Housing Accelerator Fund

Oct. 2024

Calling all designers and builders!

The City of St. Catharines is calling for submissions for detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) designs as part of the Pre-Approved Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Program. Submitted plans will be reviewed and up to eight designs will be selected for pre-approval and displayed on the City’s website.

This program is part of the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund program to support missing middle housing options, such as detached accessory dwelling units. This call for designs is intended for building permits to be issued quicker for these units to help introduce more rental units in the City faster.

The City is seeking pre-fabricated / modular and conventional construction designs. To provide a range of design options for different sized lots, the City is seeking designs in two categories:

• Small footprint: having an area less than 540 square feet (50m²); and
• Large footprint: having an area of 540 square feet (50m²) or more, not to exceed 861 square feet (80m²).

All designs must meet the minimum requirements of the Building Code to be considered for pre-approval. All designs must also meet Zoning By-law requirements for detached accessory dwelling units regarding maximum building height and floor area. Site-specific Building Code and Zoning By-law requirements (e.g., setbacks) will be reviewed at the building permit application stage. The City encourages manufacturers and designers to consider privacy, architectural context, green building design and accessibility in the submitted designs.

Designs for this program will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis until the first eight qualifying designs are selected for pre-approval, with at least two designs per size category. Designs that are pre-approved through this program will be shown on the City’s website.

Submissions open on Oct. 15 at 8:30 a.m. Submission guidelines and requirements, including details on how to submit a design, can be found by clicking here. If you have questions about the program, please reach out to HAF@stcatharines.ca.

In Jan. 2024, the City of St. Catharines secured an investment of $25.7 million to boost the housing supply in the city. The funding is through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), a $4 billion initiative that offers financial support to local governments for expediting the development of new homes.

On Aug. 26, 2024, the proposed increase to the grant amount for the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) program was approved. The amendments increase the value of the ADU grant to a maximum of $40,000, for the construction of interior ADUs, and to a maximum of $80,000, for the construction of exterior ADUs, subject to available funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund. The amendment also revises the application requirement for a complete ADU application to be made within 90 days of Building Permit issuance and permits property owners to submit more than one ADU application per property.

Notice of Decision was issued in accordance with Section 28 of the Planning Act on Aug. 29, 2024. Notice of appeal must be received by the City Clerk no later than Sept. 18, 2024.

To make an application, visit: https://www.stcatharines.ca/en/planning-and-development/planning-and-development-community-improvement-plan.aspx