Garden Suites & ADUs
ADU and Garden Suite Builders in Greater Vancouver
A self-contained second home on your property, whether it is detached in the garden or built into the house.
- 3 types
- suite, garden suite, laneway
- No
- rezoning in most cases
- 1
- contract, design to keys
- 25+ yrs
- Family building experience
Drag to compare
See the Difference
An accessory dwelling unit is a self-contained home on the same lot as a principal residence, with its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance. In Greater Vancouver that usually means a detached garden suite or laneway house at the rear, or a secondary suite created inside the existing house. Both add a full home without subdividing your land.
Before
After
- 01
A full second home
Its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance, on the lot you already own.
- 02
Rental income
A suite or garden suite can be rented independently of the main house.
- 03
Room for family
Keep parents, adult children or a caregiver close but independent.
- 04
One contract
Design, permits and construction under one contract, with the price in writing before we break ground.
Two types
Inside the House, or In the Garden
Both give you a complete home with its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance. Cost, privacy and disruption are what differ.
Secondary Suite
A self-contained home inside the existing house, usually on the lower floor.
- Cost:
- Lower: it uses space that already exists.
- Work:
- Kitchen, bathroom, separate entry, fire and sound separation.
- Trade-off:
- You give up space, and two households share a building.
Garden Suite
A detached home in the rear yard, with no shared walls and its own outdoor space.
- Cost:
- Higher: it is a new building from the ground up.
- Privacy:
- No shared walls, no noise transfer, usually higher rent.
- During the build:
- The main house is untouched, so you live normally.
The details
Everything to Know Before You Build
Rules, costs and timelines, checked against each city’s own bylaws and fee schedules.
01
What counts as an ADU?
An accessory dwelling unit is any self-contained home that shares a lot with a principal residence. The three common forms in Greater Vancouver are the secondary suite built inside the existing house, usually in a basement; the garden suite, a detached building in the rear yard; and the laneway house, a detached building addressing a rear lane.
All three give you a complete home with its own kitchen, bathroom and private entrance. What separates them is cost, disruption, and how they count under your municipality’s density rules.
Key points
- Secondary suite: self-contained home inside the existing house
- Garden suite: detached home in the rear yard
- Laneway house: detached home addressing a rear lane
02
How do ADUs count under the new density rules?
They count toward your total. Provincial small-scale multi-unit housing legislation sets the number of dwelling units a lot may have — three on lots of 280 m² (3,014 sq ft) or less, four on lots between 280 m² and 4,050 m², and up to six within 400 m of frequent transit. An ADU is a dwelling unit, so it uses one of those slots.
That is worth understanding before you commit. On many lots the choice is not "ADU or nothing" but "one ADU behind the existing house, or redevelop the whole lot into three to six units". They are very different projects with very different budgets, and the right answer depends on what you want the property to do for you.
03
How big can a detached ADU be?
Each city sets its own limit, and the differences are large enough to change what you build.
| City | Detached ADU size |
|---|---|
| Vancouver | Laneway house: the lesser of 0.25 × site area or 186 m² (2,000 sq ft), with a single detached house only |
| Burnaby | Regulated as a principal building, so size is set by height, setbacks and lot coverage. Allowed on lots without a lane |
| Surrey | Coach house or garden suite: 35 to 75 m² (377 to 807 sq ft), up to 120 m² (1,292 sq ft) using unused main-house floor area |
| Richmond | Counts within the lot’s overall floor area: 0.6 FAR on the first 464.5 m² of lot, 0.3 after |
04
Garden suite or secondary suite: which should I build?
A secondary suite is the cheaper option because it uses space that already exists. You are adding a kitchen, a bathroom, separate entry, fire separation, sound insulation and often egress windows — real work, but no foundation, roof or new servicing. The trade-offs are that you give up space inside your own home and the two households share a building.
A garden suite costs more because it is a new building from the ground up, but it is genuinely separate. Its own outdoor space, no shared walls, no noise transfer, and typically higher rent. It also leaves the main house untouched, so you keep living normally through construction.
05
What does an ADU cost to build?
We price after feasibility and design. Detached ADUs carry a high cost per square foot because foundation, roof, servicing and permit costs spread across a small floor area. Secondary suites are cheaper in absolute terms but can surprise owners when existing conditions — old wiring, low headroom, undersized services — need to be brought up to standard.
The honest answer on either is that the number depends on your building and your lot, and we would rather assess it properly than quote a range that turns out to be wrong.
Key points
- Detached or interior, which is the largest single factor
- Servicing: running water, sewer and electrical, or upgrading what exists
- For suites: headroom, egress, fire separation and sound insulation
- For garden suites: foundation, tree retention and lane or side access
- Parking requirements, where they still apply
- Finish level, which you control during interior design
06
How does T-City handle an ADU project?
On one contract, through the same six steps as every project: feasibility, in-house architectural design, city permits with us acting as your representative, interior design in parallel, the price and schedule set out in writing, then construction with daily photo and video updates through your client portal.
On ADU projects that portal earns its keep, because you are usually living on site throughout and want to see progress without standing in the middle of it.
07
What warranty applies to an ADU?
New homes built by a BC Housing Licensed Residential Builder must carry third-party home warranty insurance, known as 2-5-10 coverage: materials and labour for 12 months on most defects (24 months for major systems such as electrical, plumbing and heating), 5 years on the building envelope, including water penetration, and 10 years on structure.
We confirm the warranty provider and policy for your home in writing before construction starts.
Project showcase
From Vision to Reality.
The journey
How We Work
A clear, step-by-step process from the first lot check to the day you get the keys.
01
Lot check & feasibility
Zoning, frontage, site area, trees and servicing, checked before any design money is spent.
01 / 0602
Architectural design
In-house design to your zone’s rules, with suites, layout and energy needs planned from the first sketch.
02 / 0603
Permits
Sewer and water connection permit first, then the development and building permit, with us as your representative.
03 / 0604
Interior design
Finishes chosen while the permit is in review, so the two run side by side.
04 / 0605
Price & schedule in writing
A quote that sets out what is included, and a schedule with a target move-in date.
05 / 0606
Construction & keys
Daily photo and video updates in your client portal, inspections at each stage, then the keys.
06 / 06The T-City promise
One Team, No Surprises.
Most delays and surprise costs start in the handoffs between a designer, a permit consultant and a builder. We keep all three with one team, and put the price in writing first.
Price in writing. The price and schedule are set out in writing before we break ground.
One contract. Design, permits and construction with one team, so nothing falls between consultants.
Rules checked at the source. Every zoning figure is checked against the city’s own bylaw before design starts.
Daily updates. Photos and video from site in your private client portal.
Questions about warranty or after-care?
Ask Our Team“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.”
Common questions
Questions, Answered.
What is the difference between an ADU and a laneway house?
A laneway house is a type of ADU — a detached one addressing a rear lane. ADU is the broader term covering laneway houses, garden suites and secondary suites.
Can I have both a secondary suite and a laneway house?
On many lots, yes. Each counts as a dwelling unit toward the total your lot permits, so it depends on lot size and transit proximity.
Do I need to rezone to build an ADU?
Generally no. Provincial legislation requires municipalities to permit additional units on lots previously restricted to single detached housing without a rezoning application.
Can I sell an ADU separately?
Not in most cases. ADUs stay on the same title as the principal residence. If you want individually sellable homes, a strata-titled duplex or multiplex is the route.
How long does an ADU take to build?
Permitting is usually the longest phase. We set the construction schedule and a target move-in date before we break ground, and in-house design and permit management keep it realistic.
Ready to Start Your Project?
Send us the address. We reply within one business day, with no obligation. Or call 778-239-2078.