What records explain accessory dwelling units at a Welland home?

Section 5.2 of the zoning by-law permits not more than two accessory dwelling units with a single-detached, semi-detached, two-unit or townhouse dwelling where no building ancillary to it holds a unit, and one unit in an accessory building where the home holds no more than one; parking follows section 6 and detached units follow the accessory building rules in section 5.3, which in residential zones limit height to 6 metres and keep them at least 0.9 metres from side and rear lot lines and out of the front yard. The by-law defines an accessory dwelling unit as a self-contained unit with its own kitchen and bathroom.

The City's apartments-in-houses page explains the older rules for second units created before 1996 and says it is the owner's responsibility to satisfy themselves about the legality of a second unit. A permission in the zone does not make an existing basement apartment lawful; the City's building permit records are where that is answered.

• Comprehensive Zoning By-law: the City's zoning page, with the consolidation, the zone map and By-law 2024-99
• Zoning By-law 2017-117, as amended: sections 5.2 and 5.3 on accessory dwelling units and accessory buildings (PDF)
• Apartments in Houses: the City's page on second units created before 1996

Extra units allowed is in the free check as a summary of the City's rule, from our hand-kept table of city rules, and the full report reads the lot's zone where the City's zoning map is open data we can use; where it isn't, the report's line says where the City publishes it. Neither is confirmation that a particular unit holds a permit or may be occupied.

Free check: pick “Extra units allowed” See the sample report