Custom Home Builder in Vancouver
Major Homes is based in Vancouver and builds custom homes across the city, from tear down rebuilds on the West Side to laneway houses and multiplex projects on 33 foot lots.
Vancouver is our home base. Major Homes has been headquartered in the city since 2002, and Vancouver work makes up a steady share of what we build: tear down and rebuild custom homes, laneway houses, secondary suites, and small multi family projects. Building in Vancouver means working within the Vancouver Building By-law, the city's tree protection rules, and, in several neighbourhoods, character home retention guidelines. It also means knowing how to get the most out of a standard 33 foot lot, where smart design decides whether the home feels tight or generous. We handle all of it, from the first zoning review to occupancy.
Three ways to build in Vancouver
Custom home
A new house designed around your lot and how you live, usually with a legal suite. 10 to 14 months of construction after permits.
How a custom build runsCoach or laneway home
A detached home in the backyard while you keep living in the main house. Most builds run $350K to $550K all-in.
Coach home costs and rentsDuplex or multiplex
Two to six homes on one lot where the municipality allows it. Seven questions and we check your zoning.
See what your lot can holdHow many homes a Vancouver lot can hold
Verified September 15, 2026- Typical lot
- Up to 6 homes on most R1-1 lots
- Near frequent transit
- Yes, six homes near frequent transit.
- Coach house
- Laneway houses continue under the City's laneway program, and count toward the total.
Compliant. Vancouver's R1-1 zoning already allowed multiplexes before the provincial rule. Homes can be stratified for sale or held as rentals. Permits run 12 to 18 months. The furthest along of any Metro Vancouver city. On a standard 33 by 122 foot lot the usual formats are a house with laneway and suite, a duplex with suites, or a multiplex of three to six homes.
Rules change after council votes. See every Metro Vancouver municipality side by side, or send us the address and we check it.
Neighbourhoods We Build In
Dunbar / Southlands
Established West Side streets with steady tear down and rebuild activity. Larger lots near Pacific Spirit Park support generous family homes.
Kerrisdale
A mature West Side neighbourhood with strong schools and a mix of traditional and new custom homes. Character review applies on some blocks.
Point Grey
View oriented lots near the water and UBC. Custom builds here are designed around sightlines, slope, and sun exposure.
Mount Pleasant / East Side
Character streets with active infill: laneway houses, duplexes, and multiplex projects under Vancouver's newer zoning.
Fraserview / Killarney
South East Vancouver neighbourhoods with steady rebuild demand and family oriented lots.
Building Considerations
- +Vancouver Building By-law compliance on every project
- +Laneway house regulations, including size, parking, and utility requirements
- +Character home retention and heritage review in select neighbourhoods
- +Tree protection bylaw and root zone planning
- +Multiplex and density options under Vancouver's updated zoning
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Laneway houses are a regular part of our Vancouver work. We handle design, permitting, and construction to the city's laneway housing regulations, including size, parking, and utility requirements.
Plan on three to six months for a straightforward single family permit, longer where character review, variances, or complex site conditions apply. We file, track, and chase the permit so the project keeps moving.
Yes. Vancouver's updated zoning allows multiplex projects on most single family lots, and our single and multi family service covers design, permitting, and construction for them.
Ready to Start Your Project?
Book a 60 to 90 minute consultation. We will review your goals, lot, and budget range, and you will leave with a written summary and clear next steps.
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