Blog
Plain answers about building in the GTA.
Costs, timelines, zoning and approvals, written by the builder. Each guide ends with a free Lot Check, so you can see what applies to your lot.
Knockdown rebuild in Mississauga and Oakville: steps, timeline and cost
What’s involved, how long each stage takes and what it costs to replace an older house in Mississauga or Oakville.
Read the guide CostWhat it costs to build a custom home in the GTA
Cost per square foot, what’s included and three worked 2026 budgets from Oaksmith’s cost model.
Read the guide TimelineHow long a custom home takes in Ontario
Design and approvals first, then under 12 months from permit to keys. Every stage, and what slows it down.
Read the guide InvestorsBuilding a fourplex or sixplex in Toronto
Where four to six units are allowed, what they cost, how the numbers work at a 6% cap rate, and the timeline.
Read the guide LotsSevering a lot in Mississauga, step by step
How a consent works at the Committee of Adjustment: whether your lot qualifies, the steps, the costs and the time.
Read the guide Tax reliefOntario’s HST relief for homes built on your own lot
Up to $130,000 if construction starts by March 31, 2027. Who qualifies, how value is measured and what it means for your schedule.
Read the guideArea guides
Building in your area.
Local lots, rules and approvals for the places we build most.
Custom homes in Mississauga
Mineola to Port Credit: four units per lot, infill limits and conservation areas.
Read the guide Area guideCustom homes in Oakville
South Oakville’s large lots, floor area limits and heritage districts.
Read the guide Area guideCustom homes in Etobicoke
Ravine lots in the north, narrow lots in the south, Toronto’s multiplex rules.
Read the guide Area guideCustom homes in North York
Willowdale’s 50 ft lots to York Mills ravines, under Toronto’s rules.
Read the guideStart here
Have a lot in mind? Let’s walk it together.
Send us the address for a free Lot Check, or book a consultation with Sami Rafeeh to talk through your lot, your plans and your budget.
Get a free Lot Check416-505-2444sami@oaksmith.ca