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Additional Residential Units

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In response to a Province-wide direction, the City of Brampton implemented the Additional Residential Unit (ARU) Registration Program to support flexible, diverse and affordable housing options. The program allows for garden suites and self-contained apartments within or adjacent to homes ensuring safe and regulated rental housing options.

Additional Residential Units (ARUs) (also known as accessory residential units, accessory apartments, granny flats, in-law suites, laneway suites and/or coach houses), are self-contained residential dwelling units with their own kitchen and bathroom facilities.​ ​All additional residential units, including all those previously deemed as legal non-conforming second units, must be registered with the City of Brampton.

Types of Additional Residential Units

An ARU can be located either within a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling (attached ARU) or within an ancillary building (garden suite).

  • An Attached ARU can be a second or third self-contained residential dwelling unit, that it is located within any part of a dwelling (e.g. basement apartments). Second and third ARUs are subject to additional zoning requirements and restrictions.
  • A Garden Suite is an ARU ancillary to a single detached, semi-detached or street townhouse unit, that is a building detached from the principal dwelling and located in the rear or interior side yard, and which may be freestanding or attached to a detached private garage.
Illustration of an example of an Attached ARU, highlighting a basement unit or a separate section of the house with its own exit
An Attached ARU
Illustration of an example of a Garden Suite, highlighting a detached unit located behind the principal dwelling
A Garden Suite

Registration Requirements

Each ARU is subject to a one-time registration process ensuring that the ARU meets the requirements under the Ontario Building Code and Zoning By-law, which are intended to make these units safe, legal and livable. A building that does not comply with the regulations and lacks the required safety features may put the occupants and neighbourhoods at risk of severe damage, injury or death. The Zoning By-law allows for a maximum of three units (including the principal dwelling) on a property as a combination of the following:

  1. Principal Dwelling plus one attached second unit and one separate garden suite OR
  2. Principal Dwelling and one attached second unit and one attached third unit​​​

ARUs are not permitted in lodging houses, supportive housing residences, floodplain areas or open space zones. One additional parking space is required for lots that contain two ARUs. Tandem parking is permitted. There is no parking space required when only a second unit or a garden suite is proposed. Additional requirements may apply for the registration of Garden Suites. For more information please visit the Garden Suites webpage.

Please refer to the Building & Permits page for more information about constructing an ARU or email twounit.zoning@brampton.ca.

Enforcement of Illegal Additional Residential Units

Penalties for violations related to unregistered residential units and construction issues can be significant, including fines under the Planning Act, Building Code Act, and Municipal Act. Individuals. Corporations found in violation may face fines ranging from $25,000 to $1.5 million, with daily penalties for continuing offences. Administrative penalties are also imposed for failing to register ARUs or for engaging in unlicensed activities, such as hiring unlicensed contractors or constructing bedrooms without a permit. These administrative penalties can range from $250 to $1,250, depending on the offence and frequency, including:

  • Fail to register an ARU: $750 - $1,200
  • Fail to comply with bedroom occupancy standards: $250 - $750
  • Converting a room into a bedroom without a building permit: $250 - $500 - $750
  • Engaging in the business of building renovator, plumbing contractor or HVAC contractor without a licence: $250​

Frequently Asked Questions

In 2019, the Province of Ontario introduced Bill 108: More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019, to expand the options municipalities have for providing a wide range of affordable housing in their communities and increase housing stock to address Ontario’s housing crisis. To comply with Bill 108, municipalities are required to amend their policies to permit additional residential units within an accessory structure on the same lot as detached, semi-detached, or townhouse dwellings.

In 2022, the Province of Ontario introduced Bill 23: More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, to introduce additional changes to ARUs Province-wide. Per Bill 23, ARUs are permitted as-of-right across Ontario, whether or not a municipality adopts an Official Plan Amendment and enacts zoning to recognize these units.

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For the construction of Garden Suites, builders/contractors would need to be licensed by The Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA). Tarion​ (the consumer protection organization established to administer the Province’s new home warranty program) considers garden suites as a new dwelling and must be enrolled with Tarion.

For the construction of any ARU, all Building Renovators, Plumbing Contractors and HVAC Contractors must be licensed by the City of Brampton before performing any construction or renovation work.

Contractors found operating without a license are subject to fines under the Municipal Act or Administrative Monetary Penalties.

Many factors affect the value of a home, including location, floor area, lot size, quality of construction, number of bathrooms, etc. Information regarding the building permit for the ARU will be forwarded by the City to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), which may result in a revised assessment value of the property, and an increase in property taxes. The revised assessment will depend on the size of the ARU, materials used, location of the property, etc.

The Assessment Act, 2001​, permits MPAC to add or make changes to the assessment of your property for the current year and/or any portion of the previous two years. For more information, you may speak to an MPAC representative at 1-866-296-6722.

Key Forms and Documents

Related City Links

Related External Links

Contact

For information about the City of Brampton’s registration process for Additional Residential Units, please contact:

twounit.zoning@brampton.ca​