Registration of a Two-Unit House

City of Oshawa's Two Unit House Registration By-law requires that all two-unit houses be registered. Failure to register a two-unit house is an offence under the By-law.

• The registration's inspection process will make your two-unit house safe.
• Registration will aid Fire Services and other Emergency Services in dispatching appropriate staff and equipment in calls for assistance.
• Your house will be officially recognized as a two-unit house by the City. This will assist in future real estate transactions.
• Prospective tenants will be able to verify whether a rental unit in a two-unit house has been registered with the City.

Qualifications for registration are dependent on the date the second unit was installed. If the second unit existed prior to July 1994, please contact Municipal Licensing and Standards for further information. If the second unit was created after July 1994, please contact Building Services for further information.

Generally speaking, a two-unit house that was created prior to July 1994 may be eligible for registration upon satisfying the following criteria:

 1.  Compliance with standards including:

• Property Standards By-law 1-2002 
• Building Code Act 1992, SO 1992, c 23
• Building Code O Reg 332/12
• Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, SO 1997, c 4
• Fire Code, O Reg 213/07

Please contact Municipal Licensing and Standards for further information at 905-436-3311 or lic_stand@oshawa.ca.

Generally speaking, a two-unit house that was created after July 1994 may be eligible for registration upon satisfying the following criteria:

1. Zoning Criteria

• It is not located within the Accessory Apartment Restricted Area.

• It is located within a R1, R2, R5, OSR-A, OS-ORM, AG-A, AG-B or AG-ORM Zone, as per the City's Zoning By-law 60-94, provided that the following criteria are met:

  • The main dwelling is a permitted use in the zone in which it is located;
  • The maximum number of accessory apartments permitted on a lot is one (1); and
  • A minimum lot frontage of 11 metres shall be provided.
• The house must have been originally constructed as a single detached dwelling or a semi-detached dwelling (exceptions may apply).
• Parking requirements as set out under Section 5.12 of Zoning By-law 60-94 must be met.

 2.  Compliance with other standards including:

• Building Code Act 1992, SO 1992, c 23
• Building Code O Reg 332/12 

Please contact Building Services for further information at 905-436-5658 or buildings@oshawa.ca. 

How you register depends on when your second unit was installed.

If the second unit was created prior to July 1994, please complete and submit an application for registration along with a $250 fee to Municipal Licensing and Standards. You will be required to submit a completed statutory declaration form confirming the second unit's existence. Please note that other supporting documentation may be required. Please contact Municipal Licensing and Standards for further information at 905-436-3311 or lic_stand@oshawa.ca.

If the second unit was created after July 1994, a building permit will be required to create and register the second dwelling unit. The cost of registering your property as a two-unit house will be included in your building permit cost and the registration application will be provided to you when you apply for your building permit. Please contact Building Services for further information at 905-436-5658 or buildings@oshawa.ca. 

• Two-Unit Registration Application
• Two-Unit Registration Declaration - Contact Municipal Licensing and Standards. 
• Owner's Authorization Form - An owner may authorize another person to act as an agent on their behalf. The agent is able to represent the owner and attend inspections at the property in the event the owner is unable to do so.

Contact Municipal Licensing and Standards for other applicable forms.