Additional Dwelling Units Study

The Township is proposing amendments to the Township’s Official Plan and Zoning by-law, which is required to reflect the legislative directives on Bill 108 and Bill 23. The Amendments propose to provide policies and regulations to promote additional housing opportunities and to provide affordable housing options in the form of Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs) throughout the Township of Scugog.

To implement Provincial policy directives related to affordable housing initiatives, municipalities across the province are undertaking Official Plan Amendments and Zoning By-law Amendments to update their planning documents to incorporate the necessary policies and provisions to regulate this newest form of gentle intensification. Municipalities through their planning documents have the authority to establish conditions or performance standards to regulate additional dwelling units within settlement areas. Further, additional dwelling units may also be permitted in rural areas subject to conditions outlined in the planning documents.

What are Additional Dwelling Units?

• Self-contained residential units
• Separate from primary residential unit: includes a separate entrance, kitchen facilities, washroom facilities and living space
• Contained within a dwelling or a building or structure accessory to a dwelling
• Other common names: secondary units, basement apartments, granny flats, in-law apartments, accessory dwelling units

Examples of Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Configurations:

1. One (1) ADU within the house; or
2. Two (2) ADUs within the house; or
3. One (1) ADU attached and/or one (1) ADU within the house; or
4. One (1) detached ADU in the yard; or
5. One (1) ADU within the house and one (1) detached ADU in the yard.

There are several provincial and regional policy documents that the Township's Official Plan and Zoning By-law must conform to, which may impact ADU permissions on individual properties. These policy documents include:

• Planning Act
• Provincial Planning Statement
• Greenbelt Plan
• Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan
• Durham Regional Official Plan (Envision Durham)

Port Perry Urban Area and Hamlets:

• Two (2) ADUs per principal dwelling OR one (1) ADU within the primary residential dwelling in addition to one (1) ADU within an accessory building/structure
• Maximum of three (3) dwelling units per lot

Oak Ridges Moraine:

• Maximum of one (1) ADU will be permitted only within the primary residential dwelling in the Countryside Area
• Not permitted within Natural Core Area or Natural Linkage Area

Rural Areas:

• ADUs would only be permitted within single detached dwellings that are on record and zoned for such at the time the Greenbelt Plan came into force (July 1, 2017)
• or ADUs would only be permitted within accessory structures legally existing at the time the Greenbelt Plan came into force (July 1, 2017)

Shorelines and Residential Clusters:

• Maximum of one (1) ADU permitted within the primary dwelling
• ADUs would be prohibited within any accessory building or structure

Public Open House:

A Public Open House has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 27, 2024 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in Council Chambers.

See Documents Section for formal Notice of Public Open House and Public Meeting for more details.

Public Meeting:

A Public Meeting has been scheduled for Monday, December 9, 2024 as part of the Planning and Community Affairs Committee Meeting which starts at 6:30 PM.

See Documents Section for formal Notice of Public Open House and Public Meeting for more details.

For More Information or to Provide Input:

For more information, to provide comments or ask questions, and/or to be notified of subsequent meetings or the decision of the Township of Scugog Council, please send an email to planning@scugog.ca.