Lot size and frontage: what they mean for a detached home

Frontage and depth

Ontario listings usually give a lot as frontage by depth in feet, for example 40 x 120. Frontage is the width along the street; depth runs from the street to the back lot line. Frontage matters most: a wider lot means a wider house, a wider driveway, more light between you and the neighbours, and more room to add on.

Irregular lots

Pie-shaped lots on a crescent or cul-de-sac are narrow at the street and wide at the back, which often means a big backyard. Lots marked irregular have a different measurement on each side, so ask for the survey to see the real shape.

How the lot affects price

On two similar houses on the same street, the one on the bigger lot usually sells for more, and in older neighbourhoods buyers sometimes pay mostly for the land. Compare sold prices for homes with similar frontage, not just similar bedrooms.

Additions, garden suites and second units

Ontario now allows up to three units on most urban residential lots, such as a basement apartment and a garden or laneway suite, subject to your city's zoning. What you can actually build depends on the zoning, setbacks, lot coverage and servicing, so check with the city or a planner before you count on it.

What to check on the survey

• The property lines and whether fences, sheds and driveways sit inside them
• Easements, such as a utility easement or a shared driveway
• Any part of the lot regulated by a conservation authority, such as a ravine
• The date of the survey and whether anything has been added since