Accessory Dwelling Units

Registering an Accessory Dwelling Unit

Accessory Dwelling Units are to be registered with a new building permit. Owners of existing Accessory Dwelling Units are encouraged to apply for a building permit in order to register their Accessory Dwelling Units as legal units. Building permit information and fees can be found here.

Building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (Building Code Guide)

To assist you with information on building an Accessory Dwelling Unit, the Building Department has developed an Accessory Dwelling Unit, Building Code Guide. More information can be found here.

Determining if an Accessory Dwelling Unit is Legal (Accessory Dwelling Unit Registry)

Only Registered Accessory Dwelling Units are considered legal Accessory Dwelling Units. It is a good idea to confirm if an Accessory Dwelling Unit is legal before buying or selling a property. Registered Accessory Dwelling Units can be found on our Accessory Dwelling Unit Registry. (Please note the registry is updated monthly)

If you live in a second unit and your dwelling does not appear as registered please submit a complaint with By-law Enforcement for verification.

Current Second Unit Bylaws

• Belleville Zoning By-law 2018-185

• Thurlow Zoning By-law 2018-186

• Sidney Zoning By-law 2018-187

Request a copy of the Current Second Unit Bylaws (seen above)

Proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit Amendment

Recommended Amendments:

1. Remove definitions for “Second Unit” and “Coach House”
2. Add definition for “Accessory Dwelling Unit”

“Accessory Dwelling Unit” means a separate and self-contained dwelling unit that is subordinate to the main dwelling and is physically detached, attached, and/or within the main dwelling on a lot.

1. Remove existing provisions for Second Units and Coach Houses.
2. Add the following provisions:

Accessory Dwelling Units

1)      Notwithstanding any other provisions of this By-law to the contrary, one accessory dwelling unit, either within the main dwelling or within a detached accessory building, is permitted as an accessory use to a single-detached, semi-detached, or townhouse dwelling; (Existing)

2)      A second accessory dwelling unit, either within the main dwelling or within a detached accessory building, is permitted as an accessory use to a single-detached, semi-detached, or townhouse dwelling provided the property is connected to full municipal services but under no circumstances shall the total number of units on the lot be greater than three (3) units; (New)

3)      Notwithstanding subsection 2), only one accessory dwelling unit within a detached accessory building is permitted; (Revised)

4)      The combined total gross floor area of all accessory dwelling units must be less than or equal to the gross floor area of the main dwelling unit; (Revised)

5)      Each accessory dwelling unit must not exceed 100 square metres in gross floor area; (Existing)

6)      A maximum of two (2) bedrooms are permitted within an accessory dwelling unit; (Existing)

7)      One (1) parking space is required per accessory dwelling unit in addition to the parking requirements for the main dwelling; (Existing)

8)      The lot has frontage on an open maintained public street; (Existing)

9)      The maximum height permitted for a detached accessory dwelling unit shall be up to 4.5 metres or the height of main dwelling, whichever is less; (Existing)

10)   The creation of an accessory dwelling unit must not result in any new doorway entrance added to the front wall of the main dwelling, whether before, during, or after the creation of the accessory dwelling unit; (Existing)

11)   Subsection 10) does not:

1. prohibit an internal lobby or vestibule with a common doorway entrance in the front wall; nor
2. prohibit the creation of an accessory dwelling unit within a dwelling unit that already contains more than one doorway entrance in the front wall; nor
3. require the removal of a doorway entrance to a house that already contains more than one doorway entrance in the front wall; nor
4. prohibit the addition of one doorway entrance along the front wall of a dwelling unit on a corner lot where there is no doorway entrance along that front wall, but where there is one along the corner side wall of the dwelling unit. (Existing)

12)   A detached accessory dwelling unit shall be a minimum of 1.2 metres from side and rear lot lines or the minimum distance from side and rear lot lines as established within the underlying zone, whichever is greater; (Existing)

13)   A minimum 1.2 metre-wide access from the detached accessory dwelling unit to an open maintained public street must be provided; (Existing)

14)   The maximum lot coverage of a detached accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 40% of the yard in which it is located; (Existing)

15)   Accessory dwelling units are prohibited from future severance; (Existing)

16)   Other provisions for accessory buildings or structures as established within the underlying zone apply to detached accessory dwelling units; and, (Existing)

17)   No accessory dwelling unit shall be located within any area subject to natural hazards such as flooding or erosion hazards. (New)

 Resources

• If you are considering building a detached Accessory Dwelling (in a separate building from the main house), here is some information from the province on Building or Buying a Tiny Home.

• The province of Ontario's Housing Supply Action Plan provides Housing Innovations to create or seek affordable housing.

Request a copy of Ontario's Housing Supply Action Plan: Building a Laneway House