Housing is important. City Council and the Government of Ontario have prioritised the construction of additional housing units. A range of housing forms and affordability is necessary. Planning Services will continue to bring forward potential zoning changes to result in additional housing units.
Tell us what you think. Provide your feedback on options for amending the minimum building setbacks for backyard homes, or for permitting main floor accessible housing in the Main Street Zone in Thunder Bay’s Zoning By-law.
Attend a drop-in Open House:
Monday, October 23, 2023
3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
City Hall, Main Floor, 500 Donald Street East
Submit written comments: Email any questions or feedback to planning@thunderbay.ca by November 3, 2023.
Complete our surveys
- Backyard home setbacks
- Main Street Zone housing
Attend the Public Meeting:
Monday, December 18, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
City Hall, Main Floor, 500 Donald Street East
Minimum building setbacks for your backyard home
What is a backyard home? A backyard home is a dwelling located in a freestanding building in a residential backyard. These buildings are "accessory buildings" meaning they are secondary to the main building (house) on the same lot.
What’s could change? The City of Thunder Bay Zoning By-law permits a backyard home as a secondary use to a detached house, semi-detached house, or townhouse that is fully serviced by City water and sanitary sewer. New accessory buildings containing backyard homes must be setback at least 1.5 metres from rear and side lot lines. All other accessory buildings (e.g. garages) can be located as close as 0.6 metres to rear and side lot lines, provided they are 20.0 metres or more from the front lot line. Non-conforming provisions in the Zoning By-law permit changes of use to existing buildings that don’t comply with current setbacks. This means that existing accessory buildings can be converted to include a backyard home without having to comply with the backyard home setbacks. This has been identified as a conflict that should be corrected.
What are the options? Planning Services is seeking feedback on three different options to amend the existing regulations to address this conflict.
Option 1
Require that existing accessory buildings adding a backyard home comply with the minimum setbacks for new buildings with backyard homes. This would mean existing garages located closer than 1.5 metres to the rear or interior side lot lines must seek a minor variance from the Committee of Adjustment to convert to include backyard home.
Proposed amendment:
Section 12.6.3 a) is amended by adding “and does not include a backyard home” after “conforms to this By-law.”
Option 2
Allow accessory buildings built prior to the passing of the proposed amendment add a backyard home even if they are closer than 1.5 metres to the rear and interior side lot lines. Accessory buildings built after the passing of the proposed amendment must comply with minimum setbacks to include backyard homes or seek a minor variance from the Committee of Adjustment.
Proposed amendment:
Section 12.6.3 a) is amended by adding the following text after 12.6.3 c):
d) The building or structure is not an accessory building built after the effective date.
Option 3
Reduce the minimum rear and interior side setbacks for accessory buildings containing backyard homes from 1.5 to 0.6 metres when they are at least 20 metres from the front lot line (the same as all other accessory buildings).
Proposed amendment:
The fourth column of Table 3.2.2 is amended by replacing “1.5 m” with “0.6 m” for “Minimum rear setback” and replacing “1.5 m” with “0.6 m” for “Minimum interior side setback - Building or structure is 20 m or more from front lot line.”
Permitting Housing on main floors in the Main Street Zone
What areas are affected by the Main Street Zone? The Main Street Zone applies to traditional commercial main streets specifically sections of Frederica Street East near Brown and Edward Streets, sections of Algoma Street South and Bay Street, and several streets in the Waterfront District Business Area. View the maps of the impacted areas under the 'Documents' tab.
What could change? To maintain a continuous commercial streetscape of storefronts, the City of Thunder Bay Zoning By-law does not permit dwelling units on the main floor in the Main Street Zone. Dwelling units are permitted in basement and upper floors in this zone. The proposed change would permit accessible dwelling units on the main floor behind the commercial storefronts that face the street.
What are the options? Planning Services is seeking feedback on two different options:
Option 1: Do not modify the existing regulations.
Option 2: Allow accessible housing to be constructed on main floors in this zone, provided that a portion of the main floor continues to be commercial.
Proposed amendment:
Section 4.1.1 is amended by adding the following text and re-numbering subsequent sections accordingly:
c) Despite Section 4.1.1, a home is permitted on the first storey provided that:
i) The home is barrier-free as per the Building Code.
ii) A minimum of 60% of the first storey floor area is occupied by one or more street-facing tenantable commercial units.
ii) The home does not occupy the street-facing portion of the building and is setback no less than 10.0 metres from any street allowance.
Questions? View the Zoning By-law. If you have any questions about this notice or require accessible accommodations or materials, please contact planning@thunderbay.ca
Next Steps:
Planning Services will compile the information gathered from the Public Open House on October 23, 2023 and the online surveys. This information will be presented at a public meeting in November, 2023 to inform how Zoning By-laws could be changed.
