Headquartered in Burnaby

Laneway home builder in Burnaby

Add a rental home or a home for family at the back of your Burnaby lot. Xerox Builders is a licensed residential builder based on Warren Street, and we handle your laneway home from lot check and permits to the day you hand over the keys.

Free lot check

Why build a laneway home in Burnaby?

Burnaby now allows more homes on most residential lots than ever before. For many owners, a laneway or backyard home is the simplest way to use that extra room: you keep the main house as it is and add a separate, self-contained home at the back.

Rental income

A fully separate home with its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance that can help pay the mortgage every month.

Room for family

Keep parents or grown children close while everyone keeps their own space and privacy.

Long-term value

A second home on the lot adds usable space and value to your property for years to come.

What can you build on your Burnaby lot?

Since BC’s small-scale multi-unit housing law came into effect in 2024, Burnaby allows up to four homes on most lots that used to be single-family, and more near frequent transit. The City has also updated its limits on height, floor area and parking, and rear buildings are limited to two storeys.

Because the rules have changed more than once, the right answer depends on your exact lot: its size, lane access, trees, services and location. We check your address against Burnaby’s current bylaw before any design work starts, so you know what you can build and roughly what it will cost.

How we build your laneway home

Step 1

Free lot check

We look at your lot, lane access and servicing, and tell you what Burnaby allows on it.

Step 2

Design and permits

We coordinate the designer, engineers, arborist and the City of Burnaby permit application. Permit support →

Step 3

Construction

Foundation, framing, envelope, services and finishing, managed by one team with regular updates.

Step 4

Handover

Final inspections and occupancy, ready to move in or rent. New homes come with 2-5-10 home warranty coverage.

Our work

We are based in Burnaby and build across Burnaby and Vancouver, including houses with legal suites and laneway homes built as one project.

In progress

Warren Street

Burnaby

Converting an existing detached garage into a separate home with a secondary suite.

Completed

East 49th Avenue

Vancouver

A main house with a legal suite plus a separate laneway house.

In progress

East 64th Ave and Windsor St

Vancouver

New houses with laneway homes, built together by one team. All projects →

Burnaby neighbourhoods we serve

Burnaby HeightsCapitol HillBrentwoodMetrotownEdmondsBurnaby LakeDeer LakeLochdaleSouth SlopeBig Bend

Building in Vancouver instead? See our Vancouver laneway house page, or our Burnaby duplex and multiplex page if you want more than two homes on your lot.

Burnaby laneway home questions

Can I build a laneway home on my Burnaby lot?

Most Burnaby lots that were single-family can now have more than one home. Whether a laneway or backyard home fits on yours depends on lot size, lane access, trees and servicing. Send us your address and we’ll check it for free.

Can I rent it out?

Yes. A laneway home is a complete, self-contained home, so it can be rented to help with your mortgage.

Do I need a building permit?

Yes. A laneway home needs its own building permit and is built to the same code as any new home. We prepare and manage the permit application with the City of Burnaby.

How long does it take?

Construction usually takes several months once the permit is issued. Permit time varies by project, so we give you a realistic schedule after reviewing your lot.

Where is your office?

Our head office is at 3745 Warren Street, Burnaby. Meetings are by appointment: call 604-786-7000 or email info@xeroxbuilders.ca.

Thinking about a laneway home in Burnaby?

Send us your address. We’ll tell you what your lot allows, free of charge.

Get a free lot check