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 has approved a by-law to simplify neighbourhood zones and allow more low-rise housing options, which is now in force and effect. This by-law helps remove barriers and make it easier to build semi-detached and detached homes on smaller lots in residential areas that historically allowed detached only. Staff consulted with the public on the project in the fall of 2024 and brought forward a recommendation report to Planning and Development Committee on March 3, 2025.
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.
