R.VIAU DRAFTING & DESIGN LTD.

SECONDARY DWELLING PERMIT PLANS

Secondary Dwelling Units Plans in Ottawa

At R. Viau Drafting & Design, we specialize in designing Secondary Dwelling Units (SDUs) that add value, flexibility, and functionality to your property. Whether you're looking to create a legal basement apartment, garden suite, or coach house, we provide expert guidance and tailored design solutions to meet local zoning and building code requirements in Ottawa and surrounding areas.

With over 35 years of experience, our team ensures that every SDU project is thoughtfully planned, efficiently executed, and seamlessly integrated into your existing property.

What is a Secondary Dwelling Unit?

A Secondary Dwelling Unit in Ottawa refers to a self-contained residential unit located on the same property as a primary dwelling.

In Ottawa, you used to be limited to only two (2) units per lot, but due to the recent Bill 23, the limit has been raised to three (3) units per lot.

ADUs / SDU's can be created by converting an existing structure, such as a basement, attic, or garage, or by constructing a new, separate building, such as a laneway house or backyard suite. These units are designed to provide additional housing options and are typically smaller in size compared to the main home.

Key Characteristics

Self-contained: An SDU has its own kitchen, bathroom, and living spaces, making it a fully functional residential unit.
Location: They must be located on the same lot or property as the primary dwelling, either attached or detached.
Permitted Uses: They are often used for purposes such as rental units, accommodation for family members, home offices, or guest houses.

Finishes and Appliances

The appliances and finishes you choose in your kitchens, bathrooms, floors, etc have a huge impact on the cost of your new units.

Code Requirements

Requirements such as egress windows, concrete basement walk-outs and window wells can influence the total cost.

What can influence the costs

Typical General Costs

Depending on the size of your unit and the amount of bedrooms, you can expect a general cost of $60,000 to $120,000.

Wondering if your home is suitable for an SDU?

Click here for our inspection page!

Secondary Unit Benefits

Additional income

Renting out an extra unit can provide a steady stream of passive income

Space for family

These units can serve as housing for aging parents, adult children, or other relatives, allowing for multi-generational living.

Increased property value

Adding an ADU / SDU can enhance the value of your property by offering more living space.

Affordable housing

Help address housing shortages by increasing the available rental supply in a neighborhood.

Secondary Dwelling Unit Requirements

Fire Safety

Fire separations help to prevent the spread of fire from one part of the building to another
Fire alarms are required in every unit

Entrances & Egress

The new secondary unit must have a separate entrance on the ground floor of the principal dwelling.

Bill 23 has removed the prohibitions on separate entrances within the front wall of a building.

Additional egress is also required.

Additional egress includes concrete basement walk-outs, emergency egress windows and more.

Maximum Size

Due to Bill 23, the rule regarding the total floor area of a secondary dwelling unit not exceeding 40 percent of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling has been removed.

Your additional unit's floor area can be as big as you see fit.

Parking

Additional parking spaces are not required.

However, if provided, they cannot be located in the front yard. On corner lots, a new parking space may be added if no driveway previously existed. Sharing parking within the existing driveway is allowed.

Plumbing

The essential plumbing features for a secondary unit include:

Hot and cold-water supply
A sink, bathtub or shower, toilet, or a drainless composting toilet in the bathroom
A kitchen sink
Access to laundry facilities, which can be within the secondary unit or in a shared laundry room.

Each secondary unit should have its own water shut-off valve, allowing for repairs without disrupting the water supply to other units.

Electrical

The building code mandates proper lighting in secondary units, including:

A light and switch in every room or space within the secondary unit
A switch at both the top and bottom of any stairs

Heating & Ventilation

A secondary unit can share the same furnace and air duct system as the primary unit, provided special smoke detectors are installed in the main supply or return duct for fire safety.

Fire Safety Experts

With the help of Ottawa Fire Safety, we have certified BCIN designers and expert Fire Inspectors working alongside all our projects.

Drafting Experts

R.Viau Drafting & Design Ltd. works closely on all of our Additional Dwelling Unit projects. They have a team of BCIN designers, architects and engineers making sure that everything is done right and up to code.

Construction Experts

Our team also provides a combined 80 years of construction knowledge and expertise.

We have experience with many additional / secondary units, new builds and so much more.

Our expertise includes

Our process

Site Visit / Consultation

Book us for a site visit to get a free quote.

We can also provide standalone consultations, building code reviews and or zoning reviews to assess your situation before doing any work.

Preliminary

Our proficient designers prepare the preliminary schematics and design till a final idea is communicated upon with you.

Construction plans are then put together.

Permit Plans

In-house engineers and BCIN professionals review and stamp the construction drawings which assures a smooth permit issuance to the city with no hiccups.

Construction

Let us handle the entire project. Our in-house trades have years of experience with renovations and custom builds.

FINANCIAL ASSITANCE

Mortgage Reforms

Today's mortgage reforms are designed to make it easier for homeowners to add secondary suites—such as basement apartments, in-law suites, and laneway homes—building on the federal government’s recent announcement of the most significant mortgage reforms in decades. These reforms are aimed at unlocking homeownership opportunities for Canadians of all generations.

Starting December 15, 2024, Canadians will be able to apply for reformed mortgages, resulting in lower monthly payments.

Key changes include:

1. Raising the Insured Mortgage Cap:

The $1 million price cap for insured mortgages will be increased to $1.5 million to reflect the current housing market and enable more Canadians to qualify for mortgages with a down payment of less than 20%. This cap, which has remained unchanged since 2012, will allow more Canadians to purchase homes within their financial reach.

2. Expanding 30-Year Mortgage Amortizations:

The eligibility for 30-year mortgage amortizations will be extended to all first-time homebuyers and those purchasing new builds, reducing monthly payments and helping more Canadians afford homeownership. This expansion includes both new construction and condominiums.

The move is designed to incentivize the building of more homes and address the ongoing housing shortage, in line with the Budget 2024 commitment, which also allows first-time homebuyers purchasing new builds to access 30-year amortizations starting August 1, 2024.

These reforms aim to help more Canadians secure affordable homes while also encouraging the construction of additional / secondary dwelling units, which can provide much-needed rental options and support multi-generational living.

Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program

Ontario's Secondary Suite Incentive Program is an initiative designed to encourage the creation of secondary suites (also known as accessory apartments or in-law suites) within existing homes.

The program is aimed at increasing the availability of affordable rental housing in the province by making it easier for homeowners to build or convert basements, garages, or other spaces into legal secondary units.

"Through our Housing Accelerator Fund, we’ve already reformed zoning to make this possible, and today, we’re announcing homeowners will soon be able to access up to $40,000 in low-cost loans to make it easier add secondary suites."

- The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Key Features of the program

Eligibility Criterias

Financial Incentives

Under the program, homeowners will have access up to $40,000 in low-interest loans

Legalizing Existing Units

One of the key goals of the program is to make it easier for homeowners to legalize existing secondary suites that may not be up to current building codes or zoning laws.

New Zoning

Municipalities may offer some flexibility in their zoning and building code requirements to make it easier for homeowners to add secondary suites.

Property Ownership:

The homeowner must own the property where the secondary suite will be built or legalized.

Suitability of the Property

The property must be suitable for a secondary suite, meaning there must be adequate space for the suite and the unit must comply with local zoning laws and building codes.

Construction Requirements

The program typically supports renovations or construction that result in a safe and legal unit. This includes ensuring proper egress (exit in case of fire), ventilation, and fire safety measures.