Toronto Areas | York
Multiplexes in York
York is the smallest former municipality, with Weston and Mount Dennis at its centre, older working-class stock on modest lots, and lower land cost than the old core. Its upside is transit: Mount Dennis is a terminus of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, and Weston has the UP Express and GO. Up to four units are permitted as-of-right on any residential Neighbourhoods lot, the same city-wide permission that applies everywhere. Here it lands on cheaper ground near new rapid transit. York is not one of the nine sixplex wards. Pull the per-neighbourhood numbers from the City's Neighbourhood Profiles.
Key Takeaways
- ✓The smallest area, Weston and Mount Dennis, with older stock and lower land cost.
- ✓Transit upside from the Eglinton Crosstown (Mount Dennis) and the Weston UP Express and GO.
- ✓Four units as-of-right, the same city-wide permission on cheaper ground.
- ✓Not a sixplex ward. Plan for four units unless the ward opts in.
York spans several wards with different multiplex ceilings. Resolve the ward and the zone in one step .
New multiplex builds in York
92 new multiplex building permit applications have been filed in York since January 2024, at 85 distinct addresses. That is 10.8% of all new multiplex applications in Toronto. The most common size is 4 new homes, on 60 projects.
Where these applications stand
Of 92 applications in York, 75 have an issued permit, 13 are still under review, and 4 were refused, cancelled or abandoned. A filed application is not a permit, so the totals on this page count applications rather than approvals.
Taken from the City's own status value on each permit, not from which dataset it appears in.
New homes each project adds
Counts new homes added, not homes in the finished building. Demolishing a house and building a fourplex in its place adds three, not four.
Permits filed by year
By application date. The current year is partial, so it is not comparable to a full one.
What builders declared it would cost
Across 83 projects in York that state both a value and between two and six new homes, the declared construction cost runs from $800,000 at the 25th percentile to $1,300,000 at the 75th, with a median of $1,000,000.
This is the figure the applicant wrote on the permit application. It is not a sale price, it is not the final cost of the build, and it does not include the land.
How long the City took to issue
Of the 92 projects in York, 78 have been issued. Those took a median of 69 days from application, with a quarter issued within 43 days and a quarter taking longer than 124. 14 are still waiting and are not in that median.
Application to issue, from the City's own dates. Projects still under review are excluded rather than counted at how long they have waited so far, which would understate the real wait.
Busiest wards in York
- Ward 05 York South-Weston 31
- Ward 09 Davenport 22
- Ward 12 Toronto-St. Paul's 20
- Ward 08 Eglinton-Lawrence 16
- Ward 04 Parkdale-High Park 3
Why York Fits Multiplex Infill
Older working-class stock
York is the smallest former municipality, with Weston and Mount Dennis at its centre and older working-class housing on modest lots. That stock and lot size suit a fourplex conversion or new-build, and the lower entry cost can make the math work where the old core is priced out.
New rapid transit
Mount Dennis is a terminus of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, and Weston has the UP Express and GO. New rapid transit is the kind of access that lifts an older area, and parking minimums no longer force a multiplex here to give up lot area.
Lower land cost
York carries lower land cost than the old core, which changes the underwriting on a small multiplex. Up to four units are permitted as-of-right anywhere in a residential Neighbourhoods zone, so the same city-wide permission applies on cheaper ground.
Area and former-municipality context via the City of Toronto former municipalities archive and the Neighbourhood Profiles. Multiplex permissions via the City's Multiplex Study.
Best For
- ✓ Lower-cost lots in Weston and Mount Dennis near the Crosstown and UP Express.
- ✓ Fourplex conversions or new-builds where land price makes the math work.
- ✓ Sites a short ride from downtown via new rapid transit.
Usually Fails When
- ✕ A sixplex is assumed, but York is outside the nine wards unless it opts in.
- ✕ A modest older lot cannot fit the intended unit count inside the as-of-right envelope.
- ✕ Heritage or character status on older stock is overlooked in design.
What To Verify Before Spending Money
- → The residential zone and Neighbourhoods designation for the parcel.
- → Current land values and the City's development charges before underwriting.
- → Whether the ward has opted into sixplex permissions (otherwise four units).
Where to Go Next
Frequently Asked Questions
Is York a good place to build a multiplex?
What transit is coming to York?
Can I build a sixplex in York?
Why does lower land cost matter for a York multiplex?
Is a fourplex conversion or a new-build the better fit for York's older stock?
What development charges should I confirm before building a York fourplex?
Does older housing stock in York carry heritage restrictions?
What should I verify before buying a York lot for a multiplex?
Official Sources Referenced
Related reading
Longer pieces on the same question.
Check a York address, ward and zone together
York spans several wards with different multiplex ceilings. PlexCheck resolves the ward and the zone at your address in one step.
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