Collingwood
Property Type: Existing Triplex
Scope of Work: Interior Layout Modification + Fire Separation Compliance
Project Overview
Located in the heart of Collingwood, this triplex project was far from typical. Before any design work could begin, the Town required confirmation of the building’s legal use—a process that involved submitting tenant letters and sworn statements proving long-standing use as a three-unit dwelling.
This type of scenario highlights a growing issue in smaller towns across Ontario, where records of legal non-conforming properties are inconsistent or missing altogether. With legal use confirmed, our team focused on improving one unit’s interior layout to enhance functionality and tenant appeal, while ensuring the necessary fire separation upgrades were addressed, particularly around the relocated kitchen.
Scope & Strategy
- Provided legal-use documentation through tenant affidavits and historical use evidence.
- Redesigned one unit’s internal layout for improved functionality and marketability.
- Relocated kitchen and adjusted partition walls to enhance space flow.
- Ensured new layout met OBC requirements for fire separation, egress and travel distance, and interconnected smoke/CO alarms.
- Submitted full permit application with narrative outlining legal-use status and code path.
- Navigated unclear municipal records and established legal triplex use.
- Balanced interior design improvements with fire safety upgrades.
- Addressed unintended code triggers from kitchen relocation and wall reconfiguration.
- Improved unit flow and tenant experience, boosting rentability.
- Avoided unnecessary full-building upgrades by proactively managing code triggers.
- Legally confirmed triplex status—providing long-term peace of mind and compliance.
Challenges Solved
Investor Benefits
Current Status
Permit approved. Construction completed. Unit now optimized for modern rental demand.
Legal Use Verification, Interior Layout Upgrade, Triplex Retrofit, Fire Separation Strategy
