About Garden Suites

A garden suite is a fully-equipped living space situated on the same lot as a main house, often nestled in the backyard. It provides a private, independent area ideal for guests, family members, or rental income. These suites are designed to blend seamlessly with the main property. Garden suites add both functionality and value to your home.

Our Process

Our process begins with a free consultation to assess your property’s suitability. We handle all permits, design, and construction, ensuring a seamless experience. From start to finish, we manage every detail to bring your garden suite vision to life.

Design & Permits

We obtain a survey, arborist reports (if required), work on architectural design, then apply for all the required city permits for your garden suite.

Construction & Utilities

We handle the entire construction process, including excavation, building the garden suite and connecting all necessary utilities.

On-Site Consultations

During our on-site consultations, we can review your ideas, suggest our own, determine the best location for your garden suite, and identify any pre-work to make construction more cost-effective.

The Finishing
Touches

We complete the project with professional landscaping and high-quality finishes to ensure your garden suite is perfect.

FAQ

How big can a garden suite be?

A garden suite can be up to 1300 square feet (120 square meters) in size. This calculation does not include the basement, so you can potentially have additional space below ground level.

What can I use it for?

You can use a garden suite to generate additional income by renting it out or to provide housing for loved ones like parents, family, or friends. It's suitable for both short-term and long-term rentals.

Do I need permission from my neighbours ?

No, you do not need permission from your neighbours, only a building permit from the City of Toronto is required. However, it is a good idea to inform your neighbours about construction out of courtesy.

Do I need a permit to build a garden suite?

Yes, a building permit is required prior to construction. In order to obtain a permit you will also need a site survey. We can help you with both.

Does it need a driveway?

No, you do not need to build a driveway for the garden suite. The minimum access requirement is that the path to it needs to be at least 1m wide and have a height clearance of 2.1m.

How much does it cost?

The cost of a garden suite can range from $500 to $600 per square foot. Prices depend on factors such as ease of access to the backyard, type of garden suite, level of finishes, available utilities, and the time of year when construction is happening.

What is included in the price?

Everything! This means, surveyor, architect, arborist, city permits, utilities connection, excavation, shoring, materials, construction, engineering reports, site visits, interior/exterior finishes, appliances, landscaping.

Ask our competitors which items they included in your quote!

How do I know if I'm allowed to build a garden suite on my property?

Garden suites are allowed in the following areas according to City of Toronto's Zoning Bylaw:

“R” – Residential Zone
“RD” – Residential Detached Zone
“RS” – Residential Semi-detached Zone
“RT” – Residential Townhouse Zone
“RM” – Residential Multiple Zone

Find your zoning designation here: https://map.toronto.ca/maps/map.jsp?app=ZBL_CONSULT