Jan. 31, 2025 – The City of St. Catharines is making it easier than ever for residents,
businesses, and developers to explore and understand their community with the launch
of CIVIC Maps—the Community Interactive Visualization and Information Centre.
Powered by ArcGIS, CIVIC Maps is an innovative tool that provides real-time access to
a wealth of geographic information, helping users navigate city limits, property lines,
zoning details, building permits, conservation areas, and much more. Whether you’re a
resident looking for Ward information, a business owner researching zoning regulations,
or a developer planning your next project, CIVIC Maps offers the tools to explore St.
Catharines like never before.
“CIVIC Maps is a game-changer for how we provide information to the public,” said
Margaret Josipovic, Senior Manager of the City’s Housing Accelerator Program. “This
tool allows anyone to access detailed, interactive maps and find key information about
our city in just a few clicks.”
The creation of CIVIC Maps was made possible through funding from the federal
government’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). As part of the City’s HAF Action Plan,
this investment supports initiatives that streamline development processes and improve
access to housing-related data. By making zoning, land use, and permit information
readily available, CIVIC Maps enhances transparency and efficiency, helping
developers, planners, and residents make informed decisions about housing and
development in St. Catharines.
With an easy-to-use interface, CIVIC Maps allows users to explore detailed maps of
roads, parks, schools, hydrants, and property lines. It provides access to zoning and
planning data, including official plan maps, building permits from as far back as 2010,
and Ward boundaries. Users can also view Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
layers, such as floodplains, regulated wetlands, and conservation areas, as well as
regional planning layers for employment zones, archaeological potential sites, and
designated Greenfield areas.
The mapping system is equipped with a suite of powerful tools. Users can measure
distances and areas directly on the map, mark and annotate locations with the drawing
tool, and compare overlapping layers using the swipe tool. The “Near Me” feature allows
users to find a selected location's permits, parks, and Ward details. The zoning lookup
tool provides property-specific zoning information, while the elevation profile tool
enables users to calculate elevation changes by drawing a custom path. The select tool
allows users to highlight specific map features and retrieve detailed information about
them.
“This is just the beginning,” added Josipovic. “We are already looking at future
enhancements, including 3D building visualizations and active planning applications to
provide even more value to users.”
The platform is available now and can be accessed at stcatharines.ca/CIVICMaps. The
City encourages residents, businesses, and developers to explore the tool and provide
feedback to help shape future improvements.