In 2010, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing released Building Foundations: Building Futures, Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy (LTAHS). Municipalities in Ontario are required to bring their planning documents into conformity with the new Province of Ontario legislation as part of their five-year official plan review. One additional off-street parking space required – must have a double driveway. Proof of Insurance which the Owner shall take out and keep in full force and effect throughout the term of the Licence and any renewals thereof, general liability insurance concerning the The second Unit against claims for personal injury, death or property damage or loss, indemnifying and protecting the Owner, their respective Employees, servants, agents, contractors, invitees or licensees, to the general limit of not less than Two Million ($2,000,000) Dollars on a per Occurrence basis. Town of Ajax . If located in an area serviced by private servicing, the lot must be an adequate size and the private waste disposal system must be sized to accommodate the basement apartment. Here are few basic requirements for a legal basement apartment in Toronto: (1) The detached or semi detached house must be at least 5 years old. Minimum gross floor area of 25 m² (269 ft²) and the total gross floor area of the accessory apartment is not more than the ground floor area of the dwelling in which it is located. Basement apartment shall not occupy more than 50% of the gross floor area residential of the dwelling within which it is located. Legal basement apartments offer a valid form of affordable housing and increase the availability of affordable housing choices while also offering a homeowner an opportunity to earn additional income. On average, fully converting a basement into a rental unit cost between $20,000 and $50,000 on the low end for only the basic necessities in 2011, according to BasementRefinshCost.com. The City of Brampton strictly prohibits homes that owners have subdivided their houses into more than two units unless the City has specifically zoned the property to permit multiple dwelling units. R zones are usually found in lower- to middle- density neighborhoods, like Brookland, Tenleytown, or Chevy Chase, and homes in these areas are allowed one principal unit and one accessory unit. In an attempt to preserve the character of existing homes and neighborhoods, when a legal basement apartment is constructed, the municipality could require the external appearance of the principal dwelling be maintained and permit only one front entrance to a house. Legal second units will  be allowed in detached, semi-detached and townhouse (maximum one basement apartment per house) and must have: Registration of a basement apartment is $500 for owner-occupied home & $1,000 for investment property Investment license would require a minor variance. No impact on the surrounding neighbourhood. It’s a good idea to convert a basement into a rental apartment or unit since it is a better way of getting extra income and increasing the value of the property. Only basement apartments that were built before November 16, 1995 and were registered with the City of Brampton before January 31, 2006, are considered legal. The city of Hamilton allows legal basement apartments. R zones have more constraints in place in order to preserve the historical character of the neighborhoods where they lie, while RF zones have the benefit of offering more flexibility. Restricting the size of the legal basement apartment can help limit the number of occupants, and this can be a further way to help alleviate some of the concerns associated with them. The principal residence must be at least 5 years old The house must be detached or semi-detached (there are some additional rules and exceptions for rowhouses) The exterior facade of the house cannot be significiantly altered Minimum Basement Apartment floor Area – 42 m² (452 ft²) Maximum Basement Apartment floor Area – 30% of the total floor area of the house. Alexa Blay and her husband rented a basement apartment in Toronto, Ontario, for about a year and a half. According to the current zoning by-law If you did not have a basement apartment in your home before November 16, 1995, you cannot add one in Brampton. Converting a basement into a rental unit can be an incredible asset to homeowners, whether for additional rental income, housing for a nanny or au pair, or for an in-law suite. Every unit entrance door must be at least 32 inches by 78 inches; bathrooms require an exhaust fan min 30 CFM, IF A HOUSE IS MINUMUM 5 YEARS OLD windows for bedrooms could be min. Landlords often stop renting out one or both suites to single households and instead rent out bedrooms within each suite as rooming/lodging accommodations as this would be more lucrative, turning the house into a rooming house or hybrid arrangement (see above). Only one unit is permitted to have a home occupation. The basement apartment must be smaller than the primary unit 2. Fire retardant basement walls. Some municipalities have also provided grants to support their construction as part of a local affordable housing strategy. Letter from the Fire Chief stating that an inspection has been conducted of the location, within thirty (30) days of the date the application for the A licence is submitted, and it complies with all the provisions of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, S.O. Approval is required from The Region of York or appropriate approval agencies for the provision of adequate water supply. Here are few basic requirements for a legal basement apartment (1) The detached or semi-detached house must be at least 5 years old. Improving your downstairs space isn’t going to do much for you financially until you have tenants paying rent to help you with your mortgage payments. Rental. Owners must preserve streetscape character. A basement apartment might be just what you need to provide the added income to make your dream purchase affordable, but beware of the The above list is a basic summary of requirements for converting a basement into a rental unit. Apartment Only one unit is permitted to have a home occupation. Basement apartment registration fee: $150 and $75 if additional inspections are required. Rental. Doors can open inward or outward and must be at least 198 cm by 81 cm. The Province of Ontario law now requires all the municipalities to allow basement apartments in homes. Once you’ve found the basement-outfitted home you are looking for, it’s time to pull out the measuring tape. If you’re curious, you can find your zoning designation here. If you have a basement with a bathroom and a small kitchen, that’s usually the preferred room rental option for both tenants and landlords — especially if there’s a separate entrance. Basement Apartment Registration Fee: $100 – But 5-year period without fee to encourage existing units to be legalized. One on-site parking space for basement apartment in addition to required parking for the dwelling. complies fully with all the applicable fire codes, building codes, Electrical Safety Authority regulations and zoning and housing standards by-laws. As much as you want to focus on matching kitchen cabinets to hardwood floors and playing with paint colours, it isn’t that easy. Mississauga City Council approved a plan to allow second units on July 3, 2013. Maximum driveway width is equal or greater of Garage Door width plus 2 m provided in the case of a lot with a lot frontage less than 10.1 m (33 ft), a minimum of 25% soft landscaping is provided in the front or exterior yard in which the driveway is located and in the case of a lot with lot frontage 10.1 m (33 ft)or greater, a minimum of 40% soft landscaping is provided in the front or exterior side yard in which the driveway is located or up to 6.1 m (20 ft), provided a minimum of 40% soft landscaping is provided in the front or exterior side yard in which the driveway is located. Basement apartments can also provide a second source of income for an older retired couple that allows them to ‘age in place.’ The older couple can move into the basement apartment and rent out the larger dwelling, or they can remain in the principal dwelling and rent out the basement apartment. Municipalities will be responsible for determining what standards or zoning provisions should apply to legalize basement apartments with regards to matters such as minimum unit size or parking requirements. Learn how your comment data is processed. Plus, the landlord threw in perks like free parking and utilities that weren’t typically extended to renters in nearby above-ground apartments. As with any code, zoning, and permitting issues, each project should be evaluated individually. 2.5% of bedroom floor area and combined Kitchen/Dining/Living area must … Download and create your own document with Basement Rental Agreement & Checklist (83KB | 1 Page(s)) for free. Minimum size to be 38 m² (409 ft²) and the maximum size to be 45% of the gross floor area of the principal building. The City of Brampton has zoned only very few homes as triplexes. In that case you’ll have to crack up the existing floor and dig down, possibly underpin the foundation and then pour a new floor. Until each municipality establishes rules and regulations, it will be status quo which means basement apartments will still be illegal. Following these sessions, a Public Consultation Summary Report was prepared by Lura Consulting. To further expand affordable housing opportunities, Bill 140 amended various sections of the Planning Act by: This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Removing the ability to appeal the establishment of these official plan policies and zoning by-law provisions, with the exception of official plan policies that are included in five-year updates of official municipal plans. Not all zoning districts will allow you to have two or more units per parcel. (e) Ensure that each floor of the Dwelling is equipped with a functioning Fire Extinguisher. The zoning amendment process can take about six months to a year to complete. The landlord (owner) is responsible for compliance with the Ontario Fire Code and is responsible to ensure the safety of their tenants in the basement apartment. (j) Ensure that the current Business Licence Number for the Licenced Dwelling appears on all advertisement for the business. Rental. The right way is according to your local town or city’s regulations, and in accordance with national building codes. In 2009, the Ontario provincial government began developing a long-term affordable housing strategy. For further information on how to apply for a zoning amendment, contact the Planning, Design and Development Department at 905-874-2090. A second Recommendation Report was presented to the Committee of Council Meeting of June 12, 2013, to show the results of the Open Houses and a refined approach. However, where properties are smaller and narrower in some subdivisions, this may entirely restrict the construction of basement apartments. Other common restrictions may include: 1. 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