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Tiny homes are the next big thing! With the price of real estate these days, people are looking for ways to maximize the use of their property, or a future property they purchase for themselves, or as an investment. The tiny home is a great alternative to adding a basement apartment or addition to the main home. Many regions throughout Ontario have created a zoning plan to allow for tiny homes or coach houses. Waterloo Region is no exception, and while tiny homes are now being permitted in many areas, each city as well as outlying towns and municipalities, have created their own zoning by-laws.
The City Of Kitchener allows tiny homes, laneway suites, and backyard homes, which all fall under the permit category of Additional Dwelling Units (Detached). The by-law allows for these buildings on most properties zoned R-1 through R-7. Here’s a link to apply for the permit, as well as more information about zoning, parking, and other site requirements:
https://www.kitchener.ca/en/building-and-renovating/backyard-homes-and-tiny-houses.aspx
The City Of Waterloo also allows tiny homes, or what they call a “coach house”. They define a “coach house” as an accessory, self-contained DWELLING UNIT that is
detached from the principal BUILDING and located on the same LOT as the principal BUILDING. The city sets out the zones and rules required to convert, or build, a coach house on your property. Here’s the link to the City of Waterloo’s by-laws for coach houses:
https://www.waterloo.ca/en/government/zoning-bylaw.aspx#
In late 2021 the City Of Cambridge partnered with the the University of Waterloo’s School of Architecture to increase the number and type of attainable housing in the City. Until now, they didn’t have any by-laws in place or a strategy to allow for these types of accessory buildings in their zoning by-laws. Here’s a link to the University Of Waterloo’s tiny home prototype and more information about the partnership with the City Of Cambridge:
https://uwaterloo.ca/architecture/news/tiny-home-prototype-go-display-cambridge
The Township of North Dumfries has updated its by-laws concerning tiny homes, coach houses, and garden suites. Each town and area have slightly different requirements when it comes to these types of buildings. The township defines a “coach house” as a unit that may be a freestanding structure attached to or above a detached garage or other accessory structure. Here’s a link to the by-laws pertaining to secondary units, coach houses, and garden suites:
https://www.northdumfries.ca/en/doing-business/second-units-and-garden-suites.aspx
Looking for more information about TINY HOMES in WATERLOO REGION? Reach out, and give me a call anytime!
