As concerned citizens and law-abiding homeowners of Milton, Ontario, we are calling on our municipal leaders to take immediate action to address the unfair impact of recent Additional Residential Unit (ARU) regulations.
Many of homeowners have already gone through the rigorous and costly process of legalizing our basement or secondary units. We obtained permits, followed zoning bylaws, safety, floor plans, ESA certification and ensured full compliance with health and safety standards. These efforts were made in good faith, with the understanding that we were contributing to a safer, more inclusive, and more affordable Milton.
Now, we are being subjected to a new wave of ARU regulations that indiscriminately target all homeowner(s) they’ve already met legal, bylaws and compliance obligations. These blanket rules are not only redundant but also punitive. They impose additional financial burdens and bureaucratic hurdles without offering any measurable improvement to community safety or housing outcomes.
One such burden is the newly imposed $340 fee, which is entirely unnecessary for homeowners who have already paid for permits and related inspections. This cost must be removed. Charging compliant homeowners again for what has already been approved is unjust and undermines trust in the regulatory process.
Legalized basement apartments and ARUs play a vital role in addressing housing shortages. They provide safe, affordable accommodations for families, and individuals across our beautiful town of milton. By complying with existing regulations and frameworks, we have already helped advance these goals. Penalizing those who have done everything right sends the wrong message and discourages future compliance.
We urge the Town of Milton and relevant municipal authorities to:
- Exempt previously approved and legally registered ARUs from new regulations
- Remove the $340 fee for homeowners who have already fulfilled permit and inspection requirements
- Focus enforcement efforts on unregistered and unsafe units
- Recognize the contributions of responsible homeowners who have followed the law
Please sign this petition to support reasonable and equitable housing policies that reflect the values of our community. Let’s build a fairer, more transparent system that rewards compliance and homeowners not punishes it.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
October 30, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
October 23, 2025
118 Comments
This inspection process is unfair to homeowners who have already paid extra to make their basements legal. If the city has concerns, they should conduct random inspections on selected properties. If any violations are found, the city can impose penalties on those specific homeowners and recover the cost of the inspection from them.
The context of this petition has been laid out multiple times in town halls through direct dialogue and other means. Why is the reasoning not being heard? Where are the details of how these measures help the municipality or the home owners? It would seem yet another cash grab in tough tough times.
Town should not burden unnecessary inspections for the units already checked and inspected as part of building legal ARUs. Infact they should more effort to inspect illegal ARUs which is a real safety hazard for the community.
The ARU petition is not required for legal basements. It is a redundant cost borne by residents who own their homes. All the necessities and requirements were followed when the units were created. Please do not change the rules in the middle of the game, and if you intend to do so, be willingly to pay for any additional requirements on your own.
It seems that residents who have complied with all by-laws and completed inspections for basement units are now being asked to undergo an additional inspection and pay a registration fee. At the same time, those who may have finished basements without proper approvals appear to avoid these requirements. This feels unfair to law-abiding residents.
This action should be stopped immediately and it’s quite unnecessary because we all already have a permit from the city for the legal basement. This needs to thrown out.
This is a burden on home owners
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As concerned citizens and law-abiding homeowners of Milton, Ontario, we are calling on our municipal leaders to take immediate action to address the unfair impact of recent Additional Residential Unit (ARU) regulations.
Many of homeowners have already gone through the rigorous and costly process of legalizing our basement or secondary units. We obtained permits, followed zoning bylaws, safety, floor plans, ESA certification and ensured full compliance with health and safety standards. These efforts were made in good faith, with the understanding that we were contributing to a safer, more inclusive, and more affordable Milton.
Now, we are being subjected to a new wave of ARU regulations that indiscriminately target all homeowner(s) they’ve already met legal, bylaws and compliance obligations. These blanket rules are not only redundant but also punitive. They impose additional financial burdens and bureaucratic hurdles without offering any measurable improvement to community safety or housing outcomes.
One such burden is the newly imposed $340 fee, which is entirely unnecessary for homeowners who have already paid for permits and related inspections. This cost must be removed. Charging compliant homeowners again for what has already been approved is unjust and undermines trust in the regulatory process.
Legalized basement apartments and ARUs play a vital role in addressing housing shortages. They provide safe, affordable accommodations for families, and individuals across our beautiful town of milton. By complying with existing regulations and frameworks, we have already helped advance these goals. Penalizing those who have done everything right sends the wrong message and discourages future compliance.
We urge the Town of Milton and relevant municipal authorities to:
- Exempt previously approved and legally registered ARUs from new regulations
- Remove the $340 fee for homeowners who have already fulfilled permit and inspection requirements
- Focus enforcement efforts on unregistered and unsafe units
- Recognize the contributions of responsible homeowners who have followed the law
Please sign this petition to support reasonable and equitable housing policies that reflect the values of our community. Let’s build a fairer, more transparent system that rewards compliance and homeowners not punishes it.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
October 30, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
October 23, 2025
118 Comments
The city makes life difficult for those who want to follow the right process. ARUs that did not request formal approvals are 20x those that followed the process rather the latter is the one targeted. As a matter of fact, it is hell getting formal approval from the city.
This inspection process is unfair to homeowners who have already paid extra to make their basements legal. If the city has concerns, they should conduct random inspections on selected properties. If any violations are found, the city can impose penalties on those specific homeowners and recover the cost of the inspection from them.
The context of this petition has been laid out multiple times in town halls through direct dialogue and other means. Why is the reasoning not being heard? Where are the details of how these measures help the municipality or the home owners? It would seem yet another cash grab in tough tough times.
Town should not burden unnecessary inspections for the units already checked and inspected as part of building legal ARUs. Infact they should more effort to inspect illegal ARUs which is a real safety hazard for the community.
The ARU petition is not required for legal basements. It is a redundant cost borne by residents who own their homes. All the necessities and requirements were followed when the units were created. Please do not change the rules in the middle of the game, and if you intend to do so, be willingly to pay for any additional requirements on your own.
It seems that residents who have complied with all by-laws and completed inspections for basement units are now being asked to undergo an additional inspection and pay a registration fee. At the same time, those who may have finished basements without proper approvals appear to avoid these requirements. This feels unfair to law-abiding residents.
This action should be stopped immediately and it’s quite unnecessary because we all already have a permit from the city for the legal basement. This needs to thrown out.
This is a burden on home owners
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The city makes life difficult for those who want to follow the right process. ARUs that did not request formal approvals are 20x those that followed the process rather the latter is the one targeted. As a matter of fact, it is hell getting formal approval from the city.