If you live in Essa Township and have thought about building an additional residential unit (ARU) on your property, you may want to visit one of the two information sessions the township is hosting on the topic.
The first session will be held on Monday, March 24 at the Thornton Public Library, and the second will be held on Tuesday, March 25 at the Angus Public Library. Both information sessions start at 3 p.m.
Township officials recommend anyone interested in attending should register in advance through the township or Essa Public Library websites.
“Our intention is to speak specifically to people who are interested in aging-in-place through the ARU building process, although we’ll welcome anyone interested in ARUs in general,” said Sam Haniff, manager of planning for Essa Township.
“Our hope is that we can encourage responsible development of new ARUs that are in keeping with our zoning bylaw and the Ontario Building Code," he added. “We are also hoping that unregistered ARUs will be brought into compliance without the need for enforcement by the township."
In January 2024, township staff submitted an application for the 2023 Simcoe County Age-Friendly Community (AFC) municipal grant program under age-friendly projects to develop a guide to additional residential units, with a lens toward aging-in-place.
In August, the township was offered the grant, with a 2024 calendar year completion date. The grant deadline was subsequently extended to the end of February 2025.
At the township’s council meeting on Nov. 6, 2024, Ted Handy & Associates was selected to complete the guide for a fee of $15,000.
The guide was approved by township council on Feb. 19 and was posted on the township’s Facebook page and website — called Introducing the New Aging In Place: Additional Residential Units (ARUs) Guide - Essa Township) — this past weekend.
The guide includes details on what constitutes an ARU, the technical requirements that must be met, and a list of frequently asked questions about ARUs.
According to the guide, an ARU is defined as a self-contained residence, with a kitchen, bathroom and external access, on a property with an existing primary residence.
An ARU can be either within the primary residence (attached) or separate from the primary residence (detached).
Up to two ARUs are permitted on any lot with a residence, subject to required zoning provisions, and both ARUs can be attached, but only one can be detached.
An ARU is permitted throughout all residential zones, including agricultural and rural zones.
The Ontario Building Code sets the minimum size for an ARU at 17.5 square metres (188 square feet), however applicants can build larger ARUs up to the maximum size permitted by the township’s zoning bylaw.
The ARU must have the following minimum room sizes:
- Kitchen — 4.2 sq. m. (45.2 sq. ft.)
- Living area — 13.5 sq. m. (145 sq. ft.)
- Primary bedroom — 9.8 sq. m. (95 sq. ft.)
- Other bedrooms — 7 sq. m. (75 sq. ft.)
- Bathroom — 3 sq. m. (32 sq. ft.).
The guide also notes the following when planning an ARU for a township property:
- The maximum gross area of an ARU shall be less than 102 sq. m., or 50 per cent of the gross floor area of the primary dwelling unit
- The maximum building height of the ARU shall not exceed one storey (4.5 m.)
- A minimum of 1.5 m. shall be between the ARU and any other structure on said lot
- A minimum of 1.2 m.-wide walkway from the ARU to the primary dwelling shall be provided.
- The ARU shall not be located more than 30 m. from the primary residence
- The ARU shall not have a basement.
“Having safe, accessible and registered ARUs is beneficial for both the township and individual homeowners, which the ARU guide and information sessions will stress,” Haniff said.