Fourplex homes to be allowed in most Mississauga neighbourhoods

A plan to allow fourplexes in most areas of Mississauga is moving forward.

The idea to allow property owners to convert their detached homes or rebuild to create four-unit homes was brought forward as a way to tackle the housing crisis.

But some City of Mississauga councillors weren’t happy with the initial proposal and defeated a motion on Oct. 11 that called for a plan to allow fourplexes (homes with four units) in the city. The vote was 6-5, with Mayor Bonnie Crombie absent.

However, Crombie later issued a directive to permit four-unit housing in Mississauga.

She asked city staff to prepare the required Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments to permit “as-of-right” development for up to four residential units on low-rise residential lots in neighbourhoods city-wide.

And staff were to schedule a public meeting to be held before the end of 2023 to inform residents. The meeting is happening tonight (Nov. 29) under the Planning and Development committee.

Staff have now developed recommended regulations for fourplexes to be presented at tonight’s meeting.

There are already examples of fourplexes in Mississauga. But opening up regulations would allow for a “gentle density” in communities.

The proposed regulations are intended to broadly permit fourplexes “while balancing with impacts to existing neighbourhoods.”

Under the new plan, fourplexes would be permitted on many detached properties excluding about one per cent of detached home lots that have unique characteristics, according to the city staff report.

Property owners would be able to build on more of the lot — the overall maximum lot coverage is proposed to increase by up to an additional 10 per cent.

Of course, there would need to be enough land to build on and the new build would need to follow maximum building height restrictions and other bylaws.

For more on this report and to watch the meeting, see the agenda here.