Rapid Accessory Dwelling Unit Deployment Program (ADU)
Rapid Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Deployment Program
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are a great way for individual homeowners to help address the housing crisis by increasing the supply of year-round rental housing while earning rental income.
We're thrilled to launch the Rapid ADU Deployment Program and thank you for your interest in this neighbours-helping-neighbours approach to addressing the affordable housing crisis!
ADUs are ideal for empty nesters, seniors, new homeowners and anyone who is “over-housed” with extra space that they aren’t using. Adding an ADU can take effort and investment, but the Town is taking steps to simplify the process and connect you to resources that can help.
What is an ADU?
Accessory Dwelling Units are smaller living units that can be within the main dwelling (such as a basement apartment) or detached from a home (such as a dwelling above a garage or a fully separate space like a coach house).
Rapid ADU Deployment Program
The Town of Collingwood’s Affordable Housing Task Force recommended that increasing the supply of ADUs would be the fastest way to deliver more rental housing units to help address the affordable housing crisis. The Town of Collingwood is dovetailing the Rapid ADU Deployment Program with recent provincial legislative changes through Bill 23: The More Homes Built Faster Act that seek to remove barriers and create more ADUs in Collingwood and across the Province.
The program includes four key elements:
- One-Window Service
- Pre-Approved Designs
- Financial Incentives
- Landlord Support
Resources coming soon!
What type of ADUs are allowed on residential lots in Collingwood?
Bill 23 has made updates to allow for more ADUs on fully municipally serviced (i.e. Town water and wastewater) lots where primary residential unses are permitted. Here are some of the highlights, noting that ADUs are also permitted in other areas of Town, subject to zoning permissions:
ADUs are allowed on a residential lot with a single detached home, a semi-detached home or a townhouse.
Fully serviced residential lots may have up to three dwelling units in any of these combinations:
- Main dwelling + 1 ADU within main dwelling (total of 2 units)
- Main dwelling + 2 ADUs within main dwelling (total of 3 units)
- Main dwelling + 1 ADU in a detached accessory building (total of 2 units)
- Main dwelling + 1 ADU within main dwelling + 1 ADU in a detached accessory building (total of 3 units)
Note that the Town of Collingwood Zoning By-Law still applies, potentially with modifications. See below for details.
ADU Zoning By-Law Requirements for Fully Serviced Residential Lots*
The changes made by Bill 23 supersede some of the Town of Collingwood’s existing official plan policies and zoning by-law provisions for fully serviced residential lots, while others are still in place. In this snapshot excerpt of the Town of Collingwood’s Zoning By-Law related to accessory dwelling units, the provisions that are no longer applicable due to Bill 23 have been greyed out. The following sections show the Zoning By-law provisions still apply to ADUs on fully serviced lots. These Zoning By-Law excerpts, and explanatory notes are provided for illustrative purposes and do not represent zoning compliance commentary. You are encouraged to reach out to ADU@collingwood.ca to discuss your property and plans. Expand each heading to learn more.
*Note: All zoning provisions continue to apply to lots that do not meet the definition of fully serviced residential parcels.
What this means: You’ll need to find out the total gross floor area of your main dwelling unit. You can do this by measuring the areas of all habitable space, and subtracting any space used for storage, heating, laundry, attached garage or carports, porches or unfinished attic. When you have this number, multiply it by 0.4%. The result is the maximum size for your ADU.
What this means: A separate and independent entrance can be straightforward when designing an ADU with a separate entrance at the front, side or back of the house. It can be a bit more complicated when there is a shared hallway, but your design expert can help you come up with solutions.
What this means: If your dwelling is connected to municipal services, you’re eligible to pursue one or two ADUs within the main dwelling.
...provisions of the Ontario Building Code are met.
What this means: Adding an ADU to a house served by a well and/or septic system is permitted as long as the septic system has the capacity to handle the increase in sewage. For properties served by a septic system, adding an ADU will require the existing septic system to be evaluated by a certified septic designer. The septic system may have to be upgraded or replaced to handle the additional sewage loading.
What this means: Only one detached ADU is permitted on a property (i.e. you can have a stand-alone ADU that is separate from the main unit or an ADU in a detached garage, but you can’t have both). A detached building can only provide one living space (in other words, you can’t build a two-story detached building with one tenant living on the top level and another tenant living in the main level). ADUs are now permitted in association with single, semi or townhouse units.
... detached dwelling and detached accessory buildings.
What this means: Changes from Bill 23 mean that there can no longer be a minimum size requirement for a detached ADU, other than in accordance with the Ontario Building Code. The maximum gross floor area of 75 m2 and the maximum floor area not exceeding 40% of the gross floor area of the main dwelling, whichever is less, are still applicable. You’ll need to find out the total gross floor area of your main dwelling unit. You can do this by measuring the areas of all habitable space, and subtracting any space used for storage, heating, laundry, attached garage or carports, porches or unfinished attic. When you have this number, multiply it by 0.4%. The result is the maximum size for your ADU.
What this means: An example of a shared hallway would be when an ADU is created above a detached garage – there might be a shared hallway used by the tenant and other users of the garage area. Your design professional can provide guidance on this.
What this means: When determining the placement for your detached ADU, be sure to measure the distance from the door to your neighbour’s yard and ensure it falls within 4.0 m.
What this means: You’re responsible for building a walkway from the parking space to the ADU. Be sure to factor this into your design.
What this means: If your dwelling is connected to municipal services, you’re eligible to pursue a detached ADU.
... Ontario Building Code are met.
What this means: Adding a second unit to a house served by a septic system is permitted as long as the septic system has the capacity to handle the increase in sewage. For properties served by a septic system, adding a second dwelling unit will require the existing septic system to be evaluated by a certified septic designer. The septic system may have to be upgraded or replaced to handle the additional sewage loading.
Front Yard – Same as main bldg
Exterior Side Yard – Same as main bldg
Interior Side Yard = 1.0 m
Rear Yard = 1.0 m
What this means: When determining placement of your detached ADUs, be sure that your preferred location meets these standards.
What this means: Make sure your ideal location is more than 2 metres away from any other buildings on your property (i.e. main dwelling, garage, sheds, etc.)
What this means: Plan for your detached ADU to be in your back or side yard.
What this means: You’ll need to find out how big your lot is and ensure that the footprint of your detached ADU design is no larger than 15% of the total lot area.
What this means: The maximum building footprint size of 75 m2 translates into just over 800 ft2. But, remember, the maximum allowed for YOUR lot depends on the size of your main dwelling. Your ADU must not exceed 40% of the gross floor area of the main dwelling – up to a total of 75 m2.
What this means: Height is measured from the ground to the highest point on any roof ridge (gable, hip, gambrel or mansard roof) or the highest point of the roof deck (flat roof) and cannot exceed 7 metres for detached ADUs.
What this means: Don’t forget to plan for a minimum of 1 parking space when you design your ADU(s).
What this means: Additional parking cannot take up the front yard by paving over your lawn and landscaped areas. Your design professional can help you plan for parking for your ADU(s).
What this means: The remaining 14% cannot be hardscaped with materials such as asphalt or concrete. Material must be permeable (i.e. interlocking brick, paver stones, etc.).