2022.PH30.2

Background

This report recommends establishing a planning framework to permit garden suites on lands within the City of Toronto that are designated as Neighbourhoods by amending both the Official Plan and City-wide Zoning By-law. 

A “garden suite” is an additional self-contained living accommodation, usually located in the rear yard, but not on a public lane, and is separate or detached from the main house. Garden suites are generally smaller than the main house on the lot and are intended to function as rental housing as well as accommodation for a variety of types of households. The Garden Suites Study is part of the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) work program. 

The proposed garden suite regulations detailed in this report respond to amendments to the Planning Act made in 2011 and 2019, which require that a City's Official Plan contain policies that authorize the use of additional residential units in detached, semi-detached and rowhouses, and in a building or structure ancillary to those residential building types on the same lot. 

Garden suites are a new form of rental housing, multi-generational housing, and an option for aging in-place, for current and future residents of Toronto. The proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments represent part of an appropriate, sensitive, and gradual evolution of Neighbourhoods. The proposed amendments are rooted in the fundamental principles to create complete communities and provide a full range of housing in terms of form, tenure, and affordability for residents across the city, in a form that makes efficient use of land. The proposed amendments acknowledge the Official Plan's objective that physical change to Neighbourhoods will be gradual, and that new development be consistent with the scale of buildings that already exist across the city's Neighbourhoods. 

Source: City of Toronto

Item Description

The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning recommends that: 

1. City Council amend the Official Plan substantially in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment 554 appended as Attachment 1 to this report. 

2. City Council amend Zoning By-law 569-2013, as amended, substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment appended as Attachment 2 to this report. 

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Official Plan Amendment and Draft Zoning By-law Amendment as may be required. 

4. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to monitor the implementation of the proposed Official Plan Amendment 554, in Recommendation 1 above, and the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment in Recommendation 2 above, and to report to Planning and Housing Committee following the earlier of two (2) years following the date the proposed Official Plan Amendment 554, in Recommendation 1 above, and the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment, in Recommendation 2 above coming into full force and effect, or following the issuance of the 200th building permit for the construction of new garden suites, to review and recommend any necessary revisions to the policy, zoning, and/or other changes to improve implementation. 

Source: City of Toronto

Proposed by

Planning and Housing Committee