City Council will vote this month if to approve the operation of small businesses in homes, residential neighbourhoods and in sheds and garages.
Small retail businesses, services and offices may soon be allowed to operate in private homes, garages or sheds in Toronto residential neighbourhoods.
Small coffee shops, art galleries, medical offices, salons, pet grooming, beauticians, dress makers, tailors and other businesses that employ up to two people will be allowed to operate from homes in quiet residential streets if bylaws are changed.
The City Interim Chief Planner has sent a report to the Planning and Housing Committee to make changes for the more efficient use of lands and properties in Toronto.
City Council is expected to vote on the Neighbourhood Retail and Services Study on May 9.
The small businesses may include offices, pet grooming, salons, beauticians, tailors, seamstresses or medical offices and more.
The small businesses will be allowed to operate in neighbourhoods on major streets and limited sites in the interior of communities, according to the report.
They would be able to set up shop in laneways, patios, sheds, garages and other areas providing they meet zoning or building code regulations. They will be able to use their patio as a place to eat or have drinks or display goods for sale.
City staff noted there was a dramatic increase in home-based work through the COVID pandemic, which resulted in a few complaints.
City officials said the home businesses were successful during the COVID outbreak with little complaints and want to see more. You will be able to open shop in garages, sheds or patios.
The strategy will “introduce gentle intensification in designated neighbourhoods that makes efficient use of land, infrastructure and existing services,” according to Interim Chief Planner Kerri Voumvakis.
“Neighbourhood Retail and Services are small-scale retail, service and office uses meant to support walkable and complete communities.”
The homes can also be used as an art gallery, wellness centre, production studio, repair shop, personal service shop, eating establishment, social club or performing arts studio. Live music and dancing are not allowed.
“The range of proposed uses would be limited to a small retail store, with permissions for the serving of hot beverages and low-risk or pre-packaged, ready-to-eat food items that would allow the store to serve as a local cafe,” Voumvakis wrote.
The home businesses will be able to offer hot drinks, meals or take out food, with no live music or dancing.
The retail stores will not be able to operate as a full-scale kitchen or restaurant.
He said the proposed changes would allow more people to operate a business out of their home or to open a retail store on the ground floor of their residential unit, providing a more affordable entry-point for small business owners.
“This would allow for the establishment to serve as a small, low impact neighbourhood cafe,” according to the report. Individual businesses would be capped at 110 square metres, or about 1200 square feet.
The proposed change would allow permission for home occupations and for clients or customers to attend the residence to conduct business or obtain services.
Medical offices, salons, beauticians, seamstresses and a range of other skills will be able to work from at home and customers allowed to visit for business.
The homes to be used as businesses will include single-detached, additional residential units, multi-unit housing and affordable housing. Also allowed are industrial and commercial properties and institutional; which will include places of worship, cemeteries, long-term care homes, recreation, park and open space.
”There is a greater need for neighbourhood amenities to serve existing and future residents,” the report stated. “The benefit to the City’s neighbourhoods is an important addition to the mosaic of increased density and residential land use.”
Enforcement officers will be monitoring areas for parking issues or to deal with complaints.