The following principles underlie laneway housing regulations and guidelines:
HOUSING CHOICE
Laneway houses provide new housing choices for family members or renters in single family residential areas.
HOMEOWNER OPPORTUNITY
Homeowners are able to add a laneway house while keeping their existing home, or build a laneway house along with a new main house.
LIVABLE AND NEIGHBOURLY UNITS
Regulations and design guidelines ensure that laneway houses:
• maintain backyard open space.
• encourage one storey laneway houses to limit impact on neighbours.
• provide for a variety of unit types.
LANE ENHANCEMENT
Laneway housing makes lanes greener, more livable, and safer by providing living space, parking, and planting in the lane. GREEN DESIGN Laneway houses comply with the Green Homes Program, as adapted for its small size.
