8 Tips for Building an In-Law Suite

In a world where the economy is unstable and the cost of living creeps higher and higher, more and more homeowners are turning to the idea of an in-law suite or in-law apartment, to ease the emotional and financial burdens of everyone in the family. It’s a way to give your parents or in-laws a place to call their own in which they can retain privacy, independence, and dignity. Adding on to your house also gives you the benefit of keeping your loved ones close without sacrificing your precious privacy in the process.

The number of multigenerational households is growing across North America. It’s time for you and your family to embrace this trend that could change your life for the better. In this article, the contractors at Top Home Builders will go over the basics of in-law suites and what you need to consider before building one.

1. Check Local Building Codes

Before you invest money in developing your own in-law unit, do your research and find out if your municipality or city ward allows the construction of such a suite in the first place. Some cities will ban the construction, or at least impose some restrictions. For example, some codes may limit the number of rooms your suite may contain. How many permits total you will need may be determined by your style of kitchen and if your suite is fully detached from the primary residence. 

Here are some other typical requirements you may need to consider for your mother-in-law suite plans: 

• An outdoor entrance to the suite that is different from the main home’s entrance
• Distinctive sewer and water connections, although some cities let you run three different lines with just one permit
• Off-street parking access like a driveway or a garage
• On the site where the suite is built, there must be a full-time residence for which this new construction is an offshoot

Unless your suite is located in a basement with a walkout, you may want to reconsider your location. The easiest way to find success is to provide your parents or in-law with a full kitchen, full bathroom, and a bedroom at the minimum. This helps to avoid people stepping on each others’ toes throughout the household.

4. Keep Utilities Separate from Main Home

It’s good to invest time and money into keeping utilities separate from your suite and the main home. You can save energy by turning off the power if it isn’t being used. You’ll also have an easier time renting it out to tenants and keeping track of expenses.

6. Best Design Tips for In-Law Suite

As you’re designing your in-law suite, try to remember that the people who reside there may change through the years, so keeping a basic design to accommodate the most diverse set of people possible will serve you well in the long run. 

• Think about wider doorways, handrails, grab bars in the bathrooms, and non-slip flooring throughout
• Ensure there are separate air conditioning and furnace controls, as well as high-quality carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms
• Keep various rooms of the residence as spacious as you can 
• Include as many electrical outlets as reasonably possible, including on both sides of the bed
• Add a separate phone line, TV cable, and internet connection

8. Work with Certified Contractor

Don’t just trust any contract to build your in-law suite or in-law apartment. The expert contractors at Top Home Builders have extensive experience building these suites throughout the Greater Toronto Area. All of our designers and crews are fluent in local building codes and regulations so you can be sure that your renovation project is being done the right way the first time.