The Town of Ajax has partnered with the Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC) to offer standardized architectural designs for those looking for convenient yet adaptable homebuilding options.
The Housing Design Catalogue is a collection of low-rise home designs developed by CMHC to align with regional building codes, planning rules, climate zones, construction methods and materials.
The town said it supports the use of four designs from the catalogue, which were reviewed by the town’s Planning and Development team. These designs are:
- Accessory Dwelling Unit 01
- Accessory Dwelling Unit 02
- Fourplex 01
- Fourplex 02
These ‘near permit-ready’ designs include:
- Architectural and engineering drawings
- Technical guidance to support builders with key details such as site considerations, material selection and climate resilience
- Energy modeling guidance and performance report
- Construction cost summary
- Alternate floor plans for different accessibility needs
The town said by utilizing these designs, homebuilders save money on plan creation, save time on building permit reviews, and receive efficient inspections, as town staff and inspectors are familiar with the catalogue designs.
It said builders will require a qualified professional to assist in finalizing a ‘Derived Design’ to ensure they accommodate the planned site’s condition.
Effort to Alleviate Housing Crisis
“The town is constantly exploring new ways we can offer more housing options to alleviate the housing crisis,” said Shaun Collier, Mayor and CEO, Town of Ajax .
“CMHC’s Housing Design Catalogue is one way we are helping interested parties get a head start on the first step of every homebuilding project. By approving these designs made for gentle density and development on underutilized land, Ajax aims to offer homebuilding opportunities within the fixed urban boundary that are practical and convenient. CMHC’s support in advancing funding applications will enable new construction projects to begin in a timely manner, making meaningful progress on housing delivery,” he added.
Quick Facts
- The Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation is a financial institution providing housing finance solutions, evidence-based insights backed by the latest research and data, and the deliverer of the federal government’s housing programs.
- CMHC’s Housing Design Catalogue is made up of 50 low-rise home designs across seven groups of provinces and territories. Each design is developed by local architecture and engineering teams to align with regional building codes, planning rules, climate zones, construction methods and materials.
- The Town of Ajax has approved four designs prepared by CMHC for Ontario: Accessory Dwelling Unit 01, Accessory Dwelling Unit 02, Fourplex 01 and Fourplex 02. These designs are generally compliant with the Town’s building codes and regulations, which allows for a more convenient and faster application process.
- These designs offer adaptable options for homeowners, builders and communities to fit a range of housing needs.
- The Town recently launched housing.ajax.ca with information about Ajax’s commitment to building more homes, faster.
Learn More At:
- CMHC’s Housing Design Catalogue
- Accessory Dwelling Unit 01 Ontario design
- Accessory Dwelling Unit 02 Ontario design
- Fourplex 01 Ontario design
- Fourplex 02 Ontario design
- Town of Ajax – Building Requirements and Permits
- housing.ajax.ca
- Catalogue and to view the designs, visit CMHC’s website here.
- Town’s process of applying for a building permit, click here.