libraries, galleries, schools (elementary to university), offices (non-medical), museums, fire/police stations, etc. | 3 + 0.2 per 100 m² GFA |
| Tier 3 | Manufacturing, hotels, nursing homes, vehicle sales, self-storage, warehousing, etc. | 3 + 0.1 per 100 m² GFA |
| Apartment hotels, motels, mobile homes, B&Bs | 1 per unit | |
| Campgrounds, golf courses, racquet/tennis clubs | 3 + 0.2 per site or tee/court | |
| Converted dwellings | Exempt |
Note: GFA = Gross Floor Area
Design Standards
Outlined in Section 4.19.15, design requirements include:
- Minimum size per space: 2.0 m (L) × 0.6 m (W)
- Aisles: Min. 1.5 m wide access aisles.
- Location: Short-term spaces must be within close proximity to building entrances and separated from vehicle parking by barriers or 1.5 m clear space.
- Covering: Covered bicycle parking must be provided if 10+ spaces are required for multi-family, commercial, or industrial uses.
Geographic or Area-Based Differences
- Downtown Area 1 and 2 Zones:
- Exempt from short-term bike parking requirements for non-residential uses.
- Residential uses in Downtown Areas must still comply with standard bike parking regulations.
- Site-Specific Bonus Provisions:
- Certain sites have other or additional bike parking provisions. These are detailed by site within a section of the bylaws entitled Site Specific Bonus Provisions at Section 4.3.4
Official Regulations
The official bicycle parking regulations for London, Ontario, can be found in Zoning By-law Z.-1. See Section 4.19.
