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You are here:   Community > Planning Information > Second Suites (Basement Apartments)

TWO-UNIT HOUSES (SECOND SUITES)

WHAT IS A TWO-UNIT HOUSE?

A two-unit house is a building that contains two residential dwelling units. Commonly, a two-unit house starts as a single dwelling unit (detached, semidetached or townhouse) with a second dwelling unit created within the house later on. The second unit is sometimes referred to as a second suite, an inlaw suite or a basement apartment. Duplexes & semi-detached units located on the same property are also considered as two-unit houses.

Effective January 1, 2004 the City of Barrie requires every two-unit house within the city to be registered. As part of the registration process, the City will confirm that the two-unit house is legal under the City’s Zoning By-law, and that the house complies with several health and safety regulations.

WHY DO TWO_UNIT HOUSES NEED TO BE REGISTERED?

There are probably a couple thousand two-unit houses in the city. Concerned that many of these units may be illegal and/or unsafe for the occupants, the City of Barrie has adopted a by-law to require every two-unit house to be registered. Through the registration process the house will be inspected to confirm compliance with the Zoning By-law, the Building Code, the Fire Code and the Property Standards By-law. Any unregistered two-unit house is a contravention of the Registration By-law.

HOW OFTEN DO I HAVE TO REGISTER?

Registration of a two-unit house is a one-time event. Under the current legislation, you do not have to re-register, unless your registration was revoked.

CAN THE CITY REVOKE BY REGISTRATION?

Yes. The registration does not need to be renewed, but you must always continue to maintain your building in compliance with Part 2 of the Fire Code and with the Property Maintenance By-law. If your building is inspected, usually at the invitation of a disgruntled tenant, and contraventions of the maintenance regulations are found, you will be served an order to remedy the contraventions within a time limit. If you do not make the repairs within the time specified, you may face penalties under either the Fire Code or the Property Standards By-law. In addition, the registrar may revoke your registration. Any continued use of the house as a two-unit house without being registered would be a separate violation, subject to its own penalties. Registration can also be revoked if the house ceases to be used as a two-unit house. Applications to re-register a two-unit house would be subject to the rules and fees in effect at that time.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

To discuss the specifics of your own two-unit house, please contact the Zoning Branch of the Building Services Department by dropping into City Hall, 8th Floor, or by calling 739-4212.

 
     
 

 
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