Montreal's Southwest borough has unanimously adopted a zoning change limiting the number of new restaurants on Notre Dame Street.
The bylaw prevents restaurants from setting up within 25 metres of an existing one.
Projet Montreal councillor Craig Sauve says residents in the area are worried about the surge in trendy restaurants in the neighbourhood
"The council sees the value of trying to maintain different commercial usages for the street. Obviously all the restaurants that are there are grandfathered in, and with our 25 metre rule there is plenty of room for new restaurants." he says
Landlords meantime are calling the bylaw archaic.
Jacques Charette is a building owner and tells CTV the cap on restaurants may limit potential tenants.
"I'm being stopped from having my full rights of ownership." he says.
Businessman Vinod Kapoor has launched a petition to try and force a referendum overturning the bylaw for at least part of the street.