Working out whether a project pays
Before any drawings, two questions decide a project: what can be built here, and does it pay. These guides show how to test a lot and a deal before you commit money.
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Land
How to Run a Site Analysis Before You Buy a Toronto Multiplex Lot
Before zoning permissions or legal due diligence even apply, a site analysis checks whether the ground, the services, and the neighbours will let you build what a Toronto lot's zoning allows on paper.
August 11, 2026
Land
What You Can Build on Your Toronto Lot, Based on Its Zoning and Size
Five lot inputs (zoning, frontage, lot area, lane access, and heritage overlay) decide whether your Toronto property qualifies for a basement suite, a garden suite, a multiplex, or a severance. This guide ranks every option and the exact measurement that rules each one in or out.
August 4, 2026
Land
The role of due diligence in property transactions
July 31, 2026
Land
How to assess land purchase for development
July 12, 2026
Common questions
How many units can I build on a Toronto lot without rezoning?
Up to 4 units (a multiplex: duplex, triplex, or fourplex) as-of-right citywide, following a May 10, 2023 zoning by-law amendment. In nine wards, the Toronto and East York district plus Ward 23 (Scarborough North), that rose to up to 6 units, in a detached building, after a June 2025 amendment. A citywide six-unit permission has not been adopted. Confirm your specific lot's zone and overlays before assuming a number.
From: The Toronto Multiplex Feasibility Study: A Complete Guide
Where do I check a Toronto property's zoning before making an offer?
The City of Toronto's Zoning By-law Interactive Map, reached from the Zoning By-law 569-2013 pages on toronto.ca, or searched directly at map.toronto.ca/maps/map.jsp?app=ZBL_CONSULT.
From: How to Run a Site Analysis Before You Buy a Toronto Multiplex Lot
Can I add a basement apartment to my house in Toronto?
Yes. Secondary suites, including basement apartments, are permitted in all Toronto residential zones, generally one per detached, semi-detached, or townhouse dwelling unit, under Zoning By-law 569-2013 s.150.10.
From: What You Can Build on Your Toronto Lot, Based on Its Zoning and Size
Do I need parking for a multiplex in Toronto?
No. Since February 3, 2022, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are not required to provide any on-site parking spaces under Toronto's zoning by-law.
From: The Toronto Multiplex Feasibility Study: A Complete Guide
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on a Toronto lot I'm buying?
Yes, if the tree is 30 centimetres (12") or more in diameter measured 1.4 metres (4'-7") up the trunk. It's protected under Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 813, the Private Tree By-law, and injuring or removing it without a permit is prohibited.
From: How to Run a Site Analysis Before You Buy a Toronto Multiplex Lot
How many units can I build on my Toronto lot as-of-right?
Up to four units (duplex, triplex, or fourplex) on any R, RD, RS, RT, or RM-zoned lot citywide since May 2023. Five or six units, in a single detached building, are as-of-right only in nine specific wards as of September 2026, not citywide. The building is capped by height in metres, not by a fixed storey count.
From: What You Can Build on Your Toronto Lot, Based on Its Zoning and Size
Have a lot in mind?
A TESA feasibility study answers two questions about a property: what can be built here, and does it pay. One coordinated study, one report, one point of contact.
Other topics
Zoning and what you can build
Toronto allows up to four homes on most residential lots, and up to six in nine wards, in a detached building only. These guides set out what is as-of-right and how to check a specific lot.
4 guides
Garden and laneway suites
A second building at the back of the lot is often the simplest way to add a home. These guides cover which lots qualify and what a suite costs to build.
3 guides
Severance and approvals
Splitting a lot or asking for a variance means an application to the Committee of Adjustment. These guides explain the legal tests and what happens at the hearing.
2 guides
Construction costs and steel framing
Hard costs and the framing system decide most of a multiplex budget. These guides break down the numbers and explain light steel framing.
5 guides
Financing and CMHC
How a project is financed decides how much equity it needs. These guides explain CMHC's MLI Select and construction financing.
5 guides
Partnerships and investors
Most multiplex projects are built with more than one person's money. These guides explain how general and limited partners share the risk and the return.
3 guides
Learning and house hacking
Some owners start by living in one unit and renting out the rest. Others want the full discipline first. These guides cover both routes.
5 guides