Laneway Housing in Toronto
Fact 1: There are 300km worth of public laneways behind freehold homes in the City of Toronto. These laneways largely provide street access for small garages built on the properties they face.
Fact 2: Toronto is facing an all-time low of affordable housing and an all-time high of demand for homes.
With both of those facts in mind, let us take a look at laneway housing, and see if we can’t suggest a solution to the second problem.
Laneway housing is a novel new type of construction development that aims increase housing supply in Toronto by converting laneway frontage into small, accessible suites. As of 2018, a laneway housing by-law has been approved by the City of Toronto thanks to advocacy of companies like Lanescape. This by-law provides strict guidelines to ensure the aesthetic and space of the neighbourhoods these homes are developed in remain unbothered, as well as ensure safe access for emergency services.
Before the 2018 ruling, it was nearly impossible to get space zoned for laneway housing, but with these rules and a desire by the city council to make this process as easy as possible, laneway housing is now a much more viable option for homeowners.
To explain the concept further, a laneway suite is a self-contained residential unit located on the same lot as a detached freehold house or townhouse. Generally, it is set up against the edge of the laneway itself.
Laneway suites are excellent options for an income property, either via long-term rental or short-term, student living, or multi-generational housing. These suites can provide new rental housing opportunities within some of Toronto’s oldest and most established neighbourhoods.
Laneway suites, with their small footprint, lend themselves well to modern, modular design. With space-efficient design and non-reliance on driveways, the laneways of the future have the potential to be their own lively pockets of community.
The city of Toronto is even going so far as to help fund the development of laneway housing via the Laneway Suites Initiative, if you adhere to a certain set of guidelines. The program offers a $50,000 forgivable loan for eligible owners to go towards the development of a laneway suite. The loan will be forgiven 15 years from the date of occupancy of the suite, provided you follow set rental controls and occupant income restrictions. For more information on this program, check it out on the City of Toronto’s Website.
While all of this sounds amazing, there is a lengthy set of zoning rules that must be followed to apply for a building permit for your laneway development. A couple of the most basic rules are:
· A 10 metre maximum building depth
· A straight, 1 metre wide pathway along the entirety of the lot, from the side of the laneway suite to the main road, largely for the sake of emergency services access
· A 5 metre gap between the development and the main house if the laneway suite is 1 storey tall, and 7.5 metres if it is two stories tall
· The land between the houses must be 85% soft landscaping (soil ground is more absorptive in the case of heavy rains and can help the city avoid flooding – see our blog on the topic!)
· Room for 2 bike parking spots must be provided for the laneway suite
· The laneway suite must not be taller than main house
While not particularly entertaining, these guidelines show considerate design on the part of the city which keep things safe, progressive, and aim to allay the fears of communities that worry that laneway housing will clutter their neighbouring spaces.
If you have a lot on a laneway, we would strongly suggest looking into laneway housing. There are a number of architects in Toronto already specialized in modular style laneway housing. The Architect Builder’s Collective, Lanescape, Alleysuites are all companies to check out.
Have any questions about laneway housing? Send us a message and we’ll be happy to help you figure out your options!