More Housing Options Coming to Paris and St. George: Council Approves a New Zoning By-law Amendment

On May 13, 2025, County of Brant Council approved a zoning change that will allow up to four housing units on fully serviced residential lots in Paris and St. George.

Read the presented report.

This change supports the County’s goal of offering more diverse and affordable housing options by allowing gentle growth in existing neighbourhoods. The updated zoning by-law also includes measures to help reduce impacts on surrounding homes and ensure that new development fits well in the community.

Four units can be achieved in different ways, including:

• Construction of a new primary dwelling
• Additions to an existing dwelling
• Interior Conversion
• Construction/conversion of a detached accessory building
• Addition to an existing accessory structure (e.g., above-garage additions)

To make it easier to add different types of housing units, the County has updated its Zoning By-law with the following:

• Allowing up to four dwelling units as-of-right on fully serviced residential lots
• Applying a more flexible limit to the size of accessory structures by basing the maximum coverage only on a percentage of the total lot area
• Increasing the maximum permitted building height for two-level detached habitable structures
• Requiring larger setbacks for two-level detached habitable structures
• Prohibiting rooftop amenity spaces above the second storey of a detached structure
• Simplifying and updating the definitions of residential uses in the Zoning By-law

These changes are part of the County’s ongoing efforts to plan for a growing population while supporting vibrant, inclusive communities.