Additional Residential Units

The City of Barrie allows up to four residential units per lot in residential zones. That means you can add up to three ARUs to your existing home, subject to zoning compliance. Eligible property types include single detached homes, semi-detached homes, townhouses or rowhouses, and accessory buildings (e.g. coach houses or garages). 

Check your zoning using the interactive Planning and Development map. An ARU must conform to all standards for your zone, including:

• 1 parking space per unit for each ARU added to the property
• A minimum 1.2 m wide access path to the unit from the street or parking area 
• Setbacks from property lines
• Maximum building height and size (for detached ARUs)
• Landscape buffer areas around detached ARUs 

For full details please see Section 5.2.9 of Zoning By-Law.

Is your property near a watercourse of natural hazard area? Check if you’re in a regulated area using the mapping linked below:

• Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) 
• Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) 

If your property is regulated, you’ll need a permit from the Conservation Authority before applying for a building permit.

Design your ARU to fit your home and neighbourhood. Consider location and orientation, building height and materials, privacy for all units and neighbours, and drainage and grading (to prevent flooding). Your site plan must show:

• A clearly defined entrance (separate or shared)
• Safe pedestrian access from the street or driveway (minimum 1.2 metres wide)
• At least one parking space per unit (minimum size of 5.5 metres long by 2.7 metres wide). Spaces may be stacked/tandem, but you must show all parking for existing units and the ARU on your site plan.

Additional considerations include:

• Tree protection: Avoid removing mature trees when possible. If trees on or near property lines may be affected, injured or removed, you will need written permission from neighbours.
• Heritage property? You may need approval for alterations. For questions about altering your heritage property, please contact heritage@barrie.ca or 705-739-4220 x4416.
• Working near sidewalks or roads? A Right Of Way Activity (ROWA) Permit is required if you will be doing work within the City of Barrie Right of Way, which includes sidewalks, roads, boulevards, and the area where your driveway connects to the street.

ARUs must connect to municipal water and sewer services, where available. Only one connection per property is allowed. If upgrades are needed (e.g., larger pipes or new service lines within your property for a detached ARU), you’ll be responsible for the cost, and likely need a ROWA permit.

Your ARU must meet Ontario Building Code (OBC) standards for safety and livability. When choosing your design, you can:

• Use pre-approved plans from the City’s design catalogue for detached ARUs (see more information below), which have been pre-certified by Building Services to meet the OBC requirements
• Choose plans from other design catalogues such as the plans offered by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
• Hire a qualified designer or architect for custom plans

Please visit the City’s Residential Building Permits webpage for guides and resources.

You should budget for the design, permit fees, material and construction costs of your ARU and for any servicing upgrades required.

The County of Simcoe Secondary Suites Program provides funding of up to $30,000 per unit for the creation of ARUs in exchange for providing the ARU as an affordable rental unit. Barrie homeowners could also qualify for an additional $15,000 Barrie Bonus top-up through the City’s Housing Community Improvement Plan.

The CMHC Refinance program allows homeowners to refinance their existing properties and create ARUs. See their website and talk to your mortgage lender for more information.

You may also qualify for the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit (MGHRTC). This federal program helps cover the cost of creating a unit for a senior or adult with a disability to live with family. 

Your ARU will automatically be registered with the City, assigned a municipal address, and added to the City’s map of ARUs once you have built your unit and completed required building permit inspections. This will ensure you receive mail, emergency services, and waste collection for the new unit.

If you’re thinking about renting out the unit, below are some helpful resources:

• Guide to Ontario’s standard lease, including information on rental rules, rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants under the provincial Residential Tenancies Act
• Regional Housing Support Services from Empower Simcoe – includes both landlord and tenant support resources, including housing lists of available rentals, mediation services, and their new Housing Retention Fund

The City of Barrie does not assess property values. This is done by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). Your assessed property value may change; more information can be found at mpac.ca. 

To determine if your property is eligible for an ARU you must confirm the following:

• Property is in a residential zone that allows ARUs 
• Property is not in a hazard zone 
• Property is not a designated heritage property unless heritage approvals are obtained

Yes, the Zoning By-law permits up to four dwelling units on residentially zoned properties subject to applicable regulations.

Although you do not need to pay a professional for a set of drawing plans if you choose to use a plan from the City of Barrie’s Design Catalogue you are still required to pay for the following:

• Building permit fee;
• All construction costs;
• Hiring a builder;
• Upgrades or connections to municipal sewer and water services (if applicable)
• Development Charges (if applicable)*

*Please note that up to two ARUs per property may be exempt from development charges; however, subsequent ARUs constructed on your property will incur development charges.

If you can’t meet all zoning requirements to build an ARU because of site constraints, you may be able to apply for a minor variance through the Committee of Adjustment to move forward with your project. City staff verify you meet zoning during the permit review process and reach out with options if you do not. To learn more, please visit our Committee of Adjustment webpage.