The Town terms dwellings that are in addition to a principal dwelling (single detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling), as Additional Residential Units (ARUs). These are also commonly referred to as second suites, basement apartments, accessory suits, granny suites, and in-law suites. These are self-contained residential dwelling units, with their own cooking facility, sanitary facility and sleeping area.

ARUs that are located within the principal residential dwelling are termed ‘integrated ARUs’ (also commonly termed as second suites, additional dwelling units, accessory apartments) and most commonly constructed in the form of basement apartments.

ARUs that are located outside of the principal residential dwelling or standalone within the permitted residential yard are termed as ‘ancillary ARUs’ (also commonly referred to as garden suites, coach houses, and granny flats).

Integrated ARUs may also include converting existing homes into a multiplex (such as duplexes, triplexes, or quadplexes), basement conversions, attic conversion, and locating in newly constructed additions. Ancillary ARUs may include detached buildings (such as tiny homes, modular homes, custom builds), and converting existing detached accessory buildings.

The Accessible Design Top-Up Rebate is stackable with other incentives from the Affordable Housing CIP such as the Multiplex/ARU Affordable Rental Grant. The rebate is up to $3000 to incorporate an accessible or barrier-free design beyond requirements in the Ontario Building Code, within a new affordable rental unit in the Community of Stouffville.

Applicants applying to the Multiplex/ARU Affordable Rental Grant can choose to apply to the Accessible Design Top-Up Rebate in the Multiplex/ARU Grant Applications.

The Municipal Fee Waiver Program is available to affordable housing providers, and developers, registered non-profits, and developers with approved government (federal, provincial, or regional) funding to waive up to 100% of eligible planning application and building permit fees for affordable rental housing.

Applicant Eligibility

• • Identify as either an affordable housing provider and/or developer, registered non-profits, and developer constructing affordable rental housing;
  • Approved government (federal, provincial, or regional) funding, prior to applying to the program;
  • Affordable rental projects are within the Community of Stouffville;
  • Have not received approval of planning application or building permit or started construction (any construction done prior to application approval will not be reimbursed);
  • Proposed project is a minimum of three (3) affordable rental units; or more
  • The total of all property mortgages, loans, and any other financing registered on title for the subject property, plus the program funding, cannot exceed the market value of the property, as determined by the assessed value of your property shown on the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) Notice of Assessment.

Eligible Fees

Applicants applying to the Municipal Fee Waiver Program can apply to waive up to 100% of 1 (one) of the eligible fees:

• • Official Plan Amendment
  • Zoning By-law Amendment
  • Heritage Permit
  • Site Plan Control
  • Minor Variance
  • Consent
  • Residential Building Permit;
  • Multi-unit Residential Permit;
  • New Mixed-Use Permit;
  • Alteration (Residential) Permit;

Program Requirements

• • Confirm that the subject property allows affordable rental housing/residential with the Town Development Services Department;
  • Submit a complete Application, and include all materials as required in the Application and/or by the Town Administrator;
  • Apply to the program prior to any approval of a planning application or building permit or construction;
  • Approved applicants will be contacted, and have 120 days to file for a building permit, after receiving planning application(s) approval, if required, to the Town Development Services Department;
  • All construction must meet the Ontario Building Code, and Town Zoning By-law;
  • All newly created units are to be rented at an affordable rental rate for of two (2) years (see Affordability Commitment in the Application);
  • Applicants are required to submit the Lease Agreements within 6 months of project completion (see Affordability Commitment in the Application) to the Plan Administrator;

Please send completed forms to municipalfeewaiver@townofws.ca

Additional Details

Applications will be evaluated with criteria found in the Municipal Fee Waiver Application Evaluation Criteria and assigned a total score which will equal to a percentage of fees waiving for eligible planning application and/or building permit.

Municipal Fees Waiver Application Evaluation Criteria