Additional Residential Units Zoning By-Law Update
The purpose of this project is to seek feedback from the community to inform the creation of ‘made-in-WS’ zoning regulations to enable up to (3) dwelling units on fully serviced residential lots as required to bring the Town’s Zoning By-law into conformity with Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022.
On November 28, 2022, Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 received Royal Assent. This bill is part of Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan and aims to support the province’s goal to add 1.5 million new homes in Ontario by 2031. This Provincial Bill requires Ontario municipalities to amend local Official Plans and Zoning By-laws to allow:
Up to 3 dwellings on a parcel of residential land within fully serviced (municipal water and sewer) settlement areas. This can occur in two combinations:
- 2 dwellings within the principal residential building (detached house, semi-detached house, townhouse) plus 1 dwelling in an ancillary building;
- or 3 dwellings in a principal residential building (detached house, semi-detached house, townhouse) provided there is no dwelling in an ancillary building.
Get Involved
Recommendation Report
On June 19, 2024, Council will be making a decision on the ARU zoning regulations.
Presentation
Recommendation Report
Council has approved the ARU zoning by-law amendment:
By-law 2024-078-ZO
Online Survey
A survey was available from April 3 through May 10, 2024. Thank you for your participation!
Statutory Open House
On May 1, 2024 at 7 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers (111 Sandiford Drive), Staff will be introducing the first draft of the ARU zoning regulations to Council and the Community for question and feedback. Participation is encouraged!
Public Meeting Agenda
A recording of the meeting and copy of the Staff Report and Presentation will be made available online following the meeting.
Information Report
Staff presented a kick off Information Report to Council during the February 21, 2024 Council meeting. A recording of the meeting is now available online. Staff encourage viewing the report to see preliminary regulations, questions requiring feedback, and additional project information.
Open House
Town of Stouffville’s Development Planning hosted a Drop-in Public Consultation Session on March 4, 2024 to introduce the community to the project and seek feedback and answer questions. View the Open House Boards to learn more.
Feedback
If you have ideas or input you would like to share at this time, or would like to be notified of project updates, please email Brandon Slopack, Senior Planner.
Additional Residential Units
The Town is terming the dwellings in addition to the principle dwelling unit Additional Residential Units (ARUs). They have also commonly been termed second suite, additional dwelling units, accessory apartments, and in-law suites. They are self-contained residential dwelling units, with their own cooking facility, sanitary facility and sleeping area. They can be located either within a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling. With Provincial passing of Bill 23, an ARU can now be built in an ancillary standalone building within a permitted residential yard (typically rear or interior side yard).
Types of Residential Units
For the purpose of clarity Staff are terming ARUs located with the principal residential building as ‘integrated ARUs’ (also commonly termed second suite, additional dwelling units, accessory apartments, in-law suites). Municipally to date, they had been called Second Suites and most commonly constructed in the form of basement apartments.
With Provincial passing of Bill 23, an ARU can now be built in an ancillary standalone building within a permitted residential yard (typically rear or interior side yard). Staff will be terming these as ‘ancillary ARUs’ (also commonly termed garden suites, coach houses, granny flats, and laneway houses). Over recent years the modular home, tiny home, park model trailer industry of pre-built homes has grown in response to Provincial objectives and citizens desire for affordable and alternative forms of housing.
Integrated ARUs may include converting existing homes into duplexes and triplexes (in various combinations), basement conversions, attic conversion, and locating in newly constructed additions. Ancillary ARUs may include, detached buildings (i.e., tiny home, modular home, custom build), and converting existing detached accessory buildings. Other forms may include ARUs above attached and detached garages, laneway homes, and other new and innovative triplexes single lot housing forms enabled by new permissions.
Building a 'Detached' Unit Now
Staff encourage property owners to wait until updated zoning regulations are in place since new zoning regulations are expected to be more accommodating and flexible than existing zoning regulations for permitting ARUs. Should property owners wish to pursue a proposal at this time you must conform to the Zoning By-law, particularly Section 3.6 (Accessory Building and Structures) and Section 3.28 (Second Suites). In addition to this you will need to coordinate and satisfy the applicable technical reviewers and infrastructure providers (i.e., Building, Engineering, Fire, Public Works, HydroOne, Enbridge, etc.). Should zoning relief be required you will need to apply for a Minor Variance to the Committee of Adjustments.
Building an 'Integrated' Unit Now
Minor Zoning By-law updates will occur to reflect Provincial changes and improvements, but existing Section 3.28 (Second Suite) do exist to guide residents. Staff note the inclusion of 2 integrated ARUs may change the building classification as per the Ontario Building Code. Staff recommend speaking with a licensed architect or designer prior to proceeding to discussions and submissions with the Building Department. Should zoning relief be required you will need to apply for a Minor Variance to the Committee of Adjustments.
Building a Unit Outside of the Stouffville Secondary Plan
Please note that Bill 23’s 3-ARU permission is only applicable to fully municipally serviced lands (presently the Stouffville Secondary Plan Area). The Province’s Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (2017) and Greenbelt Plan (2017) dictate locations, types and quantity of ARUs permitted in these areas. Below is a list of permissions and constraints as it relates to areas requiring conformity with Provincial Plans.
- Within the Natural Core Area and Natural Linkage Area of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan Area, and within the Natural Heritage System of the Greenbelt Plan Area, an additional residential unit is not permitted;
- Within the Countryside Area of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan Area, only one additional residential unit may be permitted within a single detached dwelling; and
- Within the Protected Countryside Area, and outside the Natural Heritage System of the Greenbelt Plan Area, only one additional residential unit may be permitted either within a permitted single detached dwelling or an existing accessory structure.
As part of this project, Staff will examine what options may exist for areas outside of the Community of Stouffville Secondary Plan Area. Should you have any permission questions about other non-municipally serviced areas please contact Planning Staff for information.
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