Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of London has officially implemented amendments to the zoning by-law, significantly expanding the availability of residential units across the city. The changes allow homeowners to create up to four separate units on a property and remove the citywide five-bedroom limit, with some exceptions for near campus neighborhoods.
Under the new regulations, property owners can now have a total of four residential units on properties zoned for single detached, semi-detached, street townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, or converted dwellings. In near campus neighborhoods, the maximum number of bedrooms has been raised from three to five, with provisions for additional bedrooms when creating new residential units.
โAs a municipality, we are committed to making it easier for developers, businesses, and residents to build more rental units as part of the shared solution to the housing shortage,โ said Mayor Josh Morgan. โThese changes will facilitate the creation of rental units in existing neighborhoods across the city, providing affordable housing options for multigenerational families, young people, and older adults in London.โ
Amendments also define Additional Residential Units (ARUs) as self-contained dwelling units within the same building or on the same lot as an existing residential unit. These units will have their own kitchen and washroom facilities, along with a separate entrance. The ARUs are permitted โas-of-right,โ meaning that homeowners can apply for building permits without needing additional zoning amendments or variances, provided they meet existing by-law regulations.
Details of the new regulations include:
- Homeowners can have up to four separate units on a property where zoning allows, including a maximum of three ARUs.
- ARUs can be located within the interior of the existing house, in existing garages, or as detached tiny homes.
- The four main types of ARUs include interior or basement conversions, converted garages, detached units, and additions to existing buildings.
โLondon is supporting this type of residential development to offer more housing options, make homes more affordable, and use land more efficiently,โ said Scott Mathers, deputy city manager of planning and economic development. โThese changes to the cityโs Official Plan and Zoning By-law will make it easier for homeowners to add extra housing units to their properties.โ
These amendments are part of a broader initiative by the City of London to enhance housing opportunities throughout the city, it says in a statement.