About
In 2021, the City began the Increasing Housing Choices in Neighbourhoods study to find ways to bring more housing choices to neighbourhoods through gentle density. Gentle density increases the number and variety of homes in existing single-detached neighbourhoods.
Gentle density includes:
- Giving people more housing choices in areas they want to live in and housing options for people at all ages and life stages.
- Creating a mix of owned and rented units for more income types.
- Bringing more people and homes to areas with parks, community centres and libraries already in place.
- Reviving neighbourhoods with population declines. More people in these areas make them livelier and provide services people want close by.
- Helping reduce sprawl by creating more compact communities with transit and road networks already built.
How the City is creating gentle density
Additional residential units (ARUs)
The City has created new zoning and official plan rules for ARUs – homes such as garden suites, garage conversions, triplexes and laneway suites. The new zoning allows up to three residential units on one lot (including the primary residence). It also outlines the right lot size for one- or two-storey ARUs and gives direction on their size and height.
Fourplexes
The City has approved new zoning and official plan rules to allow fourplexes on low-rise residential lots. The new regulations permit fourplexes “as-of right.” This means you can apply for a building permit without additional zoning approvals, if plans meet by-law regulations. The new regulations allow for a variety of fourplex configurations and help support the creation of more rental units in neighbourhoods.
Neighbourhood zoning review
The City is reviewing new simplified single-detached neighbourhood zones. The Neighbourhood Zoning Review project’s goal is to help remove barriers and allow more housing types to be built in residential areas that currently allow single-detached homes only.
Staff consulted with the public on the project in fall 2024 and brought forward a recommendation report to the Planning and Development Committee on March 3, 2025. A by-law to implement the proposed changes is tentatively scheduled for Council on April 2nd, 2025. An appeal period will follow any approval.
Once passed, changes to the Zoning By-law may impact your Building Permit Application. You can review the proposed zoning by-law amendments to determine if this will impact your project.
Multiplex review
The City will also be reviewing how to permit multiplexes (more than four units) across Mississauga. The review will include public engagement and consultation with the City’s Housing Panel. Staff will provide more information on the review in 2024 to 2025 and bring recommendations for Council approval in 2025.
Public engagement
Have your say! Share your ideas and opinions on this project by visiting yoursay.mississauga.ca.
Background
Like most cities in Ontario, Mississauga is experiencing a housing crisis:
- Housing is unaffordable for most.
- Young people are worried about having to leave the city.
- There are few options for newcomers.
- More people are moving to Ontario – but the city’s single-detached neighbourhoods are shrinking.
Housing plan
The Increasing Housing Choices in Neighbourhoods study is one of the many important actions in the City’s housing action plan.
