Duplex with suites
Live in one half and rent its suite, the other half and its suite. Up to four homes on a standard lot.
Duplexes →
Duplex, Triplex, Multiplex and ADU Specialists
Trusted Vancouver Duplex Builders
Side-by-side and front-to-back duplexes, with or without suites, designed, permitted and built by one family-run team. We tell you what your lot allows before anyone pays for design.
5.0 5 Google reviews- 25+ years of family building experience
- Design, permits and construction on one contract
- Daily photo updates through your client portal
What we build
Our core services
Four ways we help Greater Vancouver owners get more homes out of their lot, designed, permitted and built by one team.
Duplexes
Side-by-side or front-to-back, with or without suites. Two homes, or four with a suite in each half.
Learn more →Multiplexes
Three to six homes on one lot, now allowed outright on most Vancouver R1-1 lots.
Learn more →Laneway Homes
A second, detached home at the back of your lot, off the lane, while you keep the house at the front.
Learn more →ADUs
Garden suites and secondary suites that add a rental or a home for family.
Learn more →We also build triplexes, townhomes, custom homes, renovations and additions and commercial projects.
Start here
What can you build on your lot?
Most former single-family lots in Vancouver are now zoned R1-1, which allows far more than one house. These are the headline numbers for each type of build.
Find your build
Start with what you want the lot to do
The right project depends on your plans for the property. Here is where each goal usually leads.
Triplex or multiplex
Three to six strata homes, each sold on its own title. Frontage and site area decide the count.
Multiplexes →Laneway home
A detached home off the lane for rental income or family, while you stay in the house at the front.
Laneway homes →Suite or garden suite
A self-contained home inside the house or in the rear yard, without redeveloping the lot.
Suites & ADUs →
Before
After
Our work
From an empty lot to finished homes
Every project we build, from a garden suite to a six-home multiplex, runs through the same team from start to finish: feasibility, architectural design, the permit file, interior design and construction. There are no handoffs between separate consultants, which is where most delays and surprise costs start.
Drag the divider: all the way right shows the empty lot, all the way left shows the finished build.
See our work →How it works
Six steps from lot check to keys
The City’s median permit time for new low-density homes was 20.0 weeks in August 2026. A complete, coordinated application is how you stay at or under it.
- 01
Lot check & feasibility
Zoning, frontage, site area, trees and servicing, checked against current rules before any design money is spent.
- 02
Architectural design
In-house design to your zone’s rules, with suites, layout and energy requirements planned from the first sketch.
- 03
Permits
Sewer and water connection permit first, then the development and building permit, with us as your representative.
- 04
Interior design
Finishes chosen while the permit is in review, so the two run in parallel rather than one after the other.
- 05
Price & schedule in writing
A quote that sets out what is included, and a construction schedule with a target move-in date.
- 06
Construction
Daily photo and video updates in a private client portal, inspections at each stage, then occupancy.
Reviews
What our clients say
Google review
Had a great experience with T City Developments. The team was professional, helpful, and easy to work with throughout the process. They paid attention to the details, communicated well, and made sure everything was done properly. I’m very happy with the quality of their work and would definitely recommend T City Developments to anyone looking for a reliable and professional builder.
Client testimonial
After struggling to find a reliable builder for our duplex project, we found T-City, and they delivered beyond expectations. They helped us maximize our lot, managed all the permits, and finished on time with zero surprise costs. Highly recommend for multi-unit builds.
Client testimonial
We hired T-City to build a laneway home on our property in Burnaby, and the process was smooth from start to finish. They handled permits, design, and construction with total transparency. The portal updates were a nice touch and gave us peace of mind.
Client testimonial
T-City built our dream home from the ground up, and the experience couldn't have been better. Tommy and Andrew were professional, organized, and genuinely cared about getting the details right.
Common questions
Questions, answered
Can I build a duplex on my lot in Vancouver?
Most former single-family lots in Vancouver are zoned R1-1, where a duplex is allowed outright on a site of at least 306 m² (3,294 sq ft) with 7.3 m (24 ft) of frontage. Each half can add a secondary suite. Send us the address and we will confirm what yours allows.
How many homes can I build on a Vancouver lot?
In R1-1, a multiplex can hold 3 or 4 homes on a 10.0 m lot of 306 m², 5 on a 13.4 m lot of 464 m², and 6 strata homes (or up to 8 secured rental) on a 15.1 m lot of 557 m². A duplex with suites reaches 4 homes.
How big can a laneway house be?
In Vancouver, the lesser of 0.25 times the site area or 186 m² (2,000 sq ft). That is about 1,000 sq ft on a 33 × 122 ft lot and about 1,525 sq ft on a 50 × 122 ft lot. A laneway house goes with a single detached house, not a duplex.
Can I add a suite or garden suite without redeveloping?
Usually, yes. A secondary suite goes inside the existing house, and a garden suite or laneway house is built in the rear yard. The main house stays as it is, and you can normally live in it throughout.
How long do permits take?
The City of Vancouver reported a median of 20.0 weeks for new low-density homes, including duplexes, and 15.6 weeks for standalone laneway houses in August 2026. Complete, well-coordinated applications move fastest.
What does the lot check cost?
Nothing. Send the address and we reply within one business day with what the lot allows and what to look at next. It covers Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam and North Vancouver, with no obligation.
Free lot check
Find out what your lot allows
Send us the address. We check the zoning, lot size and frontage and reply within one business day, with no obligation.
- Emailinfo@tcitydevelopments.com
- Tommy778-239-2078
- Andrew604-230-9134
- Service areaVancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam & North Vancouver