Ottawa plans for coach houses in neighbourhoods across city

Coach houses, tiny houses, granny flats whatever your preferred term, the City of Ottawa is seeking input on how to regulate the growing trend of secondary dwellings in urban, suburban and rural neighbourhoods.

• City of Ottawa coach house questionnaire

The provincial government passed legislation requiring that municipalities explore ways to allow these types of homes in an effort to promote densification, create affordable housing options and provide opportunities for multi-generational housing, Ottawa city planner Alain Miguelez told Hallie Cotnam on CBC Radio'sOttawa Morning.

"Typically, you'll see what may have been stables in the 19thcentury or an old garage redone as a little house in the backyard," he said. "It cannot be severed. It's something that would be part of the property itself."

The city must decide how big a property must be to allow a coach house andhow close acoach house could be to the property line, he said.

Listen to the full interview in the player below.

Ottawa Morning6:09Would you like a coach house in your backyard?

Why the city's asking for your input into how and where granny flats could fit into downtown neighbourhoods.