Housing Design Catalogue by CMHC
The Housing Design Catalogue contains standardized design plans for a variety of housing options. It was produced by CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) to make it easier for smaller and mid-size builders to build housing quickly and more affordably and to help support gentle density.
As a local partner, we are working with CMHC to help promote the plans and make them easier to use in Mississauga.
How the catalogue works
The Housing Design Catalogue has multiple sets of plans for regions across Canada. Designs were developed by local architects and engineers to align with regional building codes, planning rules, climate zones, construction methods and materials, and architectural styles.
There are seven sets of plans for Ontario: two accessory dwelling units (garden suites), two fourplexes, one sixplex, and two stacked townhouses. The catalogue designs are generally code-compliant and require only minor modifications to your unique site conditions to be ready to submit for a building permit.
Pre-reviewed designs
You can choose any of the designs for Ontario but we’ve pre-reviewed four designs that will work in many areas of the city. Not all housing types are permitted on every lot. Using the four pre-reviewed designs will help streamline the approval process.
- Accessory Dwelling Unit 1: a one-bedroom, one-bathroom backyard garden suite
- Accessory Dwelling Unit 2: a three-bedroom, one-bathroom backyard garden suite
- Fourplex 1: a three-storey building with four units varying from 1 to 3 bedrooms
- Fourplex 2: a two-storey building with four units varying from 2 to 3 bedrooms
CMHC renderings
These renderings from the CMHC catalogue are examples of what you could build. The final appearance of your home will vary depending on the finishes you choose.
Benefits of using a Housing Design Catalogue plan
You can save time and money by using a Housing Design Catalogue plan as some of the initial planning work is already done for you. While the plans are free, you must get the approval of a qualified professional, such as an architect, engineer or licensed designer with a Building Code Identification Number (BCIN), to amend the designs for your property.
The City is exploring how to fast-track the building permit application process for builders who want to use a pre-reviewed plan from the Housing Design Catalogue.
Getting started
If you own a detached, semi-detached or town home, you can build up to two additional residential units (ARUs), such as a garden suite or a fourplex, on your property. An ARU is a self-contained suite that has cooking, living, sleeping and washroom facilities.
You must have a building permit to build new units on your property. Zoning approvals, permit fees and charges depend on the number of units you want to build. There are also Ontario Building Code requirements that may have implications on the design of your building.
To get started:
- Review Mississauga’s zoning regulations outlined in the additional residential unit by-law and the fourplex by-law and find the zoning regulations for your property using the property information tool.
- Read more detailed information about building an additional residential unit or a fourplex in Mississauga .
- Explore the CMHC designs for Ontario in the catalogue.
- Decide which plan you want to build.
- Download the technical design packages for your plan from the Housing Design Catalogue and review the CMHC’s terms and conditions for using the plans.
- Work with a qualified designer, such as an architect, engineer or licensed designer with a BCIN, to help adapt the plan for your property. The designer can help you prepare the required documents for your permit application, such as a site plan, design drawings and applicable forms.
- Log in to ePlans to submit your building permit application.
Contact us
For questions about the plans in the Housing Design Catalogue, contact CMHC directly.
If you have questions about building more units, call 311 (905-615-4311 outside City limits).