The Complete Guide to Building a Laneway Home in Burnaby
Building a laneway home in Burnaby has become one of the most popular ways for homeowners to create extra living space, add rental income, or make room for family without leaving the neighborhood they love. Whether it’s for parents, adult children, or future tenants, a laneway home can completely transform how your property works for you. But the process can feel intimidating at first; where do you even begin?
At Rely Construction, we’ve helped many Burnaby and Metro Vancouver homeowners go from an empty backyard to a fully finished laneway home ready for move-in. The process takes time and planning, but when you understand each step, it becomes smooth and exciting.
It all starts with feasibility and planning. This simply means checking if your property qualifies for a laneway home under the City of Burnaby’s zoning rules. Not every lot is eligible; we look at things like lot size, lane access, existing structures, and how close your new home would be to the main house and the property lines. Once we confirm that you can build, we help you explore layout options that fit your family’s needs and budget.
From there, we move into design and drawings. This is where you’ll work with our design team and architectural partners to create your floor plan, choose your finishes, and bring your ideas to life on paper. We’ll show you sample plans from past Rely projects so you can picture what’s possible. During this stage, we also plan how services like power, gas, and water connections will be set up — something most homeowners don’t have to worry about because our team handles all of that behind the scenes.
Next comes the permits and approvals. This is where we submit your plans to the City of Burnaby for review. They’ll make sure your design meets local rules and safety standards. On average, the city’s review can take two to four months, depending on the complexity of your build. During that time, Rely also works with BC Hydro to plan the electrical connection — this includes confirming where your new meter will go, how we’ll run underground cables, and when Hydro will be ready to hook up your service. It’s a lot of coordination, but it’s something we manage completely on your behalf.
Once everything is approved, we begin site preparation and construction. This is where things really start to take shape. The process typically begins with excavation and foundation work, followed by framing, roofing, and installing plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems. After that come insulation, drywall, flooring, cabinets, and finishes. On average, a laneway home build takes around six to nine months from the time construction begins to final completion.
While we’re building, you can expect regular updates from our project managers. We’ll let you know what’s happening each week and when key stages are complete. At the same time, we’ll stay in contact with BC Hydro and the city to schedule inspections and make sure everything lines up perfectly.
As the build nears the finish line, we’ll coordinate final inspections and occupancy with the City of Burnaby. This is where the city checks that everything has been built to code and is safe to move into. Once your occupancy permit is issued, we’ll walk through the home together to review all the details, hand over your keys, and complete the warranty documentation.
From start to finish, the process usually takes about 10 to 12 months in total, including the design, permit, and build stages. While that might sound long, each phase has a clear purpose, and with Rely Construction managing the process, it stays organized and on track.
A laneway home can be life changing. It can create a private space for aging parents, provide housing for adult children, or become a reliable rental unit that supports your mortgage. And because these homes are built with modern materials and efficient systems, they’re comfortable, sustainable, and built to last.
At Rely Construction, we handle every step, from feasibility studies and permit drawings to construction and final occupancy. You can learn more about our laneway home projects and view completed builds at www.relyconstruction.ca.
If you’ve been thinking about adding a laneway home to your property, now is the perfect time to start planning for 2025. Call us at 604-762-0233 or email info@relyconstruction.ca for a complimentary consultation with one of our licensed professionals who come to you!
Or, starting January 2026, visit us at our new Rely Construction office: #130, 2188 No. 5 Rd, Richmond, BC. Come in for a free consultation and let’s explore what’s possible on your lot together.
