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Case study · Manotick

The City Said No. They Built It Anyway.

A tour of Ottawa's largest ADU: a 2,600 sq ft home for a family's parents, on a rural lot in Manotick.

Covered entry with a black ceiling, white front door, potted plants and an outdoor bench

A family in Manotick wanted their parents living on the same land. Not down the street. Right there, close enough to share dinner on a Tuesday.

Their architects asked the City of Ottawa about a second home on the property. The answer was no. It's a rural zone, and a second house wasn't allowed.

So we changed one word. We attached the new home to the main house. Attached, it counts as an additional dwelling unit, an ADU, and that was already allowed on the lot. Same rooms, same finishes. One word different on the drawings.

This is what got built. Come on in.

01 / 07

From the driveway

Two-storey modern exterior in grey board-and-batten and stone, with gravel still out front
Two storeys, about 2,600 square feet, three bedrooms and three bathrooms. A year before this, the spot was raw land beside a 9,000 square foot home. The landscaping comes next.
02 / 07

Its own front door

A covered entry of its own. The parents come and go on their own schedule, and nobody walks through anyone else's kitchen.

Bright foyer with a patterned rug, gallery wall and console table
Inside, a big foyer with a powder room and a full wall of storage. On a rural property there are always boots, coats and gear that need somewhere to go.
03 / 07

The courtyard is the whole point

The new home joins the main house through finished space, and the two share a courtyard. Nobody crosses a snowy yard in February to say good morning. Family dinners happen more often because getting there takes ten steps.

“We've got family close, with shared space when we want it, but totally separate when everyone's being annoyed.”

Nick, on site
04 / 07

The kitchen

Navy shaker kitchen with a white quartz island and a farmhouse sink under tall windows
Fourteen foot vaulted ceilings run over the living room, dining room and kitchen. Nick says you can hear it in the echo when you walk in.
4 more in the kitchen
Fluted farmhouse sink with a brass faucet under a window onto trees
There are two sinks and two dishwashers. When a family has a lot of good cooks, the cleanup needs room too.
Range wall with herringbone tile, a stainless hood and navy cabinets
Uppers to the ceiling line, deep drawers below, and a lot of counter.
Tall pull-out pantry full of jars
A pull-out pantry beside the range.
Swing-out corner cabinet holding pots and pans
Corner cabinets that swing out, so nothing gets lost at the back.
05 / 07

Laundry on the main floor

Laundry room with a stacked washer and dryer, open shelving and a folding counter
Washer, dryer, a sink and a folding counter, all on the main level. Nobody carries a full basket down a flight of stairs.
06 / 07

The main bedroom

Main bedroom with windows on two walls and wood floors
Windows on both sides and a big one facing the trees. A full-height built-in storage wall goes in before move-in.
Ensuite double vanity with arched black mirrors
The ensuite is right off the bedroom, with a double vanity and a walk-in shower.
Freestanding soaker tub under a tall window
And a soaker tub under its own window.

“Imagine, this could be you singing in the tub.”

Nick, on site
07 / 07

Downstairs

Lower-level rec room with big windows, sofas and a dog asleep on the rug
The lower level has nine foot ceilings and big windows, so it doesn't feel like a basement. The stairs split the rec room into two zones, with space planned for music, TV and the kids.
3 more downstairs
Desk under a window in a bright lower-level room
A spot for homework, with a view.
Soft pink kids' room with a play mat and cube shelves
Two more bedrooms, one at the front and one at the back.
Wood double vanity with black triple sconces
Each one has its own ensuite.

We also changed the grade to give the lower level a full walkout. A patio and a second-level deck come next.

From the comments

Your questions, answered by Nick

Every question below came in on our videos about this build.

How big is it, actually?

About 2,600 square feet over two levels, with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Before we started, there was nothing on that part of the property. It's attached to a 9,000 square foot home on an estate lot in Manotick.

The city said no. How did it get approved?

The family's architects asked about a second home, and that's what the city turned down. We asked a different question. If the new home is attached to the main house, it's an ADU, and an ADU was already allowed. It also gave the family something they wanted anyway: they can reach each other through finished space in winter, and they share the outdoor space when they want to get together.

My lot is zoned rural. Does any of this apply to me?

This lot is a restrictive rural zone, one of the strictest kinds, and it still got approved. Most Ottawa properties can add two to three more units by right, under the rules as they stand today.

Should I wait for the new zoning?

You don't have to. Ottawa's new zoning was approved at the Ontario Land Tribunal in July, and the remaining appeals sit mostly on the N zones. But on most properties you can already add units by right. You can start now, whether it's for rental income or for family.

What happens to prices when the appeals clear?

Nick's view: a lot of people have been holding off for two to three years. When the appeals lift, many of them will start at once, using the same trades and suppliers, while costs are already rising. There are tax rebates, financing incentives and reduced development fees available for ADUs and multi-unit builds right now. A rush of projects could eat into those savings.

I'd be knocking down a house that pays me rent.

It's the most common worry when someone builds multiple units. Nick calls it looking at the pennies instead of the dollars: a few months to a year of lost rent, against what the finished building is worth. The construction financing also often covers the carrying costs while the project is being built.

Do I need hundreds of thousands in cash?

Usually not. Coach homes and ADUs are some of the easier projects to finance. If you own your home and have about half its value paid down, banks may lend against the value the new build adds, through a future value mortgage or a line of credit on your equity.

Is this only for investors?

No. Some people build one to downsize and stay in their area, then rent out the main house. Some build it so a parent can move in. Others add units for the income. This family did it to keep their parents on the same land.

What went wrong on this build?

It was a very wet year, on land that already holds a lot of water, and we had concrete to pour in a cold spring. So we adjusted the grade and added water deflection systems, and the schedule kept moving. Something always comes up on a build. What matters is telling you what to expect, and having the answer ready when it does.

Why OGC and not another contractor?

You're trusting someone with the biggest thing you own, and construction doesn't have a great reputation. At OGC that means a long planning process before anyone picks up a tool, a fixed price, a seven-year warranty, and one project management team that's accountable for the whole job.

Wondering what your lot allows?

Book a free consultation. We'll look at your property and tell you what you can build, what it costs and how families pay for it.

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Disclaimer: This article describes one project and is for general information only. It is not legal, tax, mortgage, or financial advice. Zoning permissions, rebate programs, and financing terms vary by property and change over time. Confirm current details for your own lot with qualified professionals and the City of Ottawa.