Short answer: Markham's 2026 fee schedule lists $22.08/m² for a secondary suite or single detached dwelling, $2,062 for a garage incorporating a dwelling unit, a $151 residential minimum and a $100 pre-application review. York Region DC Bylaw 2026-20 exempts prescribed additional units. As an illustration only, a turnkey one-bedroom GTA garden suite is around $310,000.
Key takeaways
| Question | Short answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Permit rate | $22.08/m² (Secondary Suite; Single Detached Dwelling) | Markham fee schedule |
| Suite over garage | $2,062 each (GDU) | Markham fee schedule |
| Minimum fee | $151 (Group C residential) | Markham fee schedule |
| Pre-application review | $100 | Markham fee schedule |
| Development charges | Paid at permit; York Region exempts prescribed additional units | York Region Bylaw 2026-20 |
| Total build (illustrative) | About $310,000 turnkey one-bedroom; not a quote | Modular X |
Building permit fees
- Secondary Suite (B4): $22.08 per m².
- Single Detached Dwelling (A6): $22.08 per m².
- Garage incorporating a dwelling unit (A16): $2,062 each.
- Minimum fee, Group C residential: $151.
All figures are 2026 rates from Markham's fee schedule; the plans examiner confirms the applicable row. Any balance owing must be paid before the permit is issued.
Review and revision fees
Pre-Application Review is $100; supplementary submissions, shop drawings and permit revisions are $131 per hour (2026 schedule).
Development charges
Markham says the remaining development charges are paid at building permit issuance, and each region or board sets its own exemptions. York Region Bylaw 2026-20 s. 3.4(d)–(e) exempts prescribed additional units, subject to prescribed restrictions.
Total cost
As an illustration only, a typical one-bedroom turnkey garden suite in the GTA is around $310,000. It is not a quote. Start with our free feasibility check, or read the Ontario garden suite cost guide.
Related: garden suite cost ontario · markham garden suite permits · garden suite cost vaughan.
FAQs
Sources
- City of Markham — Building permit fee schedule
- City of Markham — Development charges
- York Region — Development Charges Bylaw 2026-20
Disclaimer: Figures cited are market estimates provided for information only and are not a quote. Municipal rules, fees, and programs change — always verify current requirements with your local authority. Modular X provides exact pricing only after a site-specific feasibility review.