The City of Williams Lake has taken another step to streamline the process for residents to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) within City of Williams Lake municipal limits.
Since adopting a zoning amendment bylaw in May of 2023 to allow for the constructions of ADUs, the City has now obtained five pre-reviewed designs to distribute to residents free of charge who apply for an ADU building permit.
“We are doing what we can to help support the development of new housing units in the city,” Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor said.
“We have amended most residential zones in the city to allow for this kind of secondary dwelling to be built and are going the extra steps to provide five design concepts to get people thinking about how this could work for their properties.”
An ADU, including carriage homes and garden suites, is a small, standalone home located on an already existing lot with a main residence. An ADU can have one or two storeys and can be above a detached garage.
The City is currently facing housing challenges similar to other communities in the province. City staff began working on bylaw changes to support ADUs in 2022, and unveiled the completed program in February of 2023 after the City of Quesnel launched a similar program the year prior.
“Effective ADU planning considers accessibility, sustainability and neighbourhood character into its designs,” said Jessica Ball, City Planner. “ADUs will help provide a wider range of housing options for residents and allow seniors to age in place, help make home ownership more attainable by providing a mortgage helper, and allows for more housing development without needing more land.”
Prior to the zoning amendment bylaw changes, ADU construction required several steps for approval.
“Now, applicants can provide a site plan to the City’s building inspection department to go directly to the permitting stage without any additional steps,” Ball said. “This simplified process, as well as the provision of pre-approved plans, aims to incentivize the process for this kind of development.”
The City’s website has been updated with an easy-to-follow, how-to guide that breaks down the process and outlines eligibility requirements. The five pre-approved designs are also on the City’s website for previewing. Physical copies of the how-to guide are available at Williams Lake City Hall.
After an ADU building permit is issued the City will provide full sets of architectural drawings for builders free of charge. At its Tuesday, February 13 Regular Meeting, Williams Lake City Council approved a flat building permit rate of $1,056 for the construction of ADUs, which includes a copy of the building plans.
“Our hope is that the cost savings found from removing rezoning fees for these types of builds, combined with free building plans and a comprehensive how-to guide, will encourage homeowners to consider ADUs as a possibility,” Rathor said.
“Finding new land for development in our community is a challenge, and this is a great way we can use what we have in a better way.”
All of the information on how to get started building an ADU is available on the City’s website at: https://www.williamslake.ca/1015/Pre-Reviewed-Accessory-Dwellings.
For more information, contact the City’s Development Services Department at development@williamslake.ca.
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