Second Units are regulated through the Town's Zoning By-law and through the Ontario Building Code.
Section 3.38 of the Town's Zoning By-law identifies that all Second Units shall be developed in accordance with the following provisions:
- A second unit (also known as an in-law suite, a basement apartment, a granny suite, a secondary suite or an accessory apartment, etc.) is a self-contained accessory unit consisting of a private kitchen, washroom facilities, sleeping areas, and a private entrance within a dwelling or within a structure ancillary to a dwelling (e.g. an apartment above a detached garage).
- Although second units often take the form of basement apartments, they may occupy another portion of the house. A second unit can provide safe and affordable housing for residents.
- Are There Development Policies Related to Second Units?
- Second Units are regulated through the Town's Zoning By-law and through the Ontario Building Code.
- Section 3.38 of the Town's Zoning By-law identifies that all Second Units shall be developed in accordance with the following provisions:
- A Second Unit shall only be permitted within a Detached Dwelling, Semi-Detached Dwelling, Street Townhouse Dwelling, Townhouse Dwelling or in an Accessory Building located on a Corner Lot, Through Lot, or a lot abutting a public Lane and located on the same lot as a Detached, Semi-Detached, Street Townhouse, or Townhouse Dwelling and where permitted by this By-law.
- A maximum of one (1) Second Unit shall be permitted per lot. In the case of a condominium, only one (1) Second Unit shall be permitted per condominium unit.
- A Second Unit must be connected to municipal services where such services are available. However, where municipal services are not available, a Second Unit may be connected to private services subject to Ontario Building Code approval.
- No additional parking is required for a Second Unit. However, the creation of a Second Unit must not eliminate a required parking space for the principal dwelling unit. Where parking is provided, parking must be in conformity with the parking provisions of this By-law. Tandem parking is permitted.
- The maximum Floor Area of a Second Unit shall not exceed 40% of the total Floor Area of the Dwelling, to a maximum of 80 square metres in Floor Area, whichever is less, or if the second unit is located in the basement of the dwelling unit it may include the entire basement.
- The external appearance of the front façade of the principal dwelling unit or any other façade facing a street on which the lot has frontage shall be preserved and entrances for a Second Unit in a dwelling unit shall not be permitted on the front main wall of the main building facing a public street.