Laneway suites in residential neighbourhoods in Toronto and East York have been approved by city council after a zoning change.
Laneway suites are a part of complete communities providing more opportunities for people to live in ground floor housing, for residents to live close to where they work, shop, and play and can help make the city’s urban lanes more green, liveable, and safe.
CTV News Toronto reports that the entrance of each suite must be no more than 45 metres away from a public street so it can be accessed by Toronto Fire Services emergency vehicles if need be.
Suites must be no more than two storeys or six-metres-tall and can only contain a single unit; must be separated from the rear of existing homes by a distance of five to 7.5 metres, depending on their height and must also be setback from the rear property line by at least 1.5 metres with dimensions not exceeding eight metres in width and 10- metres in length.
Between 100 and 300 laneway suites are expected to be constructed.