Contact Us

Garden Suites

The City of Toronto is currently in the process of developing an as-of-right zoning by-law for ‘garden suites’ on properties in residential neighbourhoods. Garden suites would extend the current permissions for laneway suites to residential properties that do not currently benefit from abutting a publicly designated laneway, providing improved housing flexibility for Torontonians across the city.

Toronto Laneway Housing Project

WHAT ARE GARDEN SUITES?

COMING SOON TO TORONTO!

Considered by City Council February 2nd

Garden suites are detached secondary dwellings located in the rear yard of a principal residence. They are intended to be a modest-scale separate housing unit that integrates sensitively within existing residential neighbourhoods. The goal is to extend the current detached secondary suites permissions to properties across the city, including garden suites, as non-severable and ancillary to the principal dwelling. Garden suites promise to be a perfect solution to housing loved ones, generating rental income, or gaining additional live-work space, while increasing housing flexibility on your property.

DRAFT BYLAW

After much anticipation, a draft zoning bylaw amendment for as-of-right garden suites is now available to the public. The requirements set forth have been refined from the City Planning recommendations published in June of 2021 following consultation with community groups and municipal stakeholders. While this draft is not a final binding policy, it is a major step towards the completed bylaw. The draft still requires council approval and ratification before garden suite projects can move forward in the city, however we are optimistic that there will not be any substantial modifications made as part of that process. Read our blog for information on the draft bylaw requirements.
LEARN MORE

Garden Suites

GET INVOLVED

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

We will be broadcasting all policy updates and opportunities to get involved through our social media. Follow us to stay up-to-date!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Be the first to get policy and project updates!

 

NEW BLOG POST: PROCLAMATION ON GARDEN SUITES

READ THE BLOG

Read the full blog post.

TORONTO’S GARDEN SUITES DRAFT BY-LAWS

VIEW THE REPORT

View the draft by-law recommendations.

TORONTO’S GARDEN SUITES PROPOSALS REPORT – JUNE 2021

VIEW THE REPORT

View the preliminary report of recommendations prepared by municipal planning staff to be presented to the Planning and Housing Committee on June 28th.

CITY OF TORONTO

GARDEN SUITES – CITY OF TORONTO

As part of Toronto’s Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) initiative, the City of Toronto is exploring the implementation of garden suites in residential neighbourhoods across the city.

MEDIA

COULD A BACKYARD HOUSE LET TORONTONIANS GROW OLD AT HOME?

THE STAR
     

GARDEN SUITES COULD BE COMING SOON TO TORONTO

URBAN TORONTO
     

MODERN LIVING: HOUSING BY THE YARD

NATIONAL POST
     

TORONTO WANTS TO ADD GARDEN SUITES TO NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSING OPTIONS

TORONTO STAR
     

TORONTO COULD SOON ALLOW GARDEN SUITES AS A NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTION

BLOGTO
     

GARDEN SUITES: A NEW STRATEGY FOR ADDING GENTLE HOUSING DENSITY

THE GLOBE AND MAIL
     

LANEWAY HOUSING & GARDEN SUITES IN TORONTO

DAVIES HOWE – LAND DEVELOPMENT ADVOCACY & LITIGATION
     

ARE GARDEN SUITES GOING TO BUILD TORONTO OUT OF THE HOUSING CRISIS?

VIEW THE VIBE
     

GARDEN SUITES COULD BE COMING TO TORONTO

TRNTO
     

CITY OF TORONTO TO CONSIDER ALLOWING GARDEN SUITES

STOREYS
     

WHY TINY BACKYARD HOMES MIGHT BE THE NEXT BIG THING IN TORONTO

CBC