Vaughan’s zoning allows homeowners to add rental units to eligible lots without a rezoning. This summary reflects the City’s additional residential unit provisions in By-law 083-2025. Rules in York Region are changing, so treat it as a starting point and confirm the current by-law for your address.
How many units are allowed
A maximum of two additional residential units is permitted on a lot, in addition to the main dwelling, and no more than one of them may be in a detached accessory building. That means either:
- Two additional units inside a detached house, semi-detached house or street townhouse.
- One additional unit inside the house and one in a detached accessory building, such as a garden suite.
Conditions that apply
- The lot must have municipal water and sanitary services.
- At least one parking space is required for each additional unit.
- The floor area of an additional unit may not exceed the floor area of the main dwelling.
- Additional units are for single detached homes, semi-detached homes and street townhouses, not every housing type.
What to check before you plan
Servicing, parking, lot size, setbacks and the specific zone all determine what fits on your property, and the by-law has been amended several times as provincial rules changed. If you are considering more than two additional units, or a multi-unit building rather than a secondary suite, that is a different process, and the permissions depend on your lot’s zone and designation.
Source: City of Vaughan, By-law 083-2025 (additional residential units). Always verify the current provisions with the City. Our free feasibility review checks what your exact Vaughan lot can support, with costs and projected rental cashflow.
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