OTTAWA SECONDARY DWELLINGS

Secondary Dwelling Permit Plans

Secondary Dwelling Units Permit Plans in Ottawa

Ottawa Secondary Dwellings is Ottawa's leading ADU / SDU experts.

We have helped the local Ottawa and Ontario community create their legal additional dwelling units efficiently & economically in a transparent way for decades now.

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.

Finished secondary unit in basement in Ottawa

Our Portfolio

The team at R.Viau Drafting & Design Ltd. has decades of experience with numerous additional / secondary dwelling projects in Ottawa and Ontario (before it got so popular).

We have experience with creating:

- Secondary Units in Basements

- Secondary Units in Attics

- Secondary Units in Garages

-Secondary Exits

- Emergency Egress Windows

- Concrete Basement Walk-outs

and more.

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.

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.

Secondary Dwelling Unit Requirements

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.