The Practice
Toronto's 2018 laneway suite by-law and 2022 garden suite expansion created one of the most important opportunities in residential development the city has seen in a generation. Most property owners do not yet realize what is possible on the land they already own.
We treat these buildings the same way we treat a custom home — because they are one. Smaller does not mean simpler. Every trade, every detail, every decision is present in a 900-square-foot suite, just compressed into a tighter envelope. The constraints make it harder to do well, not easier.
What We Build
Detached secondary residences fronting a public laneway. One or two storeys, typically 600 to 1,200 square feet. The defining new building type in Toronto's established neighbourhoods.
Detached secondary residences on properties without laneway access — the more recent and broader expansion of the by-law. Available to a much larger range of properties than laneway suites alone.
Adding livable secondary space above an existing detached garage. Often the fastest path to a legal secondary suite for properties with the right footprint already in place.
When the secondary suite becomes part of a larger reimagining of the property — multi-generational living, in-law accommodation, or a home office that needs real separation from the main house.
Process
A site visit to assess what your property actually qualifies for — laneway suite, garden suite, above-garage, or none of the above. By-law conformance, dimensions, servicing, and access are reviewed before we discuss design.
Working alongside your architect or designer (or one we introduce, if needed) through the City of Toronto's expedited approval process. Detailed estimating runs alongside the permit work to lock in budget before construction.
Six to nine months on site for most projects. Working in close quarters with neighbours' properties demands diligence — communication, site cleanliness, and traffic management get the same attention as the build itself.
Occupancy permit, owner orientation, and the documentation package — same standard as our larger projects. For clients renting the suite out, we coordinate with their property manager on rental-ready handover.
Indicative Project Types
Begin
The conversation often begins with a question: does my property even qualify? We can answer that quickly. The harder question — what to build, how to use it, and what it will cost — is exactly what the first meeting is for.