In Ontario, an owner wants to turn a detached house into a duplex. The lot is in a settlement area, on municipal water and sewage, and zoned for single-detached residential use; there are no other buildings on it. What would the owner most likely need?
Correct Answer
C) A building permit for the conversion work
Under Planning Act s. 35.1(1), a zoning by-law cannot prohibit two residential units in a detached house on a parcel of urban residential land, so the single-detached zoning does not block a duplex here. The conversion is construction, which requires a building permit under Building Code Act s. 8(1). Site plan control does not apply to residential projects of 10 units or fewer under s. 41(1.2), unless the land is in a prescribed area.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The lot is a parcel of urban residential land, so s. 35.1(1) prevents the zoning from prohibiting two units in the house. A building permit under Building Code Act s. 8(1) is the approval the owner will most likely need.
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