We are requesting that the City of London consider adopting the following policies relating to Additional Dwelling Units:
- Eliminate the minimum dwelling size, and instead follow the Ontario Building Code restrictions only.
- Allow additional bedrooms, over and above the current 5 bedrooms per lot for ADU’s
- Eliminate the restriction prohibiting ADU’s from occupying more then 40% of the Gross Floor Area.
We believe that the creation of Additional Dwelling units is a key component to solving the housing shortage that London, like many other Ontario Cities, is currently facing. Units within existing structures and/or on existing lots can be created more quickly, less expensively, and with less impact on the environment and City infrastructure. ADU’s offer a more ‘gentle’ form of intensification within the core areas of the City when compared to the urban sprawl of new subdivision development. These policies encourage investment to create units where it was not feasible in the past, and in underutilized existing spaces such as basements and backyards. These policies encourage homeowners to create safe, legal suites, rather than often unsafe, illegal units frequently seen prior to the implementation of these policies. For these policies to be effective in encouraging the creation of new dwelling units and meeting the provincial objectives they must be logical and only impose practical restrictions where necessary. Past policies on Secondary Suites and Additional Units within the City have created unnecessary and impractical barriers that have inhibited citizens abilities to create these units. This time around we are requesting that the City implement the above changes to the By-Law regulation to encourage creation of new dwelling units within the City, providing safe and more affordable housing options to serve the needs of our growing population.
Updates
March 1, 2023
The City of London planning department is still hiding behind these useless, arbitrary restrictions that keep families out of housing. I am tired of the excuses while they let the housing shortage spiral out of control. We keep pushing because their gatekeeping is the only thing standing between us and actual progress.
17 Comments
It is important to increase the number of homes in the city, not the number of houses. Intensifying population, using existing infrastructure and incentive private individuals to build safe units should be the focus.
These are all the same comments I spoke up at a council meeting about. I got up on the microphone and tried to explain this to you as I have properties that you won’t allow me to build anymore additional units on because of your senseless and unnecessary restrictions. You should be ashamed of yourself for not listening to me back then (2019,2020). You have a responsibility to allow developers and housing providers to create more supply but instead you make ridiculous rules to kibash them. Stop it! People need places to live including our own family members. In the meantime, I bought housing outside of the city where the restrictions aren’t so strict and now I can live and support my extended family.
The ADU is not allowed on lots with septic or well; even if they have a dedicated septic for the ADU. If 1km further outside city than middlesex allows it. London is being unfairly harsh on those properties that would like to build a pool house or add an ADU, which they currently cannot.
The city needs to step up and make changes that will speed up housing. This is one step. Further more parking requires should also be relaxed especially for these ADU as most of them will already have access to Municipal BUS stops, bike routes for those who don't own cars.
I understand the need for regulation in housing, but not when it becomes a disincentive towards the goal. We need more housing, and this can be accomplished without compromising on safety of these dwellings.
The current rental licence rule with 5 bedrooms per dwelling doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Some examples: 1) They restrict you to 5 bedrooms per unit, but they allow occupancy of 1 person per 100sqft. So in a 1000 square foot unit you could have 10 people in 5 bedrooms. But in a 2000sqft home you cannot have 6 people in 6 bedrooms. 2) Many houses near the university and college have 6 bedrooms. If you rent 5 of the bedrooms to a group of students, I can almost guarantee you that they will rent the 6th bedroom on their own to one of their friends. 3) Even if a large family rents a 6 bedroom home they are technically not permitted to use the 6th bedroom. They can only use 5. If I am mistaken about any of these things, please let me know. I have spoken with the City of London many times about this, but the answers aren't always clear.
ADUs are critical to solving our housing crisis. They prevent the sprawl forever ruining our farmland, some of the lushest on the planet. They avoid building new infrastructure for that sprawl. They avoid creating more high rises in the core which will spoil the sunlight in Victoria Park. They assist with elder care as we can keep family close by. And they augment retirement income for small land owners. Not all of us are huge commercial property developers. London should also eliminate restrictions on prefabricated/container dwellings in order to make better environmental choices in lines with our climate crisis plan. Finally, consider the benefits to traffic management that increasing core residences would bring as people are closer to transit corridor. ADUs will be good for London. Act now!
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
We are requesting that the City of London consider adopting the following policies relating to Additional Dwelling Units:
- Eliminate the minimum dwelling size, and instead follow the Ontario Building Code restrictions only.
- Allow additional bedrooms, over and above the current 5 bedrooms per lot for ADU’s
- Eliminate the restriction prohibiting ADU’s from occupying more then 40% of the Gross Floor Area.
We believe that the creation of Additional Dwelling units is a key component to solving the housing shortage that London, like many other Ontario Cities, is currently facing. Units within existing structures and/or on existing lots can be created more quickly, less expensively, and with less impact on the environment and City infrastructure. ADU’s offer a more ‘gentle’ form of intensification within the core areas of the City when compared to the urban sprawl of new subdivision development. These policies encourage investment to create units where it was not feasible in the past, and in underutilized existing spaces such as basements and backyards. These policies encourage homeowners to create safe, legal suites, rather than often unsafe, illegal units frequently seen prior to the implementation of these policies. For these policies to be effective in encouraging the creation of new dwelling units and meeting the provincial objectives they must be logical and only impose practical restrictions where necessary. Past policies on Secondary Suites and Additional Units within the City have created unnecessary and impractical barriers that have inhibited citizens abilities to create these units. This time around we are requesting that the City implement the above changes to the By-Law regulation to encourage creation of new dwelling units within the City, providing safe and more affordable housing options to serve the needs of our growing population.
Updates
March 1, 2023
The City of London planning department is still hiding behind these useless, arbitrary restrictions that keep families out of housing. I am tired of the excuses while they let the housing shortage spiral out of control. We keep pushing because their gatekeeping is the only thing standing between us and actual progress.
17 Comments
Also believe that additional basement dwellings should be allowed in any property ad ceiling heights should be lowered. Also the requirement that every dwelling has a laundry unit is a luxury demand when we have such a need for housing.
It is important to increase the number of homes in the city, not the number of houses. Intensifying population, using existing infrastructure and incentive private individuals to build safe units should be the focus.
These are all the same comments I spoke up at a council meeting about. I got up on the microphone and tried to explain this to you as I have properties that you won’t allow me to build anymore additional units on because of your senseless and unnecessary restrictions. You should be ashamed of yourself for not listening to me back then (2019,2020). You have a responsibility to allow developers and housing providers to create more supply but instead you make ridiculous rules to kibash them. Stop it! People need places to live including our own family members. In the meantime, I bought housing outside of the city where the restrictions aren’t so strict and now I can live and support my extended family.
The ADU is not allowed on lots with septic or well; even if they have a dedicated septic for the ADU. If 1km further outside city than middlesex allows it. London is being unfairly harsh on those properties that would like to build a pool house or add an ADU, which they currently cannot.
The city needs to step up and make changes that will speed up housing. This is one step. Further more parking requires should also be relaxed especially for these ADU as most of them will already have access to Municipal BUS stops, bike routes for those who don't own cars.
I understand the need for regulation in housing, but not when it becomes a disincentive towards the goal. We need more housing, and this can be accomplished without compromising on safety of these dwellings.
The current rental licence rule with 5 bedrooms per dwelling doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Some examples: 1) They restrict you to 5 bedrooms per unit, but they allow occupancy of 1 person per 100sqft. So in a 1000 square foot unit you could have 10 people in 5 bedrooms. But in a 2000sqft home you cannot have 6 people in 6 bedrooms. 2) Many houses near the university and college have 6 bedrooms. If you rent 5 of the bedrooms to a group of students, I can almost guarantee you that they will rent the 6th bedroom on their own to one of their friends. 3) Even if a large family rents a 6 bedroom home they are technically not permitted to use the 6th bedroom. They can only use 5. If I am mistaken about any of these things, please let me know. I have spoken with the City of London many times about this, but the answers aren't always clear.
ADUs are critical to solving our housing crisis. They prevent the sprawl forever ruining our farmland, some of the lushest on the planet. They avoid building new infrastructure for that sprawl. They avoid creating more high rises in the core which will spoil the sunlight in Victoria Park. They assist with elder care as we can keep family close by. And they augment retirement income for small land owners. Not all of us are huge commercial property developers. London should also eliminate restrictions on prefabricated/container dwellings in order to make better environmental choices in lines with our climate crisis plan. Finally, consider the benefits to traffic management that increasing core residences would bring as people are closer to transit corridor. ADUs will be good for London. Act now!
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 100 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
Also believe that additional basement dwellings should be allowed in any property ad ceiling heights should be lowered. Also the requirement that every dwelling has a laundry unit is a luxury demand when we have such a need for housing.