Garden suites & ADUs · Caledon
Garden Suites in Caledon
Caledon covers urban settlements like Bolton, Mayfield West and Caledon East as well as rural, agricultural and escarpment land, and its detached ARU rules differ between the two.
The rules, in plain language
What Caledon allows
Caledon's Zoning By-law 2006-50 (November 2025 consolidation, Section 6.4) allows additional residential units on lots with a detached, linked, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling. The "Enabling More Homes in Caledon" amendments allow up to three ARUs per lot, with one detached. Provincial plans (Oak Ridges Moraine, Greenbelt, Niagara Escarpment) and the Bolton Special Policy Area take priority where they apply.
Size
- Urban settlement area: up to 80 m², and no larger than the main house's ground floor area.
- Rural area: up to 110 m², and no larger than the main house's ground floor area.
- Source: Town of Caledon staff report: Enabling More Homes, as of November 1, 2026
Height
- Urban settlement area: up to 4.5 m.
- Rural area: no taller than the main house or the zone limit, whichever is less.
- Source: Town of Caledon staff report: Enabling More Homes, as of November 1, 2026
Parking, access and lot
- 1 parking space per ARU. In R1, R2, RT and RMD zones, none is needed for the first ARU if a transit stop is within 400 m.
- A clear path at least 1.2 m wide from the street to the entrance.
- Urban zones: building area up to 45% (or the zone limit if greater), and at least 50% of the rear yard landscaped.
- ARUs must meet Minimum Distance Separation and conservation authority rules.
- Source: Zoning By-law 2006-50, Section 6.4, as of November 1, 2026
Check with the city: the size and height figures come from the town's staff report summarizing the amendments. Confirm the setback and separation numbers in Table 6.4 of the current by-law. Some areas of Caledon restrict or prohibit ARUs outright. Fees and development charges aren't stated in these sources.
How we build it
Five ways to build in Caledon
01
Geohaus factory-built
Perimeter Homes is a Geohaus partner. Studio, one- and two-bedroom layouts built in a factory and set on your lot.
See the Geohaus layouts02
Modular / prefab
Factory-built modular garden suites and backyard homes, with sizes adjustable to your lot and local rules.
Browse the model gallery03
Custom stick-built
Framed on site for tight, sloped or oddly shaped lots, or a layout no catalogue covers.
How custom worksEvery design still has to fit Caledon's zoning for your lot. We check that before you commit.
Common questions
Caledon garden suite FAQ
How big can a garden suite be in Caledon?
80 m² in urban settlement areas and 110 m² in rural areas, and never larger than the main house's ground floor.
How tall?
4.5 m in urban areas. In rural areas, no taller than the main house or the zone limit.
Is parking required?
1 space per ARU, waived for the first ARU near transit in some zones.
Sources
Official city sources
- Caledon Zoning By-law 2006-50, Section 6 (Nov 2025) (as of November 1, 2026)
- Caledon staff report: Enabling More Homes (as of November 1, 2026)
- Town of Caledon: Housing (as of November 1, 2026)
This guide summarizes public city information and isn't planning or legal advice. Rules change. Confirm your lot with the city before you apply.
Start here
Talk to a garden suite builder.
Tell us about your lot and which option you're considering. We reply within one business day.