Garden suites
A detached, single-storey suite in the backyard. Living on one level makes a garden suite a good fit for parents and for anyone who wants to avoid stairs, now or later.
SERVICES
RESIDENTIAL
Garden Suites & ARUs
Garden suites, coach houses and other additional residential units (ARUs / ADUs): a second, self-contained home on your property for family, guests or rental, planned and built by one team across Durham Region and Kawartha Lakes.
01 / OVERVIEWGARDEN SUITES & ARUS
GARDEN SUITES & ARUS
A garden suite builder for Durham Region and Kawartha Lakes
A garden suite is a small, self-contained home in the backyard: its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom and sleeping space, on the same lot as the main house. Families build them for parents who want to stay close, for adult children starting out, for guests, or as a rental that helps carry the property.
Henley Contracting is a garden suite builder working across Durham Region and Kawartha Lakes. We plan and build garden suites, coach houses and other additional residential units (ARUs, also called accessory dwelling units or ADUs), from the first look at the lot to the day you hand over the keys.
A garden suite is a small building, but it is a real home. It needs the same care with approvals, servicing, comfort and finish as a house, on a much tighter footprint. That is where planning matters most.
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01 / A SECOND HOME
Self-contained living space, separate from the main house.
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02 / PLANNED FOR THE LOT
Placement, access and servicing worked out first.
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03 / DESIGNED TO FIT
A building that suits the house and the yard.
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04 / ONE TEAM
Planning, approvals support and construction under one roof.
02 / WHAT WE BUILDGARDEN SUITES & ARUS
Garden suites, coach houses and ARUs we build
Coach houses
A suite built above a detached garage. The garage below keeps parking and storage, and the living space above makes the most of a smaller yard. See also Garages & Accessory Buildings.
Accessible suites
Suites planned for ageing in place: step-free entries, wider doorways, roomy bathrooms and space to move. Planned from the start, these details cost far less than adding them later.
Rental and guest suites
A suite for tenants or visiting family, with its own entrance and privacy for both households. Sound, separation and a sensible layout matter as much as the finishes.
03 / APPROACHGARDEN SUITES & ARUS
What is an ARU, an ADU or a garden suite?
The names overlap, and municipalities do not all use them the same way. In general:
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01
Additional residential unit (ARU)
The term used in Ontario for a second or third self-contained unit on a residential property. It can be inside the house, attached to it or in a separate building.
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02
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU)
A common name for the same idea, used widely in North America.
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03
Garden suite
A detached ARU, usually a single-storey building in the backyard.
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04
Coach house
A detached ARU above or beside a garage. Some municipalities use the term for any detached suite.
Ontario allows additional residential units on many residential properties, but each municipality sets its own zoning rules for them. What your lot permits is one of the first things we confirm.
04 / WHY HENLEYGARDEN SUITES & ARUS
What matters when planning a garden suite
Six things decide whether a garden suite works on your property and what it will cost. We work through them with you before design is finished.
Zoning and approvals
Whether a detached unit is permitted, and its allowed size, height and position on the lot, are set by the municipality.
Servicing
Water, sewer or septic, power and heating for a second home. On a rural lot, the well and septic system need to be checked for the extra unit.
Access
A clear path from the street for residents, deliveries and emergency services, and room to build without damaging the yard.
Placement
Light, privacy, views and the yard you keep, for both the suite and the main house.
Layout
A compact plan that still feels like a home: storage, natural light and a bathroom and kitchen that work.
Use, now and later
A suite for a parent today may become a rental or a guest suite later. Planning for both keeps the options open.
05 / IN FOCUSGARDEN SUITES & ARUS
Planning a suite that feels like home
The best garden suites do not feel small. Good ceiling heights, windows placed for light and privacy, and built-in storage make a compact plan feel generous.
A suite is also lived in year-round, so comfort matters. Insulation, heating and cooling, ventilation and sound separation are planned with the same care as in a full-size home.
- A layout sized to how the people living there will use it
- Natural light, without looking straight into the main house
- A private entrance and outdoor space of its own
- Storage that keeps a small home uncluttered
- Step-free access where it is needed, now or later
- Finishes and a roof line that suit the main house
Not sure yet what your property allows? We can help you work out the scope and budget before plans are drawn. See Design-Build & Planning.
06 / PROCESSGARDEN SUITES & ARUS
How a garden suite project works
Most of the risk in a garden suite sits in the early questions: zoning, servicing and access. We answer those first, so the design and the price rest on solid ground.
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Discover
Tell us about the property, who the suite is for and roughly when you would like it. Tell us about your project. It takes a minute.
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Plan
We look at the lot, the zoning, the services and access, and your budget range, and turn your ideas into a clear scope.
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Design
Plans are developed with your designer and specialists, then priced and scheduled, so approvals and construction questions are answered together.
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Build
Our project team, carpenters and trusted trades build the suite, with care for the yard and the household living next door. You are kept informed at every stage.
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Complete
Final details, a walkthrough together and the handover of a finished, ready-to-live-in suite.
Already have plans for a garden suite or coach house? We can review them with you and price the build.
07 / SERVICE AREASGARDEN SUITES & ARUS
Where we build garden suites and ARUs
Not sure whether your property is in our area? Tell us about your project and we will let you know.
Durham Region
From our head office in Oshawa, we build garden suites, coach houses and ARUs across Durham Region, on town lots and rural properties.
Kawartha Lakes
To the north, we build garden suites and ARUs across Kawartha Lakes, in town, in the country and at the lake.
08 / APPROACHGARDEN SUITES & ARUS
Why owners build their garden suite with Henley
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01
A builder of full homes
We build custom homes, so a suite gets the same attention to structure, comfort and finish.
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Approvals questions answered early
Zoning, servicing and access are looked at before the design depends on them.
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03
Clear project planning
Scope, budget and schedule are defined before construction begins.
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04
Respect for the household
We plan the work around the family living in the main house.
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Regional experience
A family-run, local builder with our head office in Oshawa, building across Durham Region and Kawartha Lakes.
RELATED PROJECTSGARDEN SUITES & ARUS
Selected projects
Durham Region
QUESTIONSGARDEN SUITES & ARUS
Frequently asked questions
Can't find your answer? Tell us about your project and ask us directly.
What is a garden suite?
A garden suite is a detached, self-contained home in the backyard of a property with an existing house. It has its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom and sleeping space, and is usually a single storey.
What is the difference between an ARU, an ADU and a garden suite?
An additional residential unit (ARU) is the Ontario term for a second or third self-contained unit on a residential property. An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is another name for the same idea. A garden suite is one kind of ARU: a detached unit, usually in the backyard. A coach house is a detached unit above or beside a garage.
Can I build a garden suite on my property?
Ontario allows additional residential units on many residential properties, but each municipality sets its own rules for size, height and position on the lot. Servicing and access also matter. We confirm what your property allows early, before the design depends on it.
Can a garden suite be built on a rural lot with a well and septic system?
Often, yes. The well and septic system need to be able to serve the extra unit, and some properties need upgrades. We look at the servicing during planning so there are no surprises later.
Can you build a coach house above a garage?
Yes, where the municipality and the property allow it. A coach house keeps the garage for parking and storage and puts the living space above, which can suit a smaller yard.
Can a garden suite be designed for a parent who is ageing in place?
Yes. Single-level living, step-free entries, wider doorways and a roomy bathroom are easiest and least costly when they are planned from the start.
Can a garden suite be used as a rental?
Many owners build a suite for family first and rent it later, or rent it from the start. Whether and how a unit can be rented depends on the municipality, so it is worth confirming during planning.
What should I have ready before starting a garden suite project?
It helps to know the property address, who the suite is for, your rough timing and the investment range you have in mind. A survey, photos of the yard or sketches are useful if you have them, but you do not need them to start the conversation.
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS HERE
Tell us about your project.
A few details is all we need. Sarah from our office will text you shortly from (905) 576-9714.
