The number of units you can create depends on how much space you have. 

Record the area for each floor

There are a few ways to measure the area of a home, from more general to more precise. Check out real estate search websites, like housesigma or zillow. These sites often list the precise floor area by floor for a home. If you can’t find floor areas on a real estate listing, try one of these options:

Google Maps
Google maps has a measurement tool. Right click when on this website, and select measure. You can click on points on the map to find distances. 

City of Toronto Maps
The City of Toronto’s zoning map website also has a measurement function which can be found on the left hand side. You can click on points on the map to find distances.  

Measure it yourself!
You can alway take a tape measure and measure your home on site.

Remember if you are measuring the exterior of your house, some of that space includes the thickness of your exterior walls which you won’t be able to use as unit space.

How many units will fit in your house will depend on how big you want those units to be. 

To the right we have outlined some typical ranges for different unit types. This range is a general recommendation, but you will sometimes find units of each type outside this range.


Note! Please remember that there are lots of factors that may influence the number of units that you can fit in your house beyond just the floor area. The arrangement and shape of your house can have a significant impact. Check out the ‘Pick a Project’ pages to see more details for different kinds of projects and consult a licensed professional before committing to a project.

Once you know how big your house is you can test out what size units can fit on each floor. Below are two examples of ways you could divide a house:

Flats
One of the easiest ways to create new units in a home is to divide it up by floor. Each floor can be a separate unit.

Add and Divide Floors

If your floor area is big enough, you can also divide floors into two or more units. This can complicate the requirements for how you exit the building — be sure to review your ideas with a licensed professional.

If you find that an existing home does not have enough floor area to meet your needs, you may be able to add on to it. Small additions can increase the area of a floor, or multiple floors. They can even be a free standing unit.

Remember the maximum number of units currently allowed in a house in Toronto is four. You can add a detached garden suite in the backyard for a total of five units. Check out the ‘Pick your Project’ pages for a larger list, and work with a license professional before you build to make sure you are conforming to all regulations and building codes.

Remember that if your house has more than one floor, it also has stairways, which you shouldn’t count as habitable unit space. If you have a stair, be sure to subtract this area from each floor area when considering livable unit layout.