A second home? Guelph’s zoning amendments
Guelph has amended it’s zoning bylaw - sounds boring, right? Well, here’s why this is a big deal.
Homeowners are now permitted to build an additional home on their property. Previously, accessory buildings on a property were allowed, but a person was not permitted to live in the space. Granny suites, student housing, rental units - these are all now possible with the new changes.
These changes make sense. Cities like Guelph want to see increased population density, especially close to their downtown cores. And people want to live in these areas, clearly indicated by the prices people are willing to pay for older homes in these areas. In other places, and to some extent here, this increased density has been achieved by infill housing, where developers buy an older home, demolish it, sever the property, and build 2 narrower homes. Not ideal because it’s seen as hurting the existing character of a neighbourhood. What Guelph has done with these zoning amendments will allow for additional density, but without losing the character of its streetscape.
It’s exciting for so many reasons. People have seen how bad nursing homes are managed during this pandemic. Imagine building something in your own backyard to create a separate space for a parent. Or what about the next generation that won’t be able to afford a home in the current market conditions? Building a separate space to allow one’s mature children to get started as an adult and save money works too. Or maybe money is tight and building a separate dwelling means creating a passive income by renting out the space. I can see this having a positive impact on the housing shortage as well.
Managing these new dwellings and avoiding neighbourly disharmony is critical, and I think the rules that Guelph has included in the amendment make good sense. After all, few will disagree that the best way to upset one's neighbour is building an apartment complex on the other side of the fence. Here are some of the rules:
Maximum size is roughly 860 square feet, and not more than 45% of the existing home’s area.
Up to 2 bedrooms
The building can not occupy more than 30% of the yard, including existing structures
The height of the building is limited to a little more than 16 feet, but can not be taller than the existing home.
As a backyard builder, I’m very excited to see these changes and welcome any conversations with homeowners who are thinking about adding a second home to their property.
