# Garden Suite Bylaw Toronto | By-law 574-2022 Review > By-law 574-2022 zoning review for Toronto garden suites: setbacks, size, height, coverage, trees, ravine and HCD overlays checked, $1.5K-$3.5K. URL: https://gardensuitetoronto.ca/garden-suite-bylaw-compliance/ ![Zoning review memo with setback calculations beside a garden suite site plan](/images/misc/zoning-review-memo-with-highlighted-setback-and-lo.webp) # Garden Suite Bylaw Compliance Toronto, ON | By-law 574-2022 Zoning Review Last updated: October 13, 2026 Garden Suite Toronto [/ →](/) provides garden suite bylaw compliance reviews, By-law 574-2022 zoning checks, overlay screening and minor variance risk assessments throughout Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, East York, York and Old Toronto, backed by 20+ years combined Toronto design-build experience. Our written zoning review checks your design against By-law 574-2022, Zoning By-law 569-2013 and every overlay that touches your lot. You get a compliance memo with fixes in 1 to 2 weeks, before you file a permit or pay for more drawings. $1.5K - $3.5K 1-2 weeks - Written feasibility before deposit - 12-14 week permit average - Fixed price, 5-stage draws - P.Eng-led, BCIN Part 9 Request a Free Feasibility Review [#service-lead-form →](#service-lead-form) Call (437) 291-2577 [tel:+14372912577 →](tel:+14372912577) ## Thanks, we have your lot details. A member of our Toronto team will call you within 24 hours during business hours (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-3pm). Pre-Contract Feasibility ## Is your lot right for bylaw compliance? Send your address details. We reply within 24 hours with next steps and the feasibility fee for your lot. - 24-Hour Callback - 12-14 Week Permits - 10-Year Structural Warranty - $5M Liability + WSIB - 22+ Years, P.Eng-Led What's Included ## What You Get With Our Bylaw Compliance Service A written zoning review of your design against By-law 574-2022, Zoning By-law 569-2013 and every overlay. - Setbacks and 5.0 m / 7.5 m separation - Size (40 vs 60 sqm), height and lot coverage - Soft landscaping minimums - Tree, ravine and HCD overlay screening - Variance risk assessment - Written memo with practical fixes ## Garden Suite Bylaw Compliance in Toronto, Explained Bylaw compliance is the work of proving a garden suite design meets every rule that applies to it before the City reviews it. In Toronto that starts with By-law 574-2022, the 2022 by-law that allows garden suites (also called backyard homes or additional residential units) on most residential lots. But it rarely ends there. Trees, ravines, heritage districts and energy rules all apply to the same small building. ### What does a garden suite zoning review cost in Toronto? Our compliance reviews run $1,500 to $3,500. Checking an existing design costs $1,500 to $2,000. A full memo with tree, ravine and heritage screening and on-site fire access measurement costs $2,000 to $2,800. A variance strategy with redesign options costs up to $3,500. Compare that with a rejected permit: a redraw and resubmission usually costs $3,000 to $8,000 in fees and 8 to 12 weeks of lost time. On a Toronto rental suite, 10 lost weeks can mean $6,000 to $8,000 in missed rent. ### What does By-law 574-2022 actually regulate? By-law 574-2022 amended Zoning By-law 569-2013, mostly Chapter 150.7, to set: maximum size (60 sqm, or 40 sqm on narrower lots), height tied to distance from the main house and lot line, an angular plane, rear and side setbacks, separation from the main house (generally 5.0 m, or 7.5 m for taller suites), lot coverage and soft landscaping. It also requires fire access from the street, generally 45 m with a 1 m clear path. Those are the numbers the Toronto Zoning Examiner checks first. ### Who checks garden suite compliance in Toronto? The City checks it during permit review. The point of our service is to check it first, with the same rules and the same rigour. Our team, led by Dmitri Varga, P.Eng and BCIN Part 9, includes an in-house zoning expeditor who files garden suite permits every month. We have assessed hundreds of Toronto lots since the by-law passed, so we know the common failure points. ## What Our Compliance Review Covers ![Zoning review checklist with By-law 574-2022 setback separation coverage and height items ticked beside a Toronto lot survey](/images/content/zoning-checklist-with-by-law-574-2022-setback-sepa.webp) ### 1\. Core zoning rules Size, height, angular plane, rear and side setbacks, separation from the main house, lot coverage and soft landscaping, calculated from your survey and design. ### 2\. Fire access The 45 m travel distance and 1 m clear path measured on site, with obstacles such as meters, air conditioners and steps noted. ### 3\. Tree Protection By-law Trees on your lot and neighbouring lots that meet the protected size, their protection zones and whether an arborist report or permit is needed. ### 4\. Ravine and TRCA Whether your lot falls in a TRCA regulated area or under the Ravine and Natural Feature Protection By-law, and how that limits the footprint. ### 5\. Heritage Whether your lot sits in a Heritage Conservation District and what Heritage Preservation Services is likely to ask about massing and materials. ### 6\. Variance risk If anything fails, we rate the variance risk and give the simplest redesign that avoids one. ## The Rules Most Designs Break | Rule | What we see go wrong | Typical fix | | --- | --- | --- | | Maximum size | Drawn to 60 sqm on a lot capped at 40 | Redesign to measured size | | Separation | Measured to the wrong wall or deck | Move suite or reduce height | | Height and angular plane | Loft roof breaks the plane | Lower plate height or shift loft | | Soft landscaping | New patio and paths push it below minimum | Swap hardscape for planting | | Fire access | Gas meter or steps narrow the 1 m path | Relocate item or add sprinklers | | Trees | Foundation inside a protection zone | Helical piles or shift footprint | ![Before and after site plans showing a 60 sqm garden suite design reduced to 42 sqm to meet lot coverage on an East York lot](/images/content/before-and-after-site-plans-showing-a-60-sqm-suite.webp) > **Why designs pass one checklist and fail another** > > A suite can meet every number in Chapter 150.7 and still be refused because its foundation sits in a protected tree’s root zone, or because the lot sits in a TRCA regulated area. The City reviews all of these together. We do too. ## When Is a Minor Variance Worth It? A variance from the Committee of Adjustment can win you a few extra square metres or a loft, but it adds roughly two months, a City fee and some uncertainty, because neighbours can comment and decisions can be appealed. It is often worth it on large custom suites in areas like The Beaches or Leaside. It is rarely worth it to gain one or two square metres. Our permit application service [/garden-suite-permits/ →](/garden-suite-permits/) handles the hearing when a variance makes sense. ## Where Compliance Fits in Your Project If you have not chosen a design yet, start with a garden suite feasibility report [/garden-suite-feasibility/ →](/garden-suite-feasibility/) , which includes eligibility and envelope checks. If you already have drawings from another designer, a compliance review catches problems before the Examiner does. When you are ready to design, our architectural design service [/garden-suite-design/ →](/garden-suite-design/) starts from the same measured envelope. Transparent Pricing ## How Much Does Garden Suite Bylaw Compliance Cost in Toronto? Fees depend on lot overlays and whether drawings already exist. Credited toward design or permit service with us. ### Design check Starting from $1,500 - $2,000 - Review of existing drawings - Size, height, setbacks, separation - Coverage and soft landscaping - Written list of fixes Get a fixed-price quote [/contact/ →](/contact/) Most chosen ### Full compliance memo Starting from $2,000 - $2,800 - Everything in Design check - Tree, ravine and HCD screening - Fire access measurement - Variance risk rating Get a fixed-price quote [/contact/ →](/contact/) ### Variance strategy Starting from $2,800 - $3,500 - Everything in Full memo - Redesign options to avoid variance - Committee of Adjustment outlook - Neighbour impact notes Get a fixed-price quote [/contact/ →](/contact/) All prices in CAD before HST. Zero deposit on feasibility, 10% at contract, then 5 draws: permit, foundation, framing, finishes and occupancy. No change orders without your written approval. See every service on our Toronto garden suite pricing page [/pricing/ →](/pricing/) . Why Garden Suite Toronto ## Why Choose Us for Bylaw Compliance? ### Every overlay, not just one We check zoning, trees, ravine, heritage and Toronto Green Standard together, because that is how the City reviews them. ### Measured on site Separation and fire access are measured in your yard, not just read off a survey. ### Hundreds of lots reviewed Since By-law 574-2022 passed, our team has assessed hundreds of Toronto lots and knows where designs usually fail. ### Fixes, not just flags Each issue in the memo comes with the simplest design change that solves it. ### Honest variance advice We tell you when a variance is worth the extra two months, and when a small redesign is smarter. ### Fee credited forward If you move on to design or permit with us, the review fee is credited. Our Process ## How Does Our Bylaw Compliance Process Work? One contract, one team, one schedule. Each step has a clear output before the next one starts. 1. 1 ### Document intake Day 1-2 We collect your survey, any drawings and photos, and pull the zoning and overlay maps for your address. 2. 2 ### Site check Week 1 We measure separation, fire access and trees on site, because surveys miss meters, steps and fences. 3. 3 ### Rule-by-rule review Week 1-2 Every relevant clause of By-law 574-2022 and Chapter 150.7 is checked, plus tree, ravine and heritage overlays. 4. 4 ### Compliance memo Week 2 A written memo listing what passes, what fails and the simplest fix for each issue. 5. 5 ### Next step Review call We walk you through the memo and the options: adjust the design, seek a variance or change build type. ## Ready to price bylaw compliance for your lot? The feasibility report turns your address into eligibility, envelope, utility capacity and a budget range, before any contract. Request a Free Feasibility Review [/contact/ →](/contact/) (437) 291-2577 [tel:+14372912577 →](tel:+14372912577) Our Work ## Recent Bylaw Compliance Work in Toronto Site photos from Toronto projects. No addresses, no faces. Click any photo to enlarge. See all 10 Toronto case studies with prices [/projects/ →](/projects/) Client Proof ## What Clients Say About Our Bylaw Compliance Work Feedback from homeowners we have designed, permitted and built for across Toronto. Project prices are the fixed contract amounts. Pat and Jen K. • The Beaches $342,000 full custom with second-storey loft > “The quote they gave in March was the price we paid in October. Not a single change order. We rented the suite to our daughter and her partner, the mortgage math works.” Helen and Bao N. • Bloor West Village $312,000 custom suite with loft > “Our lot backs toward the Humber and we assumed TRCA would kill the idea. Dmitri's team mapped the regulated area, moved the footprint three metres and kept the loft. TRCA signed off and the permit came through in 13 weeks. The suite now rents to a nurse at St. Joe's and covers most of our line of credit.” Stefan R. • Parkdale $242,000 prefab-hybrid rental > “The report showed our 60-amp panel could not carry a suite. They coordinated the Toronto Hydro upgrade early, so it never held up the build. Rent started in month six.” Common Questions ## Bylaw Compliance FAQs: Toronto Homeowner Questions Straight answers on cost, timelines, by-laws and permits for Toronto lots. ### What is By-law 574-2022? By-law 574-2022 is the City of Toronto by-law, passed in 2022, that permits garden suites in the rear yards of most residential lots across the city. It amended Zoning By-law 569-2013, mainly Chapter 150.7, to set the rules for size, height, setbacks, separation from the main house, lot coverage, soft landscaping and fire access. It works alongside other rules that still apply: the Tree Protection By-law (Chapter 813) for protected trees, the Ravine and Natural Feature Protection By-law and TRCA regulations near ravines and watercourses, Heritage Conservation District plans reviewed by Heritage Preservation Services, the Ontario Building Code Part 9 and the Toronto Green Standard. A compliant suite has to satisfy all of them at once. ### How big can a garden suite be under By-law 574-2022? Generally up to 60 sqm of floor area, with a 40 sqm cap on narrower lots or small rear yards. The real maximum on your lot also depends on coverage, setbacks and separation. Our review calculates your actual number. ### How far does a garden suite need to be from the main house? Generally 5.0 m from the main house, increasing to 7.5 m when the suite is taller. The exact distance depends on suite height and wall openings, so we confirm it against the design. ### What setbacks apply to garden suites? Setbacks from the rear and side lot lines depend on lot size, suite height and whether walls have windows facing the lot line. Taller suites sit further back. The review lists each setback for your design and lot. ### What is soft landscaping and why does it matter? Soft landscaping is planted area such as lawn or garden beds. Toronto requires a minimum share of the rear yard to stay soft. Big patios, paths and the suite itself all reduce it, so we check the numbers before the Examiner does. ### Can I build a garden suite in a Heritage Conservation District? Yes, subject to Heritage Preservation Services review of massing and materials. Plan for extra review weeks. We prepare the heritage package with the permit set. ### What if a protected tree is in my backyard? Trees covered by the Tree Protection By-law need an arborist report, and injuring or removing them needs a permit. Often we can site the suite around the tree and use helical piles to protect the roots. ### What is a minor variance? A minor variance is permission from the Committee of Adjustment to depart slightly from a zoning rule, such as a setback or height. It usually adds about two months and a City fee. We assess the risk and the alternatives in the review. ### Can you review drawings from another designer? Yes. Our design check reviews existing drawings and lists every fix before you file, which is often cheaper than answering an Examiner's Notice later. ### Does By-law 574-2022 allow rentals? Yes. Garden suites can be rented long term under the Residential Tenancies Act, and short-term rentals under 28 days need an STR By-law 547-2017 licence. ### Still have a question about your lot? Send us the address and lot width. We will tell you what applies before you pay for anything. Request a Free Feasibility Review [/contact/ →](/contact/) Call (437) 291-2577 [tel:+14372912577 →](tel:+14372912577) Keep Exploring ## Related Services ![Garden suite permit drawings and site plan laid out on a table](/images/misc/garden-suite-permit-drawings-site-plan-and-zoning-.webp) ### Garden Suite Permit Application In-house zoning expeditor manages the full submission: Zoning Examiner, utilities, TRCA and heritage liaison. $4.5K - $8.5K [Garden Suite Permit Application →](/garden-suite-permits/) ![Site evaluator measuring a staked garden suite footprint in a Toronto backyard](/images/misc/site-evaluator-with-a-clipboard-and-laser-measure-.webp) ### Garden Suite Site Evaluation A written report confirming lot eligibility, allowable envelope, utilities and budget before any contract. $1.2K - $2.8K [Garden Suite Site Evaluation →](/garden-suite-feasibility/) ![Garden suite floor plans and a 3D rendering on a designer's desk](/images/misc/architect-desk-with-garden-suite-floor-plans-eleva.webp) ### Custom Garden Suite Architectural Design Zoning-first plans, permit drawings and renderings by a BCIN-qualified Part 9 team. $8.5K - $18K [Custom Garden Suite Architectural Design →](/garden-suite-design/) ![Detached two-storey garden suite with cedar siding in a Toronto backyard at golden hour](/images/misc/detached-two-storey-garden-suite-with-cedar-siding.webp) ### Detached Garden Suite Construction 40-60 sqm detached backyard homes, designed, permitted and built under one fixed-price contract. $180K - $340K [Detached Garden Suite Construction →](/detached-garden-suites/) ![](/images/misc/modern-garden-suite-with-cedar-siding-and-standing.webp) 24-hour callback during business hours ## Start Your Bylaw Compliance Project With a Written Feasibility Report Send us your address and lot width. You get a written feasibility report with eligibility, envelope, utilities and a budget range, then a fixed-price quote. Request a Free Feasibility Review [/contact/ →](/contact/) Call (437) 291-2577 [tel:+14372912577 →](tel:+14372912577) - Zero deposit on feasibility - Fixed-price contract - No change orders without written approval