Build a second home next to your first one?

The new trend in municipal by-law is density. With the Ontario Government's new changes to the Planning Act, it is rumored that they are going to be reevaluating nearly 7400 Acres of Greenbelt to allow a whopping 50,000 new homes to be built. On the way to their goal of creating 1.5 Million new homes, municipalities have begun the process of allowing second or even third dwelling units to increase the residential density in existing zones. What does that mean in plain speak? You can build multiple separate dwellings inside or detached from your existing house! So a single family home can now legally in Haldimand have Well if you live or are looking to buy in Haldimand County this has already passed and become a by-law for nearly two years now.

What does this mean for you?

If you own a residential property on a lot that is large enough to support it, you can have a completely stand-alone secondary residence on the same property. There are no limiting restrictions on in-laws or farm help either. The entire process can be approved with a simple building permit, and the best part is you can use the space on your property the way you want to. Today the most common approach for kids to get ahead is to move in and make a multi-generational home. This approach taken by Haldimand allows for a wide variety of uses including short-term rentals. If you want to build this second house and think you can have a nice view that someone else is willing to pay for you can build this stand-alone house and do just that.

So what’s the catch?

The planners in Haldimand didn’t just decide to allow the wild west of infill lots and severances. They have stipulations that limit the creation of new lots through this density initiative. So you won’t get a new property that you can sell separately from your primary residence. And the structure is limited to approximately 1000 square feet in the Agriculturally zone and Rural Residential zones. And 807 square feet in R1, R2, and R3 zones or 40% of the gross floor area. However, if you have the space and the ability to deal with the sewage increase then you can have up to two secondary suites on a single Residential property (with one being inside the primary residence - like a basement apartment). With this knowledge in hand if you need help determining if your property is eligible for one or two more secondary suites click here to contact us.

For a link to the pertinent by-law click here.