On November 28, 2022, the Province of Ontario changed the Planning Act to permit additional residential units as-of-right in urban areas that have municipal water and sewage servicing. These changes are intended to increase housing supply in the province.

The Town of Milton is reviewing and updating its Official Plan policies and zoning by-law regulations to align with the provincial legislation and adequately regulate additional residential units (ARU).

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Additional Residential Units Examples

Community Engagement

The Town of Milton invites residents to attend a public information session to learn about and discuss the proposed additional residential units (ARUs) policies and regulations for the urban areas of Milton.

Attend an information session:

Virtual Session:

Monday, April 8, 10 a.m. - noon.
Registration is required for the session. Register here.

In-person session:

Thursday, April 11, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Location: Milton Room, Milton Town Hall, 150 Mary Street
Register attendance by email: Planning@milton.ca

A statutory public meeting regarding the urban area Official Plan policies and Zoning By-law regulations has been scheduled to be presented at Town Council on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 7 p.m. A copy of the notice can be found on the Town’s Development News Page with instructions on how to participate.

Public information sessions about ARUs in rural areas will be held in Fall 2024.

What are additional residential units (ARUs)?

“Additional residential units” (ARUs), as defined by the Planning Act, refer to a second and a third residential unit in addition to a primary residential unit, for a total of three units, on a residential lot containing a detached house, semi-detached house or townhouse.

To constitute a “residential unit”, the unit needs to include a set of self-contained rooms containing kitchen, sleeping and bathroom facilities intended for the exclusive use of the unit. ARUs must adhere to Ontario Building Code and Fire Code requirements.

ARUs are also referred to as second units, secondary suites, accessory dwelling units, basement apartments, coach houses, laneway houses, garden suites, tiny homes, granny flats, in-law apartments or nanny suites.

ARUs Policies and Regulations Update

To learn more about the review of ARUs policies and regulations, visit the Additional Residential Units project page.