Retrieving headlines...
Background information Accessory Dwelling Units
In 1994, legislation was enacted to allow owners of detached, semi-detached and town houses to have one self-contained apartment in their house provided that the unit met building code and fire code regulations.
Bill 20, passed in spring of 1996 restored power to Municipalities to decide if ADU’s would be permitted under their zoning bylaws. For an existing ADU to be considered legal it was required to be occupied on, or prior to, November 16, 1995 or a building permit was issued before May 22, 1996. Furthermore, the unit needed to be inspected and approved by the Fire Department and a change of use permit was to be issued by the Building Department. The Fire Department has been inspecting the units created prior to May 1996 and if the code requirements were met, the two-unit house was put on a registry created by bylaw 1998-109.
All of the units on this list are put directly into the new registry (Bylaw 2003-106) and the owners of such property will not be required to do anything until the property changes ownership or 10 years from the original date of registration with the Fire Department. When a registration is revoked, an application for registration of a two unit dwelling must be filed (application must be accompanied by a letter from the Fire Department and Electrical Safety Authority indicating a satisfactory inspection has been completed).
