Garden suites · Toronto
Garden suites in Toronto. We draw what fits your backyard.
Nine certified models or a custom design, with a zoning and fire-access check for your lot first. With a model, permit-ready drawings take as little as one week.
City plan, certified model or custom.
Since July 2025, the City has offered free “Made in Toronto” pre-approved garden and laneway suite plans; a building permit is still required, and site-specific zoning, fire access and servicing are still reviewed. We work all three routes; the right one depends on your lot and your budget.
Use the City's free plan on your lot
Toronto's “Made in Toronto” plans are free to use. You still need a site plan, zoning review, fire-access check and a permit application. We prepare and file all of it.
Pick a certified model
Nine designs with structural and HVAC included. Drawings ready for the permit application in as little as one week, with optional 10' × 10' or 10' × 8' extensions on most models.
Design something custom
Two storeys, a basement, a studio over a garage, an irregular lot. We design the suite around your lot, then draw it as one coordinated permit set.
Does your backyard qualify? Find out before you spend.
Three measurements: two from your survey, one you pace out. The checker applies the by-law's separation, setback, floor-area and soft-landscaping numbers and Toronto Building's fire-access limits.
Your lot
Along the side of the house. Pace it out, or measure it on the survey.
Usually the street in front of the house.
Result for the sample lot
Likely eligible
- Footprint, est.
- 44 m²
- 478 sq ft
- Floor area, est.
- 44 m²
- 478 sq ft
- From the house
- 4.0 m
- one storey
Our models within your floor area
How we worked it out (5)
- Roughly 27 ft (8.2 m) of depth and 20 ft (6.1 m) of width are available after the 4.0 m separation and setbacks, if the suite's side walls have no windows or doors (a side wall with windows or doors needs 1.5 m).
- The walk of about 35 ft (11 m) is within the 45 m limit, so access alone doesn't call for sprinklers.
- We confirm the hydrant distance from City mapping. It needs to be within 45 m of where the truck parks.
- 50% of the rear yard must stay soft landscaping. That leaves about 52 m² for the suite and all paving, and about 44 m² for the suite once a path and bike parking are allowed for.
- One storey keeps the height at 4.0 m with only 4.0 m of separation; floor area is capped at 60 m². On a lot deeper than 45.0 m from the street to the rear lot line, the rear setback is half the suite's height instead: 2.0 m for a 4.0 m suite.
A first check, not a zoning review: lot coverage, protected trees, easements and existing buildings also matter. Numbers from Chapter 150.7 of Zoning By-law 569-2013 and Toronto Building, checked October 2026.
Nine certified models, ready for your lot.
The rule that decides most projects: 45 m.
Toronto Building (the City's permit office) measures the walk from the street to your suite's door. Within 45 m, no extra measures. Between 45 and 90 m, you add sprinklers or fire-resistant construction, plus a flashing light outside and smoke alarms. A hydrant must sit within 45 m of where the truck parks.
- Path at least 1.0 m wide and 2.1 m high (0.9 m if sprinklered)
- A path shared with a neighbour can work with a Limiting Distance Agreement (an agreement with your neighbour, registered on title)
- We draw the sketch the City asks for and file the agreement when needed
How a garden suite project works with us.
- 01Start
Survey in, zoning review back
We check separation, setbacks and soft landscaping against Chapter 150.7, plus protected trees and fire access, and tell you what fits.
- 02Your call
Choose: certified model or custom
A certified model is a flat $5,000 plan set. Custom designs are quoted after the zoning review.
- 03As little as one week for a model
Drawings, coordinated
Architectural, structural and HVAC drawings plus the site plan, drawn by one office so the sheets agree with each other.
- 04City review
Submit, answer, permit issued
We file the application and answer every question from the City's examiner until the City decides.
- 05Construction
Build in a factory or on site
Design-build from $112,000 with factory-built panels, or hand the approved drawings to your contractor.
Watch
Garden suites, explained by Architalcan
Short videos from Architalcan's YouTube channel. Nothing loads until you press play.
Panels built in a factory, screw-in steel pile foundations, one contract.
If you want one firm from survey to keys, our design-build garden suites start from $112,000.
The wall panels are built in a factory, which cuts the time spent building in your backyard.
Screw-in steel piles (helical piles) carry the suite, so a tight backyard does not need a full excavation.
Choose one of our 9 certified models, or have a suite designed around your lot.
One firm from survey to keys. We take care of the permits, the inspections and the final report, and our fee is quoted in writing after the zoning review.
What clients say about working with us.
“Rocco was efficient and effective. He worked closely with us to ensure the design meets our needs and recommended valuable solutions that we previously weren't aware of. We got the permit within a reasonable amount of time despite submitting it just before the holidays.”
“We have done 3 renovation projects with Architalcan Design and are more than happy with all of them. The team does a great job in a timely manner, professionally and on budget.”
“Architalcan Design was professional, kept us informed, and the final result exceeded our expectations. Our basement is now the perfect living space.”
Garden suites, answered.
Sources: Zoning By-law 569-2013, Chapter 150.7 Garden Suites; Toronto Building: providing emergency access to a new garden suite.
01Are garden suites allowed everywhere in Toronto?
Garden suites are permitted as-of-right (allowed without a rezoning or minor variance) on lots with a house, townhouse or low-rise apartment building in Toronto's residential zones, as long as the suite meets the size, height and setback rules in Chapter 150.7. The site-specific questions are separation from the house, setbacks, soft landscaping, protected trees and fire access.
02How big can a garden suite be?
Up to 120 m² of gross floor area (two storeys), or 60 m² if one storey, and always smaller than the main house. Height is 4.0 m within 7.5 m of the house and 6.3 m beyond that.
03What is the fire-access rule?
A path at least 1.0 m wide and 2.1 m high from the street to the suite door, no longer than 45 m, with a hydrant within 45 m of where the truck parks. Up to 90 m is accepted with sprinklers or fire-resistant construction, plus a flashing light outside and smoke alarms.
04Should I use the City's free pre-approved plans or one of yours?
The City's free plans are a good starting point if one fits your lot as drawn, since any change ends its pre-approved status. Our certified models come with structural and HVAC design included, and their drawings can be ready for the permit application in as little as one week. Either way you need a site plan, a zoning review and a building permit, which we handle.
05Do I need parking for a garden suite?
No vehicle parking is required. Two bicycle parking spaces are.
06Can I sever the garden suite onto its own lot or sell it?
No. The City does not permit severing a garden suite from the main house. It can be rented, used by family or used as a home office.
07Can the garden suite have a basement?
Yes. A basement is allowed, and its floor area can be left out of the suite's gross floor area, so it doesn't count toward the 60 m² or 120 m² cap. Its walls still have to meet the suite's setbacks; we confirm the floor area and the setbacks in the zoning review.
Send the address. Get a zoning review and a quote.
Email or WhatsApp the survey if you have one, or call 647-654-6898 and ask for Rocco.