Additional Residential Units

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:

• Permit three units on each lot, including the primary residential unit and two additional residential units, where:
  • All three units may be located within a detached house, semi-detached house or townhouse, OR
  • Two units may be located within a detached house, semi-detached house or townhouse and one unit may be located within an accessory building or structure on the lot; and
  • Require not more than one off-street parking space for each additional residential unit. (Updated: the Province of Ontario’s Bill 97 clarifies that the primary residential unit can be required to have more than one parking space.)

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.

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:

• Respondents emphasize that ARUs provide multi-generational living options and allow for seniors to downsize and age in place.
• The ability for homeowners to generate income to offset cost of living is one of the top reasons in support of ARUs.
• Respondents also believe that ARUs can improve housing affordability in Milton and increase the Town’s rental housing stock.

Of the respondents interested in constructing an ARU(s) on their urban property:  

• The top reasons are for earning income by renting out to long-term tenants and providing housing for children, parents or in-laws.
• 51 per cent would like to create one unit in the basement, 31 per cent might want to add two units and 25 per cent might want to build a unit in a detached accessory building.

On the other hand, 45 per cent of respondents have concerns with the potential impact of ARUs in urban communities which include:

• Parking and fire safety being the top two concerns;
• Impact of increased density within existing neighbourhoods;
• Increase of traffic on roads and strain on community services and facilities (i.e. schools, parks, etc.);
• Concerns relating to building design including height and scale relative to existing buildings; and
• ARUs being utilized for short-term rentals.

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):

• The top reasons are for providing housing for children, parents or in-laws, and allowing seniors to downsize and age in place.
• The majority are interested in constructing one unit within a detached accessory building.

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 greatest concern is with height and scale of ARUs, while separation from adjacent properties and impact on the character of the rural area are of lesser concern.
• Water and sewage servicing capacity and impact on environmental lands/features are somewhat of a concern.
• The majority of respondents are not very concerned about potential impact on farmland and agricultural operations.

The majority of respondents would not want ARUs being utilized for short-term rentals.