Since 2010
Building and renovating in Toronto.
Laneway & Garden Suites · Toronto & the GTA
Laneway and Garden Suite Builds in Toronto
A full-service process to build a laneway house in Toronto: design, permits, zoning and construction handled by one team, under one fixed-price contract.
Laneway and garden suites designed, permitted and built in Toronto. We handle the zoning review, the permit and the build, on one fixed price.
15+ Years
Of building and renovating in Toronto
250+ Projects
Completed across Toronto and the GTA
HCRA Licensed
Fully insured and licensed for your protection
Proposal in 48 Hrs
Fully itemized, line by line
Fixed Contract
Locked before work begins. No surprises
One Team
Design, build and warranty under one contract
Before anything else
Does your lot qualify?
Toronto actively supports laneway housing, but the property has to meet a set of conditions first. Tick the ones you already know about and see where you stand.
Full-Service Process
Full-Service Process to Build a Laneway House in Toronto
We have been building and renovating in Toronto since 2010, with over 250 projects completed across the city and the GTA. Every laneway and garden suite we build is HCRA licensed and fully insured, quoted in detail within 48 hours, and locked into a fixed contract before work begins.
250+ Projects
Completed across Toronto and the GTA.
HCRA Licensed
Fully insured and licensed for your protection.
48 hrs
Get a detailed, itemized quote for your project.
Fixed Contract
Locked before work begins. No surprises, no extra charges.
One Team
Design, build and warranty under one contract.
Why Build One
Why Build Laneway House in Toronto?
Four reasons Toronto homeowners put a suite on land they already own.
Use Space You Already Own
Turn unused laneway space at the back of your lot into a complete, self-contained home.
Rental Income
Generate steady monthly income while increasing long-term property value.
Room for Family
Provide private, comfortable housing for family members without leaving your community.
City Support
Laneway housing is actively supported by Toronto’s planning policies, making approvals and permits easier than ever.
The Process
Build a laneway house in Toronto
Laneway housing transforms underused backyard space into a modern, self-contained home that generates rental income, increases long-term property value, and provides comfortable housing for family members, all while staying within your community. With strong support from Toronto’s planning policies, approvals and permits are now more accessible than ever.
Requirements
Toronto Laneway House Requirements
Laneway housing is actively supported by Toronto’s planning policies, making it easier than ever to get approvals and permits. These are the conditions your property and design need to meet.
Public Laneway Access
Your property must back onto a public laneway to qualify for a laneway suite.
Zoning & Lot Requirements
The lot must meet minimum size standards and comply with City of Toronto zoning by-laws.
Height, Size & Setbacks
The suite must follow restrictions on height, total floor area, and maintain required separation from the main house.
Building Code Compliance
The design must meet Ontario Building Code standards for structure, safety, and habitability.
Building Permit & Plans
A building permit is mandatory, supported by detailed architectural and technical drawings.
Fire Safety & Emergency Access
A clear path to a public street is required to ensure emergency services can access the unit.
Landscaping & Tree Protection
Soft landscaping requirements must be maintained, and any impact on trees requires Urban Forestry approval.
The work
Our projects
Cliffcrest A ground-up custom home in Cliffcrest, where the 1950s bungalows on the Bluffs are steadily being replaced. Grey stone and limestone across the front, gabled dormers, and the garage set below the entrance so the main floor sits up off the street.
Douglas Avenue A three-storey infill on a narrow lot, eleven metres from established grade to the top of the parapet. Buff veneer brick under a black-clad set-back top floor.
De Vere Gardens Fifteen feet of bathroom, planned as three zones: a glass shower just over five feet square, a 6'-7" freestanding tub set under the window, and the water closet behind its own door.
Don Mills A rear addition on a Don Mills home. Painted brick, full-height windows across the back, and an elevated deck sitting over a paved terrace.
Blackthorn A two-storey garden suite clad in black vertical-seam metal, with sliding doors opening onto a paved path and a cedar fence run alongside it.
Haig Avenue Two custom homes built side by side on one street, one in pale brick and one in dark, with black window frames carried across both.
Glengarry Red brick over a limestone base, steep gables, and a limestone surround to the entrance with a black bay window set beside it.
Homeowner reviews
What homeowners say
Grand Design Build did a rear addition, second storey, and all our bathrooms on a house in the Beaches. March to September 2025 — we were told end of September and moved back in the second week, so a bit ahead of schedule. Fixed price contract, and the final cost was exactly the contract number. That mattered a lot to us. We decided to change few items for bathrooms and kitchen halfway and there were no issues with the change orders, and the pricing was really fair even though a fixed contract was signed. There were no pushback. The office project coordinators and the site supervisor were really helpful the entire way through. They also kept the site tidy for six months straight and our neighbours never once complained. Respectful crew. Recommend them.
Allen and his team were a dream to work with. Truly an amazing experience and an incredible condo full renovation. The work was top notch and Allen was excellent to work with, respecting our ideas and desires and making our renovation dream a reality.
I had a really good experience working with Grand Design Build on my home renovation and rear addition project. Their team was professional, knowledgeable, and easy to work with throughout the process. They took the time to understand our needs, offered helpful suggestions along the way, and also provided complimentary interior design support, which was a great added value. They were responsive and attentive to questions as they came up, and the project stayed on track from start to finish. I would recommend Grand Design Build to anyone looking for a reliable custom build and design company in Toronto.
Grand Design Build did a great job on our renovation. Their team was organized, kept us informed through each step, and also delivered quality work. They were reliable with timelines and very clear about costs and materials. Overall, we had a very smooth experience with them. Highly recommended!
Grand Design Build exceeded every expectation we had. From the very first consultation, they were professional, transparent, and truly passionate about their work. If you’re considering custom home building in Toronto, you won’t find a more reliable and talented team. Our new home is stunning, and the attention to detail is second to none. We are so grateful for their dedication and highly recommend them.
Grand design build are a master in custom home building in Toronto for sure. They designed and built our place just exactly how we wanted it. They are very reliable when it comes to communication and planning.
Areas We Serve
Laneway & Garden Suites Across Toronto
We build throughout Toronto and the GTA. These are the neighbourhoods we work in most.
Can't find your neighbourhood?
We build across Toronto and the GTA. These are the ones we work in most, not the only ones we work in.
More of what we do
Other services.
Design & Permits
Typically 1 to 8 monthsFrom first sketch to your building permit, we handle every step.
Home Additions
Typically 4 to 10 monthsFrom rear additions to full second-storey builds, Grand Design Build manages everything in-house: design, permits, engineering, and construction. One team, one contract, zero guesswork.
Home Renovations
Typically 1 to 15 monthsKitchen, bathroom, basement, and full home renovations, under one fixed-price contract.
Custom Homes
Typically 12 to 20 monthsFrom initial concept through to final handover, our integrated design-build team delivers your custom home on time, on budget, to the standard the GTA's most discerning homeowners expect.
Project Management
Project management led with precision and transparency: one point of contact from the first idea to the final inspection.
Frequently asked questions
Questions homeowners ask before they call
If the answer you need is not here, ask us on the call. We would rather tell you now than at framing.
Does my property qualify for a laneway or garden suite?
It depends on the lot, the laneway access and the setbacks Toronto requires around the suite, so the answer is decided by your specific property rather than by a general rule. We run the zoning review before anything is designed, so you find out at the start rather than after drawings exist.
What is the difference between a laneway suite and a garden suite?
A laneway suite backs onto a public laneway. A garden suite sits in the rear yard of a lot with no laneway behind it. The construction is similar, the zoning rules and the access requirements are not, which is why the feasibility review comes first.
Do you handle the permit, or do I?
We do. Grand Design Build handles the zoning review, the drawings and the City of Toronto permit application in-house, and we build it. You hold one contract for the whole thing.
How much does a laneway suite cost to build?
It depends on the size of the suite, the access to the site and the finish level, so we price it against your lot rather than quoting a range that will not hold. You get a fixed-price proposal broken down by line item before any work begins, and the figure in the contract is the figure you pay.
Can I rent the suite out once it is finished?
Laneway and garden suites are built as self-contained dwellings, and what you may do with one is governed by the City rules for secondary dwellings. We build to those requirements so the suite is legal on completion.
Are you licensed and insured?
Grand Design Build is HCRA licensed and fully insured on every project, and a member of the Toronto Construction Association.
Start here
Let's start with the number.
Tell us what you are thinking about. We will come and see it, and you will have a scope and a price broken down line by line within 48 hours.
- A visit to the property, at a time that suits you.
- A scope and price broken down line by line, within 48 hours.
- No obligation to go any further than that.
Contact us (416) 920-6066