Toronto & GTA's Premier Second Suite Specialists

Turnkey Legal Second Suites &
Income Properties
in Toronto & The GTA

Complete engineering, zoning permits, and structural build management to maximize your property's cash flow and lifetime equity.

15+ Years Experience
$3,200+ Avg. Monthly Rental Income
100% OBC Code Compliant
$2M Liability Insurance
5-Yr Workmanship Warranty
Fully Licensed & Insured
WSIB Clearance Certificate
Ontario Building Code Certified
Occupancy Permit Guaranteed
Home Depot Pro Certified
Our Services

Legal Second Suite Services Toronto & GTA

From structural basement conversions to fully detached garden suites - we handle every phase of your income property build, entirely in-house.

Toronto Rental Market — 2026
Your Property Can
Pay For Itself
$2,100 Legal Basement Avg. Rent /mo
$3,400 Garden Suite Avg. Rent /mo
+22% Property Value Increase
Check My Property Eligibility →
Jacko Contracting team on second suite project in Toronto GTA
500+ Projects Completed in GTA
Why Choose Us

Why Toronto Homeowners Choose Jacko for Legal Suites

Every legal second suite involves layers of regulatory, structural, and financial complexity. Jacko Contracting eliminates all of it with one accountable team.

Full Permit Management — We Handle City Hall

We prepare and file all architectural drawings, engineering calculations, and permit applications directly with Toronto and GTA city halls. You never sit in a permit queue.

Ontario Building Code Specialists

Every suite we build meets OBC firewall assemblies, STC soundproofing ratings, independent egress, and mechanical separation standards — fully protecting you legally as a landlord.

Occupancy Permit — Guaranteed Issuance

We don't hand over keys until every municipal inspection is cleared and your Occupancy Permit is issued. Your rental income starts on a legally bulletproof foundation.

5-Year Warranty + $2M Liability Insurance

Your investment is fully protected. We carry $2M in liability coverage, hold a WSIB clearance certificate, and back every build with a 5-year written workmanship warranty.

How It Works

How We Build Legal Second Suites in Toronto

From your first call to the day you collect rent — we manage every phase with total transparency and zero surprises.

Site Feasibility Audit

We meticulously cross-examine your property lot line setbacks, verify the mandatory 1.0m–1.2m emergency fire path clearances, and evaluate localized municipal zoning bylaws before a single dollar is committed.

Architecture & Permitting

Our internal design-build team engineers structural blueprints, HVAC calculations, electrical distribution layouts, and handles all permit submittals directly with city halls — no third-party delays, no waiting.

Structural Construction

Turnkey site execution adhering rigorously to the Ontario Building Code, including specialized firewall assemblies, soundproofing acoustic indexes, independent egress paths, and complete mechanical rough-ins.

Final Inspection & Handover

We navigate and clear all municipal building, plumbing, and electrical inspections, securing your formal Occupancy Permit — delivering a 100% tenant-ready, income-generating asset.

Get Started

Request a Secondary Suite
Property Consultation

Not sure if your property qualifies? Our second suite specialists will review your lot, zoning, and structure — completely free, zero obligation.

Free preliminary zoning & eligibility assessment
No-obligation feasibility consultation
Estimated rental income projection for your property
Response within 24 business hours guaranteed
Common Questions

Legal Second Suite FAQs

Everything Toronto homeowners ask us before starting their income suite project — answered by our in-house specialists.

A legal second suite — also called a secondary dwelling unit or income suite — is a self-contained residential unit built within or on the same lot as an existing home, that meets all Ontario Building Code (OBC) requirements and holds a valid Occupancy Permit from your municipality. Unlike illegal basement units, a legal suite protects your home insurance, mortgage standing, and exposes you to zero bylaw fine risk. In Toronto and across the GTA, legal second suites include basement apartment conversions, garden suites, laneway suites, garage conversions, and duplex splits.
Under Bill 23 (More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022) and Toronto's updated zoning bylaws, up to 3 residential units are now permitted as-of-right on most single-family residential lots across Ontario — meaning no rezoning application or Minor Variance is required in the majority of cases. This typically means your main house, a basement suite, and a backyard ADU (garden suite, laneway suite, or garage conversion). We confirm your specific property's eligibility during your free feasibility consultation.
Cost varies significantly by suite type. A legal basement apartment conversion typically ranges from $85,000–$145,000 all-in. Basement underpinning (if ceiling height is below 6'5") adds $35,000–$70,000. A bungalow-to-duplex conversion runs $130,000–$195,000. A custom garden suite costs $280,000–$420,000. A laneway suite ranges from $320,000–$480,000. A garage conversion is the most affordable at $120,000–$200,000. All pricing includes permits, engineering, mechanical systems, and finishes. We provide a full itemized quote after your free site audit — no hidden costs.
Yes - absolutely. Any second suite in Toronto or the GTA requires a building permit from your municipality, stamped architectural drawings, and sequential inspections at each construction stage. Operating an unpermitted rental unit is illegal under the Ontario Building Code and can void your home insurance, trigger bylaw orders, and result in significant fines. Jacko Contracting handles 100% of the permit process in-house - from preparing drawings to filing with city hall and clearing all inspections - so you never have to deal with a single government office.
Timeline depends on the suite type. A legal basement apartment conversion takes 14–22 weeks total (permit approval 4–8 weeks + construction 10–14 weeks). A garage conversion is the fastest at 18–28 weeks total. Garden suites take 28–38 weeks. Laneway suites take 30–42 weeks. Bungalow-to-duplex conversions take 20–28 weeks. We provide a firm, written project schedule at the time of contract - no open-ended timelines, no surprises.
A legal basement suite holds a valid building permit and Occupancy Permit, meets all OBC requirements (minimum 6'5" ceiling height, egress windows, fire separation, independent HVAC, and smoke/CO detectors), and is registered with your municipality. An illegal suite has none of these - and as a landlord, it exposes you to voided home insurance, mortgage violations, bylaw fines of up to $100,000, and potential eviction orders. We also offer full retroactive legalization for existing unauthorized suites - auditing the unit, identifying every code gap, and bringing it into full OBC compliance.
Toronto's 2026 rental market is extremely strong for income suites. A legal 1-bedroom basement suite averages $2,100–$2,600/month. A 2-bedroom basement suite commands $2,600–$3,200/month. A custom garden suite earns $3,000–$4,200/month. A laneway suite generates $3,400–$4,800/month. A duplex conversion (both units combined) produces $4,200–$5,400/month. Most suite types pay back their full construction cost within 4–7 years through rental income alone, while also adding 15–35% to your property's appraised value.
The best suite type depends on four factors: your lot configuration (interior lot vs. laneway access), your existing structures (detached garage, coach house), your basement ceiling height, and your investment goals. A basement conversion is the most affordable starting point. A garage conversion offers the best cost-to-income ratio if you already have a detached structure. A garden or laneway suite delivers the highest rental income. A duplex conversion creates the strongest appraised property value. We assess all options for your specific property during your free consultation and recommend the highest-return path forward.
Yes — significantly. A permitted, income-generating legal suite adds 15–35% to your home's appraised value, depending on suite type and rental income generated. Multi-unit properties (duplexes, triplexes) are valued on an income capitalization model rather than comparable sales - meaning a legal duplex or triplex can appraise 25–40% higher than its single-family equivalent. This increased appraised value unlocks higher refinancing potential, stronger equity, and improved borrowing capacity for future investments.
Yes — we offer full retroactive legalization and retrofit services. We audit your existing unauthorized unit against every current OBC requirement, identify all code gaps (ceiling height, egress windows, fire separation, independent HVAC, electrical panel, smoke detectors), and bring the entire unit into full compliance under a single building permit. Retroactive legalization is often significantly more cost-effective than a ground-up conversion, and it permanently eliminates your liability as a landlord. We handle every permit submission, required upgrade, and municipal inspection from start to finish.
In most cases, no. Basement conversions, garage conversions, garden suites, and laneway suites can all be completed while you remain in your home. The only exceptions are major underpinning projects or duplex conversions involving significant main-floor structural modifications — both of which we discuss and plan around clearly upfront. Temporary utility disruptions (water, electricity) are scheduled in advance with minimum windows. We phase construction to minimize impact on your daily living throughout the entire project.
We build legal second suites throughout the City of Toronto and across the Greater Toronto Area, including Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Burlington, Ajax, Whitby, Pickering, Scarborough, Etobicoke, and North York. Every project is handled by our in-house team — no subcontracting - regardless of municipality. Permit requirements and bylaw specifics vary by city, and we are fully familiar with each municipality's process.
Still have questions? Book a free consultation — we'll assess your property and answer everything in person.
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