Additional Residential Units

Explore Additional Residential Units (ARUs) in Burlington, including basement apartments, garage conversions, building requirements and available incentives.

Additional Residential Units (ARUs) are self-contained living units with their own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping areas. They are on the same property as a primary home, including single detached homes, semi-detached homes and townhouses. They can be inside or attached to a primary home, or in a separate accessory building like a detached garage.

Examples of ARUs are basement apartments, attached suites, permanent tiny homes and coach houses.

Incentives for new ARUs

Find out if you qualify for forgivable loans, grants and fee waivers.

ARU Look-up Tool

Find out if your property may be suitable for a detached Additional Residential Unit (ARU).

Garage Conversion

Accessory Building

Basement Conversion

Check out the new Garage Conversion Kit to help you convert your garage into a separate dwelling unit.

Upper Level Conversion

Main Level Addition

Second Floor Addition

Why are Additional Residential Units being allowed?

To help with more housing options and supply throughout the province, the Planning Act now allows additional residential units (ARUs) on an urban residential lot with a detached house, semi-detached house or townhouse.

Additional residential units support the City’s Housing Strategy as they:

help with a healthy supply of rental units and
increase housing options.

Learn more about how the City is working to meet local housing needs in our Housing Strategy.