As per land use policies included in the City's new Official Plan, lands designated Neighbourhood Area shall promote intensification by permitting additional residential units, including detached ancillary dwelling units, second suites, shared accommodations, and other forms of low impact intensification, which can provide affordable housing options.
About Second Suites
A second suite is an accessory dwelling unit that is within a single detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling unit, or street townhouse dwelling unit, and is subordinate to the principal unit.
A second suite is a self-contained unit with a kitchen, bathroom, living area and sleeping area within the primary house on a property. The suite may be added to an existing house, or purpose-built in a new home, provided all applicable standards can be met.
Examples:
- Basement apartments
- Apartments at grade or on upper levels of existing homes
- Apartments above attached garages
- Conversion of space within an existing house
- Additions to existing homes
A maximum of one second suite is permitted per lot. The Zoning By-law standards for second suites in Section 5.2.9 were updated in 2021* and include:
- May occupy up to 45% of the gross floor area (GFA) of the principal building it is located within, except where a second suite is located in the basement of a one-storey (bungalow) dwelling, in which case it can occupy the whole basement
- Must provide one parking space per dwelling unit (one for the main dwelling, one for the second suite)
- A 1.2 metre-wide unobstructed path of travel must be provided to the main entrance from the street, driveway or parking area
- Second suites are not permitted within any area subject to natural hazards such as a flooding or erosion hazard
*See Zoning By-law Amendment re Second Suite and Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit Standards (PDF) for full requirements.
Compliance with the Ontario Building Code is required. If you are thinking of constructing a second suite in your home, please refer to Building a Second Suite at Home Renovations & Projects.
The City of Barrie requires every second suite within the city to be registered. As part of the registration process, the City will confirm that the two-unit house is legal under the City’s Zoning Bylaw, and that the house complies with several health and safety regulations.
About Detached Accessory Dwelling Units
A Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit is an accessory dwelling unit that is located within a detached accessory building on the same lot as a single detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling unit, duplex dwelling or street townhouse dwelling unit, and is subordinate to the principal unit.
Examples:
- Backyard tiny homes
- Permanent garden suites or granny flats
- Laneway houses
- Coach houses
- Other standalone secondary dwellings that are smaller than the main dwelling
- Dwelling units attached to accessory buildings/structures, such as detached garages or sheds
A detached accessory dwelling unit can only contain one residential dwelling unit.
A maximum of one detached accessory dwelling unit is permitted per lot. The Zoning By-law standards for detached accessory dwelling units (Section 5.2.9) were updated in 2021* and include:
- May only contain one dwelling unit and is not permitted to have a basement
- May be a standalone accessory building or located within, or attached to, another detached accessory building or structure.
- Must have a maximum gross floor area (GFA) equal to 45% of the GFA of the principal building, up to a maximum of 75 m2.
- Must provide one parking space per dwelling unit (i.e. one for main dwelling, one for the second suite)
- A detached accessory dwelling unit is not permitted in a front yard and must meet the following minimum yard setbacks:
- Front yard: 7.0 metres
- Side yard: 3.0 metres
- Rear yard: 7.0 metres
- Must not exceed a height of 4.5 m (measured from average finished grade to the highest point of a flat roof, deck line of a mansard roof, and midpoint between the ease and ridge for all other styles)
- Must provide a 3.0 metre landscaped buffer area along the rear and interior side lot lines adjacent to the detached accessory dwelling unit
- A 1.2 metre-wide unobstructed path of travel must be provided to the main entrance from the street, driveway or parking area
- The primary entrance to the unit shall be a maximum of 40.0 metres from the front lot line
- Must be connected to full municipal services
- All accessory buildings and structures, including detached accessory dwelling units, must not exceed 10% lot coverage in total
- Detached accessory dwelling units are not permitted within any area subject to natural hazards such as a flooding or erosion hazard
*See Zoning By-law Amendment re Second Suite and Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit Standards for full requirements and download the Guide to Constructing a DADU for more information.
Compliance with the Ontario Building Code is required. If you are thinking of constructing a secondary dwelling, please refer to Building a Secondary Dwelling at Home Renovations & Projects.
Every detached accessory dwelling unit within Barrie must be registered. As part of the registration process, the City will confirm that the two-unit house is legal under the City’s Zoning By-law, and that the house complies with several health and safety regulations.