What you can build on your lot, which renovations pay back, the city programs and permits that apply, and the rules that surprise Toronto homeowners — answered with the 2026 rules.
Adding units and building
Can I build a garden suite in Toronto?
Yes. Toronto has permitted garden suites — a detached second home in the backyard — since 2022 on most residential lots, subject to size, height and setback limits and a building permit. Laneway suites have been allowed on lots next to a public lane since 2018.
Full guide: Laneway suites: cost and rulesTry it: What can I build on my lot?
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
How many units can I have on my lot in Ontario?
Ontario law lets most urban residential lots have up to three units — for example a house, a basement apartment and a garden suite — without a rezoning. Toronto goes further, allowing up to four units city-wide and sixplexes in some areas.
Full guide: Basement and garden suites, multiplexesTry it: What can I build on my lot?
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
How do I sever a lot in Ontario?
You apply for consent to the local Committee of Adjustment (or the land division authority outside cities), showing the new lots meet zoning or seeking minor variances. Expect drawings, a survey, application fees, circulation to agencies and conditions such as parkland fees before the severance is final.
Full guide: Lot severance: consent, cost and processTry it: Land value estimator
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Toronto?
Usually yes for a private tree with a trunk diameter of 30 cm or more, under Toronto’s tree by-law, and for any tree on a ravine-protected property. Removing one without a permit can bring large fines, and replacement planting or cash-in-lieu is often a condition.
Full guide: Mistakes building a custom home
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
Do I need TRCA approval to build near a ravine?
If your property is in a regulated area — near a valley, stream, wetland or shoreline — you need a permit from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority under Ontario Regulation 41/24 before you get a building permit for most work.
Full guide: Ravine lots and walk-out basements
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
What is being built near my home in Toronto?
The City’s Application Information Centre lists development applications by address, with status and documents. Large approved projects nearby can affect views, traffic and value, and buyers should check before they buy.
Full guide: Buying near a planned developmentTry it: What’s being built near me
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
Renovations and value
Which renovations add the most value before selling?
Low-cost work: paint, repairs, lighting, landscaping and decluttering usually return the most. Kitchens and bathrooms help if they are dated, but full renovations right before a sale rarely return their cost.
Full guide: Renovation payback before you sellTry it: Home value estimator
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
Should I renovate or move?
Compare the full cost of renovating, including living elsewhere during work, with moving costs — land transfer tax, commission and legal fees can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. If the house works for you and the lot is right, renovating often wins; if the location is the problem, it rarely does.
Full guide: Renovate or move?
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
Do solar panels add value to a home in Ontario?
They can lower energy bills, but resale value depends on whether the panels are owned or leased and how buyers and appraisers treat them; leased systems can complicate a sale.
Full guide: Solar panels and home value
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
Are there rebates for heat pumps in Ontario?
Yes, there are government and utility rebate programs for heat pumps and energy upgrades, but amounts and eligibility change often. Check the current program terms before you sign a contract.
Full guide: Heat pumps: rebates and home value
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
Does finishing a basement add value?
A permitted, well-finished basement adds usable space and appeals to buyers; a legal second unit adds rental income potential. Unpermitted or poorly done work can hurt value and insurance, so pull permits.
Full guide: Underpinning vs benching a basement
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
City programs, taxes and rules
What is Toronto’s basement flooding protection subsidy?
For work completed on or after 12 November 2025, Toronto pays 80% of invoiced costs up to set limits — $1,600 per backwater valve, $2,250 for a sump pump, $300 for a battery backup, $500 for a plumbing assessment and $400 for capping the weeping tile — to a total of $6,650 per property. Apply within two years of the work.
Full guide: Basement flooding subsidy
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
How is property tax calculated in Toronto?
Your MPAC assessed value multiplied by the City’s total tax rate — 0.767311% for residential property in 2026. Assessments still use January 2016 values, so tax depends on your home’s 2016 value relative to others, not its price today.
Full guide: Property tax and MPAC explained
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
How do I appeal my MPAC property assessment?
File a Request for Reconsideration with MPAC by the deadline on your notice, with evidence such as comparable assessments. If you disagree with the result, you can appeal to the Assessment Review Board.
Full guide: MPAC assessments explained
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
Do Toronto homeowners have to clear the sidewalk of snow?
In most of Toronto the City clears sidewalks mechanically after significant snowfall, but property owners are still responsible in areas the City does not plow, and for keeping steps, walkways and their own property safe.
Full guide: Snow and sidewalk rules
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
What is title fraud and how do I protect my home?
Title fraud is when someone uses forged documents or stolen identity to transfer or mortgage your home. Protect yourself with an owner’s title insurance policy, by watching for mail about mortgages you did not take out, and by checking title if a property is vacant or rented.
Full guide: Title fraud and the assurance fund
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
Is Etobicoke still a separate city?
No. Etobicoke was amalgamated into the City of Toronto on 1 January 1998, so Etobicoke homeowners pay Toronto property tax and buyers pay Toronto’s municipal land transfer tax.
Full guide: Is Etobicoke still a city?
Last reviewed October 2026 · Jatin Dua, Broker of Record
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Jatin Dua · Broker of Record · RE/MAX Quantum Realty · Toronto and the GTA