Additional Residential Unit
An Additional Residential Unit is a type of dwelling unit providing an accessory to a principal dwelling on the same property. These units can be either connected or detached to the principal home. Examples of commonly used ARU's include basement apartments, granny flats, coach homes, in-law suites, tiny homes, garage apartments and modified shipping container dwellings.
Who is eligible for an Additional Residential Unit?
The requirements for an Additional Residential Unit are dependent on a few factors, and will differ based on the servicing of your property (if you're on well / septic or have municipal water and sanitary services), and if you're proposing an attached or detached ARU (for example a basement apartment as opposed to converting an outbuilding to a dwelling unit).
A building permit is required for the construction of an Additional Residential Unit. Please submit the applicable Permit Package below:
- Additional Residential Unit Permit Package - Interior/Addition (PDF)
- Additional Residential Unit Permit Package - Detached Accessory Structure (PDF)
Additional Costs and Fees
Homeowners considering an ARU must ensure appropriate servicing is provided to accommodate increased water and sewage. This could add additional costs at the expense of the homeowner. For example, existing servicing lines or septic systems may need to be upgraded to accommodate increased water and sewage as a result of the ARU. For inquiries about increasing the size of your municipal water/sanitary service, contact the Operations Division at operations@brant.ca or 519.44BRANT (519.442.7268).
Preliminary Review
For preliminary review of your proposed Additional Residential Unit, submit the applicable work sheet below and detailed site plan to the Building Division for comments.