Public laneway access
Your property must back onto a public laneway to qualify for a laneway suite.
Garden suites and laneway houses in Toronto · Toronto & the GTA
Garden suite and laneway house builders in Toronto
A garden suite or laneway house that makes more of your property.
From design to warranty
One team from your first plans to warranty support.
Fixed price, agreed upfront
Your agreed scope, allowances and exclusions clearly set out.
Custom design around your life
Designed for your family, your property and your lifestyle.
Follow your project from anywhere
See progress, schedules and updates in your client portal.
HCRA licensed and insured
View our HCRA record. Insurance details on request.
250+ completed projects
Renovations, additions and custom homes across Toronto.
Before anything else
Does your lot qualify?
Toronto actively supports laneway housing, but the property has to meet a set of conditions first.
Zoning and lot requirements
Check the proposed suite against the zoning applicable to the lot, including its building envelope and existing structures.
Height, size and 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 and plans
A building permit is mandatory, supported by detailed architectural and technical drawings.
Fire safety and emergency access
A clear path to a public street is required to ensure emergency services can access the unit.
Landscaping and tree protection
Review soft landscaping and protected trees with the design. Confirm any required Urban Forestry permits for the proposed work.
A laneway suite backs onto a public lane. A garden suite sits in the rear yard of a lot with no lane behind it. The construction is similar, but the zoning rules and access requirements are not, which is why the zoning review comes first.
Use this as a starting point for a property review. Our laneway and garden suite eligibility guide explains the Toronto checks and why requirements differ across the GTA.
From Design to Warranty
A second home behind your house, built by one team
Grand Design Build takes on garden suites and laneway houses in Toronto: a secondary dwelling behind your house. From Design to Warranty, one team handles the design package, permits, Committee of Adjustment or as of right approval, construction and handover, thoughtfully planned before construction begins. You pay the permit fees, Committee of Adjustment fees and the survey.
Suite build on your lot
We build the suite in your rear yard or on the lane while your main house stays as it is. Site work, services and the new building sit in one contract, run by one team.
Design package
Our in house team prepares architectural, structural, mechanical and interior design together, so the suite, its services and its finishes are planned as one building from the start.
Permits, Committee of Adjustment or as of right
A suite that complies with zoning still needs a building permit and any other applicable approvals. If a minor variance is needed, we coordinate the application work in the agreed scope. The authority decides the outcome. Confirm City fees and survey costs in the proposal.
Construction
Your site supervisor runs the trades from foundation and frame through the envelope, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, and the interior finishes.
Neighbourhood fit and custom design
Your suite is designed to your taste and to sit well beside your house and your neighbours, with the floor area, space and height your lot allows worked out before drawings go to the City.
Final handover and warranty
We walk through the finished suite with you, record any outstanding items and agree how they will be addressed. Review the applicable approvals, warranty documents and maintenance information at handover.
Why build one
Why Toronto families build a garden suite or laneway house
A garden suite or laneway house gives your family a second, self contained home on land you already own, a few steps from your back door. Most homeowners build one for family, for rental income, or both.
Use space you already own
Turn the back of your lot into a complete, self contained home with its own entrance, kitchen and bathroom.
Room for family
Give parents, grown children or a caregiver their own home a few steps from yours, on the same street.
Rental income
Rental use depends on the applicable rules and completed approvals. Review income assumptions and ongoing expenses before deciding; our laneway house pros and cons guide sets out the planning questions.
Planned before the build
The suite is designed around how you live, and thoughtfully planned before construction begins. You still pay permit fees, Committee of Adjustment fees and the survey.
The process
Build a laneway house in Toronto the same way we build a custom home
One coordinator manages your suite from design and approvals through construction and handover. A laneway house in Toronto backs onto a public lane; a garden suite sits in a rear yard without a lane. Your design is drawn to get the most floor area, space and height your lot allows. We review the proposal against zoning requirements and prepare any required Committee of Adjustment application. Approval remains the authority’s decision.
Requirements
What your lot needs for a garden suite or laneway house
Toronto allows laneway suites and garden suites on many residential lots, and each one is checked against your own property. These are the conditions your lot and design need to meet.
Laneway or rear yard
A laneway suite needs a public lane at the back of your lot. A garden suite sits in the rear yard where there is no lane.
Zoning and lot size
The lot must meet the City of Toronto zoning bylaw for lot size, rear yard and soft landscaping.
Height, size and setbacks
The suite must stay within the limits on height, floor area and separation from the main house, or get a minor variance.
Building Code compliance
The design must meet the Ontario Building Code for structure, fire safety and habitability.
Building permit and drawings
A building permit is required, supported by full architectural and technical drawings, which we prepare.
Fire and emergency access
A clear path to a public street is required so emergency services can reach the suite.
Trees and landscaping
Soft landscaping must be kept, and any work near protected trees needs Urban Forestry review.
The work
Our projects
Laneway / Garden Suite Compact bathroom with a tub, glass screen and white vanity.
Laneway / Garden Suite Garden studio with dark cladding above a garage.
Laneway / Garden Suite Dark-clad suite with a balcony over the garage.
Laneway / Garden Suite Dark-clad laneway suite with a recessed wood entrance.
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
We build garden suites and laneway houses across Toronto
- Bayview Village
- Bloor West Village
- Cliffcrest
- Danforth
- Forest Hill
- Leaside
- Ledbury Park
- North York
- Rosedale
- The Beaches
- Willowdale
Explore our Toronto neighbourhood pages for planning considerations. These links describe service areas and do not identify completed suite projects at each location.
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
From first sketch to your building permit, we handle every step.
Home Additions
Second storey, rear and side home additions in Toronto, with design, permits and construction planned around your home and the space you need.
Home Renovations
Whole house and full house renovations in Toronto, with layout, structure and finishes planned together, including the basement and the exterior when the plan calls for it.
Custom Homes
Tear down and rebuild in Toronto: design, permits and construction, thoughtfully planned around your life before work begins.
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
Bring your questions to the consultation. We will walk through the details with you.
Does my property qualify for a garden suite or laneway house?
It depends on your lot, the lane access and the setbacks Toronto requires around the suite. We review your zoning at the consultation, before anything is designed, so you know at the start whether the suite can go ahead as of right or needs the Committee of Adjustment.
What is the difference between a laneway suite and a garden suite?
A laneway suite backs onto a public lane. A garden suite sits in the rear yard of a lot with no lane behind it. The construction is similar, but the zoning rules and access requirements are not, which is why the zoning review comes first.
Do I need the Committee of Adjustment for a garden suite?
Not always. A zoning-compliant proposal may not need a minor variance, but it still needs a building permit and any other applicable approvals. Review departures from zoning with the project team and confirm the required application work. Approval remains the authority’s decision.
How much does a garden suite or laneway house cost to build?
Every suite is priced on its own lot, size, site access and finishes. Once your design package is approved, the suite is thoughtfully planned around how you live before construction begins. You also pay the permit fees, Committee of Adjustment fees and the survey.
Can I rent the suite out once it is finished?
Garden suites and laneway suites are self-contained dwellings subject to the applicable zoning, Building Code and occupancy requirements. Confirm the permitted use, required inspections and outstanding approvals before occupation or rental.
Are you licensed and insured?
Review current licensing and insurance documents for your project before signing. Confirm the scope, responsibilities and applicable coverage in writing.
Start here
Start with what your home needs
Tell us what you want to change and what you want to keep. We can discuss your property, the proposed work and the next step towards a feasibility study.
- Discuss your goals and the existing property.
- Review the proposed scope and next steps.
- Confirm the study scope and any fees before proceeding.
Contact us (416) 920-6066