FAQs
Why is the City proposing to allow up to four housing units per lot in R1 and R2 zones?
Allowing up to four housing units on all residential lots is a mandatory condition for receiving funding from the Housing Accelerator Fund.
Single-family neighbourhoods in RHM and R3 zones, such as the areas around the golf course, already allow the creation of four housing units. The gentle densification project therefore aims at extending similar opportunities to R1 and R2 zones.
What effect will the zoning change have on property values in R1 and R2 zones?
Property assessments are based on market value. Homeowners who add accessory dwelling units through renovation can naturally expect their property value to increase.
For more information on property assessment: Service New Brunswick: Understanding how property is valued
Will it be possible to build four dwellings on every lot in R1 and R2 zones?
No. To be eligible to create an additional dwelling unit, certain criteria must be met. The municipality estimates that approximately 80% of lots in the City’s R1 and R2 zones have the minimum lot area and frontage required.
However, other bylaw provisions also apply, so within that 80%, many lots may not qualify for additional units.
Will the change mean more tree-cutting?
No. It is anticipated that there will be less tree cutting. Converting an existing house generally requires less cutting than building a new one. In addition, all conversions will have to comply with the municipal tree bylaw.
Will a developer be able to buy a house and turn it into four apartments?
No. Under the proposed bylaw, only current residents of the house will be able to apply for a permit.
Will gentle densification overload the road network?
No. Neighbourhoods zoned R1 and R2 are not expected to see much more traffic than they do now. The municipality has assessed the situation and believes that the current road network in residential areas, as well as collector roads, can handle the additional traffic generated by gentle densification.
What measures are being planned for parking?
Owners wishing to create accessory dwelling units will have to provide at least one parking space per dwelling. On-street parking, which is regulated by a municipal bylaw and allowed in certain locations, may be used as an additional option.
Are you expecting densification in all neighbourhoods and the construction of several new units in each one?
It is difficult to predict which owners will apply for permits and in which neighbourhoods, but based on the experience of other municipalities, applications tend to be low in number.
Economic factors such as renovation costs, higher insurance premiums and tax impacts generally limit demand and the willingness to build this type of housing.
In Dieppe, the initiative is expected to appeal mainly to landowners wishing to welcome an elderly relative or create affordable housing for a family member. Some homeowners may also add rental accommodation to generate income.
The City anticipates that this zoning change will foster only gentle densification.
Have measures been incorporated to preserve the existing character of R1 and R2 neighbourhoods?
Yes. The proposed changes aim to preserve the style and character of existing neighbourhoods. To limit the impact on neighbourhoods, only conversions by owner-occupants will be permitted. New fourplexes will not be allowed on undeveloped lots.
The bylaw includes specific criteria for lot size, dwelling unit area and parking to ensure harmony with the existing character of these neighbourhoods.
Why are some single-family neighbourhoods not affected?
The changes apply to R1 and R2 zones, where four dwellings per lot are not currently permitted. RHM and R3 zones already allow the creation of three accessory dwelling units, so they are not included in this initiative.
Why not reduce the number of units to two instead of the proposed four?
Two units per lot are already permitted in zones R1 and R2.
Does the proposed bylaw mean the end of single-family homes in Dieppe?
No. Single-family homes will continue to be permitted in R1, R2 and other residential zones. The proposal does not require anyone to convert their home. Most single-family homes are expected to remain unchanged. The bylaw will simply allow owners to add up to three accessory dwellings per property if they wish.
Can these homes be turned into Airbnb-style short-term rentals?
Short-term rentals are not currently regulated in Dieppe or New Brunswick. In the absence of such regulation, units created under this initiative could be rented on a short-term basis, such as on Airbnb. However, the regulation of this type of use is possible.
Given the possibility of future regulation and the current lack of increase in short-term rentals in Dieppe, it is not expected that a significant number of housing units will be created for this purpose. Nor is it expected that short-term rental operators will purchase housing in R1 and R2 zones in large numbers.