Home Additions & Second Storeys in Vaughan

Typically, the City of Vaughan processes single-family residential permits within approximately 10 business days once a complete application is submitted. However, this timeline can extend if your project requires reviews from other departments, such as Urban Design for heritage properties or the TRCA for environmentally sensitive areas. We manage the entire submission through the ePlans portal to ensure all technical drawings are compliant from day one, minimizing the risk of re-submissions.

Additions in Vaughan are governed by the Comprehensive Zoning By-law, which limits building height and lot coverage based on your specific zoning district (e.g., R1, R2). Most residential zones allow for a maximum lot coverage of roughly 35-40%, including all structures on the property. We conduct a thorough zoning analysis during our initial consultation to determine exactly how large your addition can be while maintaining the required side and rear-yard setbacks.

While it is technically possible to stay in the home during a rear extension, second-storey additions usually require the roof to be removed, making the main floor uninhabitable for a period. For safety and comfort, we generally recommend that families relocate for 3 to 5 months during the primary structural phase. We coordinate our schedule tightly to minimize this 'out-of-home' time, focusing on getting the new structure enclosed and weather-tight as quickly as possible.

It depends on the size of the addition and the capacity of your existing furnace and AC units. For a single-room extension, we can often extend the current ductwork; however, for a full second-storey addition, your existing system may be undersized. In these cases, we may recommend a dedicated heat pump or a high-efficiency upgrade to ensure the new space receives proper airflow and climate control without straining your old equipment.