What's on this page
↓ Community engagement
↓ What are additional residential units (ARUs)?
↓ ARUs policies and regulations update
↓ Additional residential units – survey results
↓ Project next steps
In an effort to increase housing options and supply throughout the province, the provincial government has recently made some changes to the Planning Act, permitting two additional residential units (ARUs) on an urban residential lot containing a detached house, semi-detached house or townhouse. This would allow up to three residential units in total on a residential lot with municipal water and sewage services.
The Town is in the process of reviewing and updating its policies and regulations regarding additional residential units to align with the updated Planning Act. To get involved and share your feedback to shape and inform the updates to the Official Plan policies and zoning by-law regulations, please participate in our surveys and provide feedback on Let’s Talk Milton.
Current Project Status
On June 3, Milton Town Council approved amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law that would permit additional residential units (ARUs) in the town’s urban areas.
The amendments will be subject to an appeal period and will not take effect for 20 days. Pending no appeals being filed, the amendments will come into effect on June 25, 2024.
More detailed information on rules, regulations and how to apply for an ARU permit will be available on the Town’s website on later this summer. For any zoning related inquiries, please contact Zoning@Milton.ca. For any building permit related inquiries, please contact Building@Milton.ca.
Community engagement
A statutory public meeting regarding the urban area polices and regulations was held on Monday, April 15, 2024. The recording of the public meeting can be watched through the Webstream link on the Council Calendar. Public information sessions were also held on April 8 and April 11. A copy of the presentation can be reviewed through the link below.
Residents can provide written comments until April 25, 2024 by emailing the Planning Division.
The Town of Milton recently hosted an online and in-person public information session to help residents learn about the proposed ARU policies for the urban areas of Milton.
What are additional residential units (ARUs)?
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.
ARUs require 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
The Town is currently reviewing its Official Plan policies and zoning by-law regulations as it relates to ARUs. Please see more details below regarding urban and rural areas.
Urban areas |
The Town of Milton’s existing zoning by-law regulations in the urban area only permitted one additional residential unit (termed “accessory dwelling unit” in the by-law) within a detached house or a semi-link house. In accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act, on residential lots that have municipal water and sewage servicing, Milton’s Zoning By-law 016-2014 for the urban area will be updated to:
The zoning by-law for the urban area will also be reviewed and updated in consideration of municipal concerns such as health and safety, stormwater management, neighbourhood character and impacts on adjacent properties. The Town’s Official Plan will be reviewed and may be updated to provide high-level policies regarding additional residential units. |
Rural areas |
The provincial as-of-right permissions for additional residential units do not apply in Milton’s rural areas. Significant portions of Milton’s rural areas are within the Greenbelt and the Niagara Escarpment, which include provincially protected environmental and agricultural lands. In consultation with the Province, staff will undertake a review to examine if the Town’s policies and regulations may be updated to better address the needs of the rural community for additional residential units. |
Additional residential units – survey results
The following key findings are summarized from an online survey that was conducted through Let’s Talk Milton to better understand residents’ views, opinions and concerns regarding ARUs within their communities.
ARU urban survey |
Between March 28 and Oct. 31, 2023, the ARU urban survey received 375 responses. 86 per cent of respondents are homeowners and 7 per cent are renters of an urban property in Milton. A little over half (53 per cent) of survey respondents believe there are significant benefits and opportunities that arise from the permission of ARUs in urban communities:
Of the respondents interested in constructing an ARU(s) on their urban property:
On the other hand, 45 per cent of respondents have concerns with the potential impact of ARUs in urban communities which include:
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ARU rural survey |
Between March 28 and Oct. 31, 2023, the ARU rural survey received 269 responses. 52 per cent of respondents own and live on a property within a hamlet, 30 per cent own and live on a rural residential property not located within a hamlet and 5 per cent own and live on a commercial farm in Milton. A significant percentage of respondents (67 per cent) would like to add additional units on their rural property. Of the respondents interested in constructing an ARU(s):
A smaller percentage (23 per cent) of respondents have concerns regarding the potential impacts of permitting ARUs within the rural area. Survey results show:
The majority of respondents would not want ARUs being utilized for short-term rentals. |
Project next steps
Public information sessions about ARUs in rural areas will be held later in 2024.
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