Planning a Custom Home in Canada: The First 90 Days
Site studies, zoning, budget framing, and design intent — the practical roadmap for the first three months of any custom build.
Great custom homes are shaped in the first ninety days. Before drawings are locked and before a shovel goes in the ground, a handful of decisions quietly define the project's cost, timeline, and character.
Start with the site, not the floor plan
Grade, orientation, setbacks, tree coverage, and neighbouring buildings shape what is actually possible. We always begin with a walk of the site — often with the architect and structural engineer — before a single square foot of plan is drawn.
Zoning, permits, and heritage
Municipal rules can silently kill a dream design. Height limits, floor-space ratios, and heritage overlays vary by street in most Canadian cities. Confirm what is buildable early so design energy goes into the right options.
Frame the budget in ranges, not one number
A useful budget carries three columns: base scope, likely allowances, and contingencies for site surprises. A single lump-sum expectation usually breaks the moment the ground opens up.