- North York, Toronto & GTA
- (416) 273-9700
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- Garden Suites / ADU
Garden Suites & ADU
Toronto
Toronto-compliant garden suites and laneway houses that generate rental income and add significant home value. Full design, permit, and build service.
Since the City of Toronto expanded garden suite permissions across all residential neighbourhoods, building a detached backyard dwelling has become one of the most financially rewarding moves a Toronto homeowner can make. A well-built garden suite generates substantial rental income, houses adult children or aging parents with full independence, and adds significant appraised value to your property.
Total Reno & Design is one of Toronto’s most experienced garden suite and laneway house builders. We guide you through every step — from initial feasibility and City of Toronto zoning review, through architectural design, engineering, permit application, construction, and final occupancy sign-off.
50+
Garden Suites Built
25+
Years Experience
100%
Permit to Occupancy
4.9★
Google Rating
What Makes Our Service Different
DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
Garden Suite Design That Maximizes Your Lot
A well-designed garden suite makes the most of your allowable building envelope while feeling like a thoughtfully resolved home rather than a box in your backyard. Our designers work with your specific lot geometry, tree coverage, and access conditions to create a suite that enhances your entire property.
Single and two-storey designs up to the City of Toronto maximum
Roof terraces and outdoor decks that expand usable living space
Large glazed walls and skylights for maximum natural light
Exterior materials selected to complement your main house
Completed garden suite — North York property
One-bedroom garden suite interior — Etobicoke
INTERIOR FINISHING
Fully Finished and Move-In Ready
Our garden suites are delivered completely finished and ready to occupy on day one. Every suite includes a full kitchen with appliances, a complete bathroom, in-suite laundry, engineered hardwood or luxury vinyl plank flooring, pot lights on dimmer circuits, and a ductless mini-split heating and cooling system.
Full kitchen: quartz counters, custom cabinetry, and appliances
Complete bathroom with tile shower, vanity, and heated floor
In-suite washer and dryer hookup with stacked unit installed
Ductless mini-split heat pump for year-round comfort
LANEWAY HOUSES
Laneway Houses: Premium Urban Living
If your property backs onto a City of Toronto public lane, you may be eligible for a laneway house — a full detached dwelling fronting the lane with its own address, utility connections, and completely independent living. Laneway houses command premium rents and add exceptional long-term appraised value.
Fronts onto the laneway with its own civic address and entrance
Separate utility connections from the laneway where available
Two-storey configurations achieving maximum square footage
Premium rents due to fully independent address and access
Two-storey laneway house — Toronto Junction
Site preparation and foundation — Scarborough project
FOUNDATION & SITE WORK
Foundation Systems for Toronto Conditions
The right foundation for your garden suite depends on your soil conditions, lot drainage, and proximity to trees. We use three systems based on site conditions: reinforced concrete slab on grade, helical steel piers for tree-sensitive sites, and strip footings for two-storey designs with storage below.
Reinforced concrete slab on grade for standard Toronto lots
Helical steel piers where tree root protection is required
Strip footings and crawl space option for two-storey suites
Drainage membrane and weeping tile on all foundation types
$2,200–$3,800/mo Rental
Toronto garden suites generate $26,000 to $45,000 in annual rental income depending on size and location.
Full Permit to Occupancy
We manage every step from City permit application through to final occupancy sign-off. You get a fully legal suite.
Certified Arborist Partners
We work with certified arborists to protect trees and keep your permit application on track from day one.
What’s Included
- Free Property Feasibility Assessment — Lot dimensions, setbacks, tree coverage, and zoning confirmed before you commit to anything
- Architectural Design & 3D Visualization — Custom suite design maximizing your allowable envelope with full 3D visualization for your review
- Structural Engineering — Foundation, floor, wall, and roof structures fully engineered and stamped for permit submission
- City of Toronto Permit Application — All drawings, structural engineering, arborist reports, and forms prepared and submitted by our team
- Site Preparation & Foundation — Tree protection, utility locates, and foundation system installed to engineering specifications
- Utility Connections — Water, sanitary sewer, gas, and electrical connected from main house or street service
- Structural Framing & Exterior Envelope — Wood frame, high-performance insulation, sheathing, cladding, roofing, windows, and doors
- Full Interior Finishing — Kitchen, bathroom, laundry, flooring, cabinetry, lighting, and HVAC — move-in ready
- Exterior & Landscaping Coordination — Entrance pathway, exterior lighting, and landscaping coordination to enhance your property
- Final Inspections & Occupancy Permit — All City of Toronto inspections coordinated. Occupancy permit obtained before handover
Our Process
01
Free Feasibility Review
We assess your lot dimensions, zoning, tree coverage, and access confirming eligibility before any commitment.
02
Architectural Design
Custom suite design with floor plans, elevations, exterior materials, and full 3D visualization.
03
Engineering & Permit Submission
Structural engineering completed. Full permit application submitted to City of Toronto Building Division.
04
Site Preparation
Utility locates, tree protection, access pathway, and site setup with care for your existing garden.
05
Foundation
Foundation system installed to engineering drawings — slab, helical piers, or strip footings as specified.
06
Framing & Exterior Envelope
Structure framed, insulated, clad, and roofed. Windows and doors set. Utilities roughed in.
07
Interior Rough-In & Inspections
All mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rough-in completed and inspected before closing walls.
08
Interior Finishing
Insulation, drywall, flooring, kitchen, bathroom, cabinetry, lighting, and HVAC all completed.
09
Final Inspection & Occupancy
All City inspections completed. Occupancy permit obtained. Walkthrough with you before handover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most residential properties in Toronto low-rise residential zones are eligible. Key factors include rear yard dimensions, setbacks, existing accessory structures, and tree coverage. We perform a free eligibility assessment for every client.
The complete timeline from initial design to occupancy is typically 14 to 20 months. This includes 2 to 3 months for design, 8 to 16 weeks for City of Toronto permit approval, and 7 to 9 months for construction.
Key rules include: maximum one garden suite per property, must be detached from the main house, minimum rear yard setback of 1.5 metres, maximum height of 6 metres for one-storey and 7.5 metres for two-storey, and lot coverage limits.
Trees protected under the City of Toronto Private Tree Bylaw require an arborist report as part of your permit application. We work with certified arborists to assess tree impact and design suites that protect significant trees.
A garden suite sits in the rear yard accessed from the main street or through the property. A laneway house is specifically located adjacent to a public laneway and fronts the lane with its own separate address.
A well-designed Toronto garden suite typically rents for $2,200 to $3,800 per month depending on size, location, and finishes, generating $26,000 to $45,000 in annual rental income.
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