Rapid Additional Residential Unit Initiative 2.0
NEW! August 29, 2024 - CTV NEWS: Collingwood’s incentive program returns as town faces affordable housing shortfall
Rapid Additional Residential Unit (ARU) Initiative 2.0
The Town is re-launching the Rapid Additional Residential Unit (ARU) Initiative with important program updates, including a minor program name change, more financial incentives available to homeowners to build ARUs, new pre-approved designs and zoning updates that could allow up to four dwelling units per residential or rural property!
The Rapid ARU Initiative is an initiative that allows individual homeowners to help solve the housing crisis by creating more year-round rental housing and earning rental income.
ARUs are ideal for empty nesters, seniors, new homeowners, and anyone who is “over-housed” with extra space that they aren’t using. Adding an ARU 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 ARU?
An Additional Residential Unit (ARU) is a smaller living unit that can be either within the main dwelling, like a basement apartment, or separate from the main home such as a dwelling above a garage or a separate coach house. Most times referred to as an Additional Residential Unit (ARU) or Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU).
Rapid ARU Initiative
The Town of Collingwood’s Affordable Housing Task Force recommended increasing the number of ARUs as the fastest way to provide more rental housing units to address the affordable housing crisis. The Town of Collingwood is aligning the Rapid ARU Initiative 2.0 with recent provincial legislative changes through Bill 23: The More Homes Built Faster Act, which aims to remove barriers and promote the creation of more ARUs in Collingwood and across the Province.
The program includes three key elements:
- One-Window Service: The Town will provide a streamlined process and connect you with the necessary resources to make the ARU creation process easier.
- Pre-Approved Designs: The Town has pre-approved designs available to choose from, saving you time and effort.
- Financial Incentives: The Town offers grants to help support you as you create your ARU.
What type of ARUs are allowed on residential lots in Collingwood?
Bill 23 has made updates to allow for more ARUs on residential lots that have full municipal services, such as Town water and wastewater, and where primary residential uses are permitted. The Town of Collingwood Zoning By-law, administered by Planning Services, is the policy document which provides the details for all dwelling unit types. Reference section and 4.40 Accessory Apartments for the associated information. Some provisions not applicable due to Bill 23. Accessory apartments are now permitted in most single, semi-detached, and townhouse dwellings.
The Town of Collingwood By-law Sections which will provide details around Additional Residential Units are 4.40 Accessory Apartments, Table 4.33, and 5.1 Parking and Loading Provisions
Discover the housing potential in your own backyard using ADUSearch
Visit www.adusearch.ca, select Collingwood as your municipality, search your property and, with a click of a button, find out if it meets the minimum zoning bylaw requirements for an attached or detached ARU. ADUSearch is a tool for a general understanding of requirements, we encourage property owners to email ARU@collingwood.ca to confirm zoning details. The platform also provides other valuable information such as the buildable area of the lot and other relevant details, in its user-friendly sidebar.
ARU 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 ARUs, 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 ARUs 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 email ARU@collingwood.ca to discuss your property and plans. Expand each heading below to learn more.
*Note: On July 22, 2024, Town Council Approved By-law 2024-053, which amended the Town's Zoning By-law to allow up to four dwelling units per serviced residential and rural property, updated zoning rules to make it easier to build ARUs, and reduced minimum parking requirements for ARUs. These changes will not be in place until the Town's new Official Plan is approved by the County of Simcoe.
*Note: All zoning provisions continue to apply to lots that do not meet the definition of fully serviced residential parcels.
What this means: You will need to determine 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. Once you have this number, multiply it by 0.4%. The result is the maximum size for your ARU.
What this means: If your dwelling is connected to municipal services, you’re eligible to pursue one or two ARUs within the main dwelling.
What this means: A separate and independent entrance can be straightforward when designing an ARU 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.
(cont'd) provisions of the Ontario Building Code are met.
What this means: Adding an ARU 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 ARU 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.
(cont'd) 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 ARU, 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 determine 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 ARU.
What this means: An example of a shared hallway would be when an ARU 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 ARU, be sure to measure the distance from the door to your neighbours 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 ARU. 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 ARU.
(cont'd) Ontario Building Code is 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 the main building
Exterior Side Yard – Same as the main building
Interior Side Yard = 1.0 m
Rear Yard = 1.0 m
What this means: When determining the placement of a detached ARU, 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 ARU to be in your back or side yard.
What this means: You’ll need to determine the size of your lot and ensure that the footprint of your detached ARU 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. However, the maximum allowable size for YOUR lot depends on the size of your main dwelling. The ARU 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 (e.g., gable, hip, gambrel, or mansard roof), or the highest point of the roof deck (flat roof) and cannot exceed 7 metres for detached ARUs.
What this means: Plan for a minimum of 1 parking space when designing an ARU(s).
What this means: Additional parking cannot take up the front yard by paving over a lawn and/or landscaped areas. Your design professional can help you plan for parking space for your ARU(s).
What this means: The remaining 14% cannot be hardscaped with materials such as asphalt or concrete. The material must be permeable (i.e., interlocking brick, paver stones, etc.).
Comments
The comments above are made to the best of the Town's knowledge using all of the information and resources available at the posting time. The information contained herein is believed to be correct, however, the Town assumes no liability for negligence, inaccuracies, or omissions. You are welcome to make a personal examination of the applicable information by request via Microsoft Teams or by email to planning@collingwood.ca
Planning Act Notification
Individuals who make written submissions with respect to a Planning Act application should be aware that their submission (comments) and any personal information in their correspondence will become part of the public record (file) and made available to the Applicant, Committee and Council.