Additional residential units - Townships

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The consultation period for this project has closed. Please find information about by-laws and contacts for your community at https://www.oxfordcounty.ca/en/services-for-you/additional-residential-units.aspx




Update: February 10, 2023

Update

On February 8, 2023, County Council approved Official Plan amendments to allow additional residential units in Oxford’s five rural townships: Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, South-West Oxford and Zorra. 

Following approval of the Official Plan Amendment, each Township is now required to initiate amendments to its own zoning by-laws to reflect the amended policies.



Additional residential units in the five rural townships


Original publication date: June 20, 2022

Oxford County is in the process of updating its Official Plan policies to allow for Additional Residential Units (ARUs) in Oxford’s rural areas, including the Townships of Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, South-West Oxford and Zorra. These updates will allow residents to establish ARUs in rural settlements and on rural residential and agricultural lots, where appropriate.

The Planning Act directs that municipalities enact policies and zoning provisions that authorize ARUs in, and/or on the same property as, low density housing types, such as single-detached and semi-detached homes. This is one way that communities can provide additional housing options and increase the overall housing supply.

Updates to policies for ARUs in Oxford’s urban areas, including Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, and Woodstock, are being considered separately. The ARU policies for Woodstock were approved in February 2022.


What are ARUs?

This section was updated February 3, 2023

Additional Residential Units (ARUs) are separate, self-contained dwelling units (i.e., own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping areas) that are inside, attached to, or ancillary to (located on the same lot as) a single detached, semi-detached or street townhouse dwelling. ARUs can take many forms, such as basement apartments, attached suites, tiny homes and coach houses, but they must be smaller than the principal dwelling or residence. 


Community consultation

This section was updated October 31, 2022

Public consultation on Additional Residential Units in Oxford's townships took place between July and September 2022. Opportunities for the public to provide feedback included: 

  • Email/electronic submissions: Questions and comments were accepted through email to planning@oxfordcounty.ca; directly to the project lead, Meghan House, at mhouse@oxfordcounty.ca; or via the online question form.
  • Local council meetings: These took place between June 21 and August 9, 2022, and provided an opportunity for the public to hear a presentation on proposed changes.
  • Public meeting: This took place at County on September 14, 2022. Download the public notice
  • Feedback form: A short survey presented different options and scenarios for comment. The survey closed Sunday, August 14, 2022.


More information

Please see project updates below for more information on the consultation phase for this project. If you have questions, please contact Community Planning at planning@oxfordcounty.ca.


The consultation period for this project has closed. Please find information about by-laws and contacts for your community at https://www.oxfordcounty.ca/en/services-for-you/additional-residential-units.aspx




Update: February 10, 2023

Update

On February 8, 2023, County Council approved Official Plan amendments to allow additional residential units in Oxford’s five rural townships: Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, South-West Oxford and Zorra. 

Following approval of the Official Plan Amendment, each Township is now required to initiate amendments to its own zoning by-laws to reflect the amended policies.



Additional residential units in the five rural townships


Original publication date: June 20, 2022

Oxford County is in the process of updating its Official Plan policies to allow for Additional Residential Units (ARUs) in Oxford’s rural areas, including the Townships of Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, South-West Oxford and Zorra. These updates will allow residents to establish ARUs in rural settlements and on rural residential and agricultural lots, where appropriate.

The Planning Act directs that municipalities enact policies and zoning provisions that authorize ARUs in, and/or on the same property as, low density housing types, such as single-detached and semi-detached homes. This is one way that communities can provide additional housing options and increase the overall housing supply.

Updates to policies for ARUs in Oxford’s urban areas, including Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, and Woodstock, are being considered separately. The ARU policies for Woodstock were approved in February 2022.


What are ARUs?

This section was updated February 3, 2023

Additional Residential Units (ARUs) are separate, self-contained dwelling units (i.e., own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping areas) that are inside, attached to, or ancillary to (located on the same lot as) a single detached, semi-detached or street townhouse dwelling. ARUs can take many forms, such as basement apartments, attached suites, tiny homes and coach houses, but they must be smaller than the principal dwelling or residence. 


Community consultation

This section was updated October 31, 2022

Public consultation on Additional Residential Units in Oxford's townships took place between July and September 2022. Opportunities for the public to provide feedback included: 

  • Email/electronic submissions: Questions and comments were accepted through email to planning@oxfordcounty.ca; directly to the project lead, Meghan House, at mhouse@oxfordcounty.ca; or via the online question form.
  • Local council meetings: These took place between June 21 and August 9, 2022, and provided an opportunity for the public to hear a presentation on proposed changes.
  • Public meeting: This took place at County on September 14, 2022. Download the public notice
  • Feedback form: A short survey presented different options and scenarios for comment. The survey closed Sunday, August 14, 2022.


More information

Please see project updates below for more information on the consultation phase for this project. If you have questions, please contact Community Planning at planning@oxfordcounty.ca.


Do you have feedback on or a question about additional residential units in townships? Please submit here. 

  • Share What will be the maximum square footage allowed on a property (Percentage?) on Facebook Share What will be the maximum square footage allowed on a property (Percentage?) on Twitter Share What will be the maximum square footage allowed on a property (Percentage?) on Linkedin Email What will be the maximum square footage allowed on a property (Percentage?) link

    What will be the maximum square footage allowed on a property (Percentage?)

    Karen asked over 1 year ago

    Response from Meghan House, Development Planner, Oxford County

    The draft Official Plan amendment contains policies to permit a cumulative gross floor area of no greater than 50% of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling, to a maximum of 100 m2 (1076 ft2) in settlement areas (i.e., rural clusters, villages and serviced villages) and to a maximum of 139 m2 (1500 ft2) in rural areas.

    The draft policies have not been approved and may be amended based on the recent changes to the Planning Act under Bill 23. Also, the policies will be implemented through the individual Township Zoning By-laws and there could some variations across the Townships.

    Please use the contact list in the left sidebar to contact someone directly by email or phone if you wish to discuss further.

     

  • Share Do the ARU's have to be occupied by a relative? Do the occupants have to live there for 12 months or can it be seasonal? Minimum/Maximum square footage of an ARU. Wonderful concept! Great forward planning on the part of local government. on Facebook Share Do the ARU's have to be occupied by a relative? Do the occupants have to live there for 12 months or can it be seasonal? Minimum/Maximum square footage of an ARU. Wonderful concept! Great forward planning on the part of local government. on Twitter Share Do the ARU's have to be occupied by a relative? Do the occupants have to live there for 12 months or can it be seasonal? Minimum/Maximum square footage of an ARU. Wonderful concept! Great forward planning on the part of local government. on Linkedin Email Do the ARU's have to be occupied by a relative? Do the occupants have to live there for 12 months or can it be seasonal? Minimum/Maximum square footage of an ARU. Wonderful concept! Great forward planning on the part of local government. link

    Do the ARU's have to be occupied by a relative? Do the occupants have to live there for 12 months or can it be seasonal? Minimum/Maximum square footage of an ARU. Wonderful concept! Great forward planning on the part of local government.

    Janis asked over 1 year ago

    Thank you for your questions. 

    Under the Planning Act (Ontario Regulation 299/19), ARUs may be occupied by any person regardless of whether the person who occupies the additional residential unit is related to the person who occupies the primary residential unit(s) and/or the person who occupies with the primary or additional residential unit(s) is the owner of the lot.  

    The current draft Official Plan policies do not propose a minimum occupancy period.

    The draft policies propose a cumulative maximum gross floor area (i.e., all ARUs on the lot) of no greater than 50% of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling, to a maximum of 100 m2 (1076 ft2).

     We hope this answers your questions.