Additional Residential Units (ARUs) in Newmarket

At the December 1 Committee of the Whole meeting, Council held a statutory public meeting to hear from residents about proposed updates related to Additional Residential Units, or ARUs.

Recent changes to provincial legislation now require municipalities across Ontario to permit ARUs in detached homes, semi-detached homes, townhouses, and in certain buildings located on the same lot as a primary residence. These changes are intended to increase housing choice and improve affordability within existing neighbourhoods.

An ARU is a self-contained residential unit with its own entrance, kitchen, sleeping area, and bathroom. These units can be located within an existing home, known as an attached ARU, or within a separate building such as a garden suite or laneway-style unit, known as a detached ARU.

Currently, Newmarket does not have specific zoning regulations for detached ARUs. To address this, the Town is updating its Official Plan policies and Zoning By-laws to ensure clear rules are in place that align with provincial requirements while respecting neighbourhood character.

During the public meeting, proposed zoning standards such as location, height, and yard setbacks were shared, and valuable feedback was received from residents. That input, along with comments from Council and Town departments, will inform the final draft amendments. A recommendation report and final by-law amendments are expected to return to Council in early 2026.

To learn more or follow the project, residents can visit HeyNewmarket.ca/ARU or watch the Committee of the Whole discussion from December 1 through the Town of Newmarket website.