Approximately 14 months from the implementation of a bylaw allowing non-waterfront homeowners to construct additional dwelling units (ADUs) on their property and Dysart et al council has signed off on a major change to the legislation.
At a May 27 meeting, councillors opted to amend the bylaw so that ADUs can be rented out on a short-term basis. When the program was rolled out in March 2024, the intent was that it would create more longterm rentals for locals, said planner Jeff Iles.
When announcing the More Homes Built Faster Act in 2023, premier Doug Ford said he hoped opening the door for ADUs would help the provincial government hit its target of building 1.5 million new homes by 2031. Iles said this change opposes that viewpoint.
“It’s staff’s opinion the proposed amendment will remove housing options for our community. Because of that, and because this proposal does not really comply with the priorities [of the original bylaw] or provincial policy, staff recommend this be withdrawn,” Iles said.
Coun. Pat Casey said he believes the decision over whether to rent a property short-term or long-term should rest with the owner, which deputy mayor Walt McKechnie and councillors Tammy Donaldson, Carm Sawyer and Barry Boice agreed with.
Sawyer said the township “has got to do something different” given the low uptake in new ADU applications thus far – Dysart had received three applications as of Jan. 30 – and the fact people are opting to leave already installed ADUs vacant rather than rent out long-term. “If people don’t rent it this way (shortterm), they’re not going to rent it at all… there’s no more [space in our] hotels, motels and resorts, the numbers there are dwindling,” Sawyer said. Donaldson added, “I think people forget that we’re a tourist [area]. We do have the Haliburton School of Art + Design here, and a lot of other things. I completely agree with [the change].”
Nancy Wood-Roberts was the first to speak against the proposal, saying, “there’s not enough living opportunities for people that work and live here. It’s nice to have space for visitors, but what about the people who are here in the community and don’t have housing?”
Township clerk Mallory Bishop advised council that since the decision goes directly against provincial policy it could be appealed. With Iles recommending against the update, she said it could be a “difficult” case to win.
Iles suggested allowing people to apply to make their ADUs short-term rentals on a case-by-case basis, rather than implementing blanket approval. When he told Casey that process would likely take up to four months, the councillor felt that was too long for people to wait.
“I say we run the ball and see what the province says. In terms of this generating housing, it’s been a… train wreck so far,” Casey said. “If people can make money, it increases tourism in the area. It’s the person’s civil liberties of their own property to do what they want within reason. I think we give it to them to see if they want shortterm or long-term.”
Some other nearby communities, including Algonquin Highlands and Kawartha Lakes, allow rentals of 28 days or less in ADUs. Iles said, “I don’t know how to make it work so that we comply with provincial policy, but there are ways to do it.” Council directed him to bring the amendment back to a future meeting for final approval.
