How to Get a Secondary Suite

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How to Get a Secondary Suite

Before homeowners decide to renovate their homes to incorporate a new or upgraded secondary suite, they should contact Vaughan’s Building Standards department to discuss their plan and obtain the necessary information regarding zoning and building permit requirements.

The City of Vaughan requires all renovators/contractors to have a City of Vaughan business licence to work in Vaughan. Homeowners have the right and are encouraged to ask if a renovator/contractor is licensed or contact the City to verify licence status before hiring them.

Step 1: Review secondary suite criteria

A secondary suite must comply with the requirements of Vaughan’s Zoning By-law. Some of the zoning requirements and restrictions for secondary suites are provided below. For full details, see By-law 1-88 (PDF) as amended.

Eligible properties

Secondary suites are only allowed in specific single detached, semi-detached and street townhomes.

Lot characteristics

Only one secondary suite unit is allowed in each eligible house.
The lot must have a minimum frontage of nine metres.
A secondary suite may occupy up to 45 per cent of the gross floor area (GFA) of the main dwelling, but not be less than 35 square metres in floor area.

Parking

At least three parking spaces are required on the lot to ensure sufficient parking is available to accommodate the main dwelling and the secondary suite. The parking spaces must be located on a properly surfaced driveway or garage or carport and cannot include parking on the street.

Entrance

A secondary suite must be accessed through a separate entrance or through a common indoor vestibule.
An entrance to a secondary suite cannot be located on the same wall/façade as the entrance to the main dwelling.

Secondary suites are not allowed:

in an attached or detached garage.
in another building on the property not attached to the house.
in dwellings used for a bed and breakfast, home occupation, a private home tutor, a private home daycare or a group home.
in the Woodbridge Special Policy Area (PDF).
within a floodplain.

Step 2: Contact the City of Vaughan

New secondary suites or secondary suites built after July 14, 1994

A secondary suite built after July 14,1994 must comply with the Ontario Building Code.

Submit a building permit application to the Building Standards department. Include professionally prepared drawings that indicate the proposed construction details and demonstrate compliance with the Ontario Building Code. Drawings must be prepared by an architect or professional engineer or a qualified designer under the Ontario Building Code.

Secondary suites built before July 14, 1994

If a secondary suite was built before July 14, 1994, the property owner must contact Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) to arrange for a fire code inspection. VFRS will inspect the dwelling to ensure it complies with the applicable requirements of the Ontario Fire Code and identify any required upgrades.

If upgrades to the unit are required, a building permit must be obtained to demonstrate compliance with the Ontario Fire Code. Once the required upgrades are completed, staff from VFRS will complete a final inspection to ensure the secondary suite is compliant with the Ontario Fire Code. In some cases, a building permit may be required where no upgrades are necessary.

Contact Information

Building Standards

Phone: 905-832-8510
Inspection Services: 905-832-8511
City of Vaughan: 905-832-2281

Fax: 905-832-8558

Email: buildingstandards@vaughan.ca

Location:
Vaughan City Hall, Level 100
2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.
Vaughan, ON L6A 1T1

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Step 1: Review secondary suite criteria

Step 2: Contact the City of Vaughan

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