Secondary apartments and backyard apartments are legal throughout the community after Halifax Regional Council unanimously approved bylaw changes following a public hearing Tuesday night. A suite in the backyard must meet the construction requirements of the accessories, including the maximum size. Additional building codes vary from one community land use ordinance to another to reflect each community/neighbourhood. If additional building regulations require the building to be less than 90 m2 (968.75 square feet), the backyard suite must meet these requirements. If additional building codes allow a building to exceed 90 m2 (968.75 square feet), the area of the building dedicated to the backyard suite cannot exceed 90 m2 (968.75 square feet). We recommend that you contact our HRM Planning and Development group well in advance (see contact information below) to ensure you are clear about the rules that apply to your property. Do I need a side water meter or a separate energy meter to set up an apartment in the backyard? On January 28, 2020, a staff report was submitted to Regional Council recommending amendments to the Regional Municipal Planning Strategy and Municipal Land Use By-laws to allow secondary apartments for single-family homes, two-family homes and townhouses, as well as backyard apartments for individual apartments. Regional Council adjourned first reading to allow staff to produce a supplementary report that would also include two-unit backyard apartments and townhouses. Please note that Halifax Regional Council will be closed on May 1. September 2020 approved proposed amendments to the Regional Municipal Planning Strategy and all land use ordinances, with the exception of the Regional Centre Land Use Order (Package A), to allow secondary and backyard apartments suitable for single-family, two-family or townhouses. Once the amendments receive ministerial approval, a notice of approval will be published in the Chronicle Herald and the amendments will come into force. Are you interested in developing a secondary suite or backyard? Please visit halifax.ca or call 311 for more information on how to apply for a building permit.
Our secondary suites are available in two versions. “Shell tight” with all the complete and raw plumbing exterior siding installed in the foundation, ready for you inside, or “turnkey” ready to move in with allowances for flooring, lighting, bathroom fixtures and cabinets. My neighbor has a suite and I don`t think it`s allowed. What must I do? Mason says approval of the secondary apartments and backyard could help create new spaces in the home and rental markets. Does a secondary or rear apartment affect the value of my property? Given that the amendments allow for a 90 m2 (968.75 m2) backyard suite, what if the Land Use Order does not allow an additional building of this size for the community? The proposed amendments to the Land Use Ordinance for secondary apartments and backyard apartments will allow use almost anywhere residential uses are permitted. However, this does not mean that your neighbour has obtained the right permits to ensure that the secondary or rear apartment complies with current land use and building codes. If you are concerned that your neighbor has an illegal adjacent or rear suite, you can contact Planning & Development at 311. They allow backyard suites up to 90 square meters or about 969 square meters. Backyard apartments must also adhere to the rules of an outbuilding, regardless of the area in which they are built, including setbacks from property lines.
Most Canadian cities allow secondary apartments and backyard apartments that are unique to local conditions. It is generally accepted that these apartments are a way to increase the supply of affordable housing without changing the character of a neighbourhood. Yes. Review the building code requirements for a secondary apartment. The broader approval of the secondary apartments and backyard is intended to support the creation of entire communities and achieve the affordable housing goals for Halifax adopted through the Housing and Homelessness Partnership. “If there`s not a consistent supply of backyard housing at lower rents, it`s not going to affect the market much,” Lord said.