By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Since 2021, the Town of Kingsville has okayed 43 Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs) across the municipality for property owners meeting the provincial and municipal requirements.

To help better inform residents about how to proceed with putting in an ADU – and the types of requirements they will need to meet to be able to do so – the Town of Kingsville hosted the “All About ADUs – Laying the Groundwork for Your Backyard Build” information event at the Grovedale Arts & Culture Centre on Thursday, May 28.

The educational event helped residents learn where ADUs can be installed and provincial and municipal rules that need to be followed – from zoning requirements, size, and setback regulations, to parking and servicing. They also learned about Ontario Building Code considerations, permits that need to be applied for, inspections that will need to take place, and timelines.

Kingsville’s Director of Planning and Development Services, Richard Wyma, was accompanied by fellow staff members to walk residents thinking about adding an ADU to their properties through the process.

An ADU, it was explained during the event, can include a secondary suite inside the main dwelling or a detached unit.

In Kingsville, a home may be able to have up to two ADUs. Depending on requirements, both may be installed inside the main dwelling, or one could be inside the main dwelling with the other detached. There cannot be two detached ADUs.

There is a 1000sq-feet maximum for ADUs. The maximum height in most residential areas is three stories. They do require a minimum of one parking space per unit. Severances are not permitted. They are also not allowed in an accessory dwelling unit in a commercial, industrial, or mixed-use building in Kingsville. Residents are urged to reach out to the Town about their specific circumstances.

They also learn about the prefabricated or tiny home option and what rules apply to that specifically. This has a 400sq-feet maximum.

Currently, Wyma said most of the applications in Kingsville have been for one-bedroom ADUs. In most cases, they are attached in the main dwelling in urban areas, such as in the basement or an extension to the house. In rural areas, the Town is receiving more detached ADUs.

Wyma believes ADUs are more prevalent in urban areas in Kingsville. In urban areas, basements are being converted into ADUs for the grown child coming home from university. In rural areas, they are seeing farmers who may not be able to work their land as much, building ADUs to move into. That way, their children can move into the main dwelling and help with the farm operation while raising their families.

In rural areas, if it is a larger lot, property owners may be able to install a second septic tank to accommodate their ADU.

If a resident wants or needs an option to accommodate an ADU that is slightly outside regulations, they may be able to approach Kingsville’s Committee of Adjustment to see if they can be granted a minor variance, such as requesting a slightly large ADU or asking for some leeway with property line setbacks.

The purpose of allowing ADUs is to get people into their own units.

There have been a lot of changes in legislation since the province has focused on providing the framework for ADUs, such as the 2022 The More Homes Built Faster Act. And, Kingsville’s local rules have changed a little bit, as well.

ADUs, WYMA explained, are not charged Development Fees, which help municipalities collect dollars that are put towards municipal services, like new builds.

Attendees also learned about the Building Code requirements they would need to meet to make ADUs safe.

“A lot of people are interested in it, and are trying to figure out if they can do it on their property. We just wanted to have an opportunity to speak to some of those questions we have heard, clarify what the startling line is, but then recognize there may be some options people have if they want to get this thing done,” Wyma said of hosting the meeting.

To Wyma, affordable housing is what makes it affordable to the individual. That could be building an ADU for aging relatives or adding an ADU to make one’s home more affordable by renting it out.

“I think ‘affordable’ is really what is in the best interest of the property owner,” he said.

Town of Kingsville’s staff in the Planning Department are ready to connect anyone with questions and help them through the process. He urges anyone wanting to get started or learn more to reach out.

“We are always looking at what it is that people actually want,” Wyma said of staff looking at its existing by-laws, which do get tweaked from time-to-time. “We really want to work with people to see what it is they want to do, and how we can help them do that – as much as we can. Not every option may work, but we try to find something that can work.”

He was impressed with the turnout at the event last Thursday, as around 60 individuals filled the seats. “It shows the community has a lot of interest in [ADUs],” Wyma commented.

Cottam resident Debbie Gemmell spoke of her experience building an ADU in Kingsville. Her journey began in 2022, before the province adopted legislation that made implementing ADUs easier. At first, when she approached the Town of Kingsville, she was told it was not possible, but could add on an addition.

Things, however, changed quickly once the Province made those legislative changes. At that point, they submitted draft plans of their dream ADU. By that fall, they were told it looked doable, and they sent the draft to a prefabrication company to create.

By the following spring, the professional rendering was submitted to the Town, but the feedback was that it was too big. They approached the Committee of Adjustment that fall and were approved for a minor variance to allow for the additional square-footage they asked for, which she noted was for accessibility reasons.

Her ADU was delivered in March of 2024, and they moved into it in June of that year.

“It’s great,” she said. To anyone thinking of adding an ADU, Gemmell urged them to give themselves lots of time and keep meticulous records to account for any hiccups that may occur.