A laneway suite is a detached dwelling unit located at the rear of a residential lot. Dubbed as the “new housing typology for Toronto” laneway suites can be used for family or as a rental. All services (sewer, water, electricity, garbage, gas, mail, and so on) come from the front street, not the laneway.
Laneway suites have unlocked new housing opportunities for the City of Toronto, and Acadia Design Consultants handles all aspects of designing the exterior and interior of laneway suites, including applications for all necessary permits.
At Acadia Design Consultants, we’re committed to sustainable architectural design achieved through innovative technologies and solid partnerships. With a strong dedication to improve the City of Toronto’s landscape and to help our clients achieve better, more sustainable housing, we provide you with a comprehensive set of laneway suite design services.
You’re just a phone call away from transforming that old garage in your backyard into a beautiful laneway suite. Laneway suites are one of our specialties, and we love doing them! With a little bit of imagination, lots of knowledge and experience, we can turn any unappealing space into a fully functioning, inviting unit. Get in touch with us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
All plans and drawings by Acadia Drafting are completed according to the Ontario Building Code (OBC) and stamped by a BCIN professional and/or Engineer based on project requirements.
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Acadia Drafting in Toronto can provide you with a quote, design, and construction of your luxury home. From the ground up, we have experts in every field of construction to ensure that when your project is complete, it is exactly as you envisioned. To ensure that your suite is constructed correctly and beautifully, we will be at your disposal right from the beginning to the end.
Typically, laneway suites are built on narrow lots next to public laneways behind existing homes. Often, they include features like a kitchenette and bathroom and are often smaller than traditional secondary suites. In addition to providing an extra income for the homeowner, laneway suites can also serve as a place for aging family members or adult children to live independently. They can also increase the value of your property.
A garden suite is a type of secondary suite that is generally located in the backyard of a single-family home. Like laneway suites, garden suites are usually smaller than the primary house on the lot. Due to the lack of access to a laneway, garden suites are a more flexible alternative to laneway homes.
Garden suites are self-contained units that usually include a kitchen, bathroom, and living area. They can be used as a rental unit, in-law suite, or guest house. The reason they’re popular is that they offer more privacy than apartments or condominiums, and they often have their own outdoor space. Furthermore, they’re a great way to earn money if you rent out your garden suite.
There are several barriers to building a laneway suite, including municipal zoning bylaws that forbid “house-behind-house” construction. You must obtain a building permit and meet all bylaw requirements in order to be approved.
You can find out more about the specific requirements for laneway suites on the City of Toronto website, including requirements for building size, garden platforms, balconies & projections and landscaping.
You must first obtain a building permit to build a laneway suite in Toronto. Eligibility requirements for building a laneway suite include:
Building and owning a laneway or garden suite has many benefits, including:
As a leading provider of drafting and permit design services, Acadia Drafting has extensive experience working with Toronto homeowners for fast and professional permit approvals. We handle all permits and bylaws so you don’t have to.
With our permits team, who has more than a decade of experience, we can assist you from concept to completion to make the process as simple as possible. Your building plans will be compliant with all safety and health codes, and the drawings will be detailed to your specifications.
The designer must communicate clearly with the client when building something truly unique. Throughout your building project, we strive to maintain clear lines of communication to ensure you get the laneway or garden suite you desire and need. Through phone calls, emails, in-person meetings, and more, we keep you posted on what’s going on with your Toronto building project.
Have questions about laneway suites? Every laneway suite project is unique, however we've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions to guide you through the process seamlessly.
The cost of laneway suites in Toronto can vary significantly depending on various factors such as size, design, location, and specific requirements. On average, the construction cost for a laneway suite in Toronto can range from $200,000 to $400,000. We understand the importance of budgeting for your project, and we are happy to give you a personalized quote based on your unique needs and preferences.
Laneway suites are often constructed to optimize the utilization of limited land and resources while offering versatile housing options in urban areas. Additionally, they contribute to curbing urban sprawl by allowing more individuals to reside in established neighborhoods without the need for additional land expansion.
A laneway suite is mandated to accommodate a single occupancy, meaning that a basement level is not allowed for housing a separate rental unit different from the one above.
Properties with laneway suites typically have higher resale prices. The value of the property increases significantly with the addition of extra square footage from the new living space.
Like laneway suites, coach homes are part of a single-family lot, typically positioned towards the rear of the property. However, unlike laneway suits, coach homes have the option to be ‘stratified,’ meaning they can have their own legal title and be sold independently. Additionally, coach homes are generally more spacious and require more yard space.
The dimensions of a laneway suite in Toronto are regulated, with a maximum length of 10.0m and a maximum width of 8.0m. The height of the laneway suite is determined by the distance between the main residence and the laneway suite itself. If the distance between the two buildings falls within the range of 5.0 to 7.5m, the permitted height would be 4.0m.
The Affordable Laneway Suites Pilot Program provides eligible property owners with a forgivable loan to support the development of a laneway suite. This loan will be forgiven 15 years from the date when the first tenant occupies the laneway suite.
In Toronto, the timeline for designing and constructing a laneway suite can vary based on different factors. The design phase may take a few weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of the project and the speed of the approval process by the local authorities, such as the City of Toronto’s permitting department.
Construction in Toronto could take between 6 to 12 months or longer, depending on the project’s complexity and specific circumstances. It’s essential to consider the local zoning regulations and permit requirements in Toronto, which can affect the overall timeline for a laneway suite project.
Home renovations, additions, custom home builds and more. We help homeowners get their building permit fast with a complete set of drawings prepared in-house by our experts.
We work with restaurant owners, retail store owners, office managers and any other commercial owners to get their building permits approved fast and make their project reality.
We also specialize in working with all kinds of industrial properties, including distribution centres, warehouses and even grow houses that are sustainable and fully functional.
We work with contractors and builders to ensure any project goes smoothly and the building permits get approved fast. We provide a full range of construction management services.
