Custom home design-build, Halton Region permits, Tarion-registered construction and project delivery FOR Luxury Lot Owners | Toronto Downsizers | Growing Families | Executive Relocations across Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton, Waterdown, Dundas and Milton.
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We quote every build on letterhead before you sign anything, so you plan the project with firm numbers not estimates. Full-build custom homes in Burlington typically run $1.1M to $2.4M, luxury builds $1.6M to $3.5M, and lot evaluations $4K to $12K. You see every line item in writing, which means no surprise change orders during construction.
We never ask for more than a lot evaluation fee upfront because we want you to feel confident before any serious money moves. Once you sign, we take 10 percent at contract, then split the balance into five construction draws: permit, excavation, framing, mechanical rough-in and final occupancy. That way you only pay as the build visibly progresses.
We build four custom home types so we can match any Halton lot: modern, Craftsman, farmhouse-contemporary and transitional. Every home is engineered to Ontario Building Code Part 9, meets Toronto Green Standard Tier 1 energy performance, carries Electrical Safety Authority approval and clears Burlington Building Division final inspection, so your home is signed-off at every stage.
We keep a dedicated Burlington Building Department expeditor in-house so we never wait for outside consultants. That person manages your permit submission, handles Committee of Adjustment variance applications, coordinates with Halton Region planning and Niagara Escarpment Commission when applicable, so paperwork moves on one desk. Most projects hit permit-in-hand in 14 to 18 weeks.
We back every build with the Tarion statutory warranty because new home buyers deserve real protection, not marketing promises. Your home carries 7-year major structural, 2-year mechanical and 1-year workmanship coverage, all registered with Tarion before occupancy. The warranty transfers to future owners on resale, which means your home holds value.
We bring 22+ years of combined Halton Region design-build experience to every project, and our credentials back that up. Our team carries $5M liability, WSIB clearance, Tarion registration, Ontario Home Builders Association membership and BCIN Part 9 qualification, so your build is protected on paper and in practice. We have run hundreds of Burlington and Oakville lot evaluations since 2003.
Binding guarantees: Written lot evaluation before any contract. 14 to 18 week permit timeline. Fixed-price contracts, no change orders without written approval. Tarion registered.
"Quote in January was the price at occupancy in November. Zero change orders. Halton Conservation issues flagged day one."
Most of our clients are Burlington and Halton lot owners planning a $1M to $3.5M home who want one accountable builder from lot evaluation to occupancy.
You are moving equity from a Toronto home into a Burlington custom build, and you still work downtown. We manage the whole process, lot evaluation to occupancy, with written and photo updates so you only visit for the decisions that need you.
How remote builds workYou have outgrown a Burlington starter home and want to build long-term on a bigger Halton lot. We set your target occupancy date in the contract and schedule backward from it, so the move can match the school year.
Turnkey family buildsYou are selling a larger Toronto or Oakville home for a smaller, better-built luxury home. We design main-floor living, elevator rough-ins and low-maintenance materials that protect resale value for decades.
Luxury downsizer homesA custom home in Burlington is a one-off house designed for a specific lot, built under Ontario Building Code Part 9 and approved through Burlington Building Division. Most are design-build projects, where one firm handles the lot review, drawings, permits and construction. Whether you plan a luxury home on the lake or a Halton build on an infill lot, the same three questions decide the project: cost, rules and who builds it.
A turnkey custom home of 3,000 to 4,500 sqft in Burlington typically costs $1.1M to $2.4M, including design, engineering, permits, construction and landscaping. Luxury builds of 4,500 to 8,000 sqft, with natural stone, architectural glazing and custom millwork, run $1.6M to $3.5M. A written lot evaluation before any of that costs $4K to $12K. Where a Burlington project lands in those ranges depends on finished size, finish level and lot conditions: a ravine lot on Grindstone Creek or a Lake Ontario parcel adds studies and foundation work, while a standard serviced lot in Alton Village does not. Payment usually follows a draw schedule, with 10 percent at contract and five milestone draws, so money moves as the Halton build progresses.
Three regulatory layers apply to most Burlington lots. Zoning By-law 2020 sets setbacks, lot coverage and height. The Halton Region Official Plan governs land use and servicing across the region. Lots north of Dundas Street or along Mountain Brow Road can also sit in the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area of Development Control, which needs a Niagara Escarpment Commission permit. On top of that, lots touching Grindstone Creek, Rambo Creek, Shoreacres Creek or the Lake Ontario shoreline fall under Conservation Halton regulation. Burlington Building Division sees roughly a 40 percent first-submission revision rate, so checking all of these before design is the cheapest step in any Burlington build.
In Ontario, anyone building a new home for a client must be registered with Tarion, which backs every home with 1-year workmanship, 2-year mechanical and 7-year major structural coverage. Permit drawings for Part 9 houses are prepared by BCIN-qualified designers or architects and engineered to OBC Part 9. Look for a Halton builder who carries $5M liability and WSIB clearance, belongs to the Ontario Home Builders Association (OHBA) and can show named Burlington projects. Ask how long their permits take: our in-house expeditor gets most Burlington projects to permit-in-hand in 14 to 18 weeks, against 24 weeks or more as the industry norm.
Burlington is one of the most demanding places in Ontario to build a custom home. Lots range from tight downtown infill near Spencer Smith Park to ravine parcels on Grindstone Creek and escarpment-view sites north of Dundas Street. The same street can hold a lot that is easy to build on and one that is 30 percent undevelopable. Demand is steady, too: families relocating from Toronto, downsizers leaving larger Oakville homes and long-time residents rebuilding on lots they already own.
Most builders price the house first and discover the lot later. That is backwards, because the lot is where the biggest risks live: Zoning By-law 2020 setbacks that differ from the existing house, Conservation Halton regulated areas, Niagara Escarpment Commission controls, undersized Halton Region laterals and protected trees. Found after design, each one means redrawing, re-pricing and waiting.
We reverse the order. Every project starts with a written lot evaluation, delivered in about two weeks, before any deposit. Design starts from the measured envelope. Our estimators price the drawings as they develop, so the design never outgrows the budget. Our in-house expeditor coordinates every drawing before it reaches Burlington Building Division, which is why most of our permits arrive in 14 to 18 weeks. And one project manager carries the build from the first meeting to the Tarion handover.
The result is a fixed price that stays fixed. David and Sarah M. paid the January quote at occupancy in November, with zero change orders. Priya S. finished 2 percent under contract after a $90K setback problem was caught on paper instead of on site.
Three traps kill most Burlington custom home projects: a Halton Conservation Authority or Niagara Escarpment Commission constraint nobody checked, a design that breaks Burlington Zoning By-law 2020 setback or envelope rules, and a permit submission that misses a Burlington Building Division requirement and comes back rejected.
Burlington has three overlay layers: Zoning By-law 2020, the Halton Region Official Plan and the Niagara Escarpment Plan for lots in the escarpment protection area. A design that passes city zoning can still fail Halton Region review, and a Halton-approved design can fail the Niagara Escarpment Commission if the lot sits inside the Area of Development Control. Many lots north of Dundas Street or along Mountain Brow Road are affected.
Lots touching Grindstone Creek, Rambo Creek, Shoreacres Creek or the Lake Ontario shoreline fall under Halton Conservation Authority permits governing grading, top-of-bank setbacks, tree protection and stormwater. Many homeowners buy before checking, then discover 30 percent of the lot is undevelopable. The project pauses 12 to 20 weeks for redesign.
Burlington has issued hundreds of custom home permits a year since 2020, with a 40 percent first-submission revision rate. Projects submitted without pre-coordinated structural, mechanical, energy and site plan reviews add 10 to 16 weeks to the schedule.
Thirteen services under one accountable team, grouped the way most projects unfold: the build itself, the lot and permits, design and performance, our catchment areas and project management. Every card shows the real price range.
Turnkey 3,000-4,500 sqft custom homes on your Burlington lot, from permit to final occupancy at a fixed price.
Timeline: 10-14 months construction; 14-20 months signed design agreement to occupancy
4,500-8,000 sqft signature homes with limestone, white oak, blackened steel and floor-to-ceiling glass, built at a fixed price.
Timeline: 12-16 months construction depending on size, finishes and lot conditions
One contract, one team and one fixed price from lot evaluation to occupancy. No handoffs between architect, engineer and builder.
Timeline: 14-20 months signed design agreement to final occupancy
Contemporary homes with flat or low-slope roofs, large glazing and clean massing, detailed for Ontario snow and freeze-thaw.
Timeline: 11-15 months construction
Traditional homes with exposed timber, deep porches, tapered columns and detailed trim that suit Roseland and other mature streets.
Timeline: 11-14 months construction
Our in-house expeditor prepares, submits and tracks your permit, variance and agency approvals on one desk.
Timeline: 14-18 weeks to permit-in-hand
Permits for lots near Grindstone, Rambo or Shoreacres Creek or the Lake Ontario shoreline, managed alongside your building permit.
Timeline: Typically runs inside the 14-18 week permit window when screened early
A written feasibility report on your lot before any contract: what you can build, what it will cost and what could stop it.
Timeline: About 2 weeks to written report
Concept through permit-ready drawings and 3D renderings, designed around your lot's real envelope and budget.
Timeline: 8-14 weeks design phase, overlapping permit preparation
High-performance homes with airtight envelopes, heat pumps and ERV ventilation; TGS Tier 1 performance is our standard spec.
Timeline: 11-15 months construction
Design-build custom homes in South Oakville and Bronte, led by a founder who ran an Oakville custom division from 2010 to 2019.
Timeline: 14-20 months signed design agreement to occupancy
Design-build custom homes across west Hamilton, from escarpment-edge lots in Dundas to Ancaster estates.
Timeline: 14-20 months signed design agreement to occupancy
One project manager from first consultation to occupancy: one phone, one email, one contact. Included in every build.
Timeline: Consultation to final occupancy
Plan on 14 to 20 months from signed design agreement to final occupancy. Every step has an owner, a document and a date.
Zoning By-law 2020 envelope, Conservation Halton and NEC flags, servicing and a realistic budget, before any contract.
About 2 weeks
Concepts fitted to your envelope, priced as they develop, with 3D views before drawings are finalized.
8-14 weeks
Building permit, variances and agency permits handled on one desk by our in-house expeditor.
14-18 weeks
10 percent at contract, then draws at permit, excavation, framing, mechanical rough-in and occupancy.
10-14 months
Pre-delivery inspection with your project manager and Tarion enrolment before you move in.
Move-in
Real price, size and type for each home. No faces, no house numbers.
Modern Aldershot 3,400 sqft
Grindstone Creek view lot redesigned for Conservation Halton; permit in 15 weeks.
Craftsman Roseland 4,200 sqft
Mature canopy lot; NEC and city paperwork managed; 11-month build.
Transitional Headon Forest 3,600 sqft
Setback issue caught in lot evaluation saved $90K; final build 2% under contract.
Luxury waterfront Downtown Burlington 5,100 sqft
Lake Ontario shoreline lot near Spencer Smith Park.
Modern Oakville Bronte 4,800 sqft
Town of Oakville approvals managed in-house.
Escarpment farmhouse Tyandaga 4,000 sqft
Ravine and escarpment grades with a walkout lower level.
Written lot evaluation in about two weeks. No deposit, no construction contract.
Every quote below is from a client who signed a fixed-price contract with us. We do not display a star rating because we have not imported third-party reviews.
"Quote they wrote in January was the price we paid at occupancy in November. Zero change orders. Halton Conservation issues flagged day one, redesigned, permit-in-hand in 15 weeks."
"Managed every piece of paper with the city and Niagara Escarpment Commission. We just picked finishes. Project manager Carlos knew every detail. One phone call for 11 months."
"Lot evaluation found a setback problem that saved us $90K in redesign. Written feasibility report in two weeks. Final build 2 percent under contract."
Founder and Principal Builder
Marcus Van Dyk has 22+ years of combined Halton design-build experience. He started with a Burlington residential general contractor in 2003 on Aldershot and Downtown infill, led an Oakville custom home division from 2010 to 2019, and launched Custom Home Builder Burlington in 2019. He is known for issuing a written lot evaluation before any deposit, which most Halton builders will not do.
"Most lot problems are cheap to find and expensive to fix. A written evaluation before any deposit protects you, and it protects the fixed price we put on letterhead."
Use our Burlington custom home cost estimator to see a realistic range by size, build tier and lot type, then see how a fixed price splits into a 10 percent deposit and five milestone draws.
Open the calculatorsWe build across eight Burlington neighbourhoods with very different lot conditions, from Grindstone Creek ravines in Aldershot to golf-course walkouts in Millcroft. Each area page covers the local lot stock, permit caveats and recent projects.
Straight answers on cost, timelines, lots, permits, Tarion and how payments work.
Full-build turnkey Burlington custom homes typically run $1.1M to $2.4M for 3,000-4,500 sqft, including design, permits, construction and landscaping. Luxury builds run $1.6M to $3.5M. A lot evaluation is $4K-$12K. We give written quotes on letterhead before contract. Where a project lands inside those ranges depends on four things: finished size, finish level, lot conditions and the permit path. A standard serviced lot in Alton Village or Headon Forest sits toward the lower end per square foot, while a Lake Ontario waterfront parcel near Spencer Smith Park or a ravine lot on Grindstone Creek adds engineering, studies and foundation work. Because our lot evaluation flags those conditions first, the number in the written quote already includes them, so the price you sign is the price you pay unless you choose an upgrade.
Plan on 14 to 20 months from signed design agreement to final occupancy. The design and permit phase takes 14-18 weeks with Burlington Building Division, and construction takes 10-14 months depending on size, finishes, lot conditions and any Halton Conservation Authority permits. The biggest swing factor is the permit. Burlington sees roughly a 40 percent first-submission revision rate, and each revision cycle can add weeks. Our in-house expeditor pre-coordinates the structural, mechanical, SB-12 energy and grading reviews before submission, which is why most of our projects reach permit-in-hand inside 18 weeks against a 24-week-plus industry norm. Once the permit is issued, your project manager sets a construction schedule with milestone dates you can plan a move around.
Most Burlington residential lots qualify under Zoning By-law 2020 setback, lot coverage and height rules. Lots in Halton Conservation Authority regulated areas, touching Grindstone Creek or Lake Ontario, or within the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area of Development Control have additional restrictions. A written lot evaluation confirms this before contract. In practice, the evaluation measures the real buildable envelope (which is often smaller or differently shaped than the existing house suggests), screens for regulated limits and tree by-law issues, checks servicing laterals and grading, and gives you a realistic budget range and permit path. It typically takes about two weeks and costs $4K to $12K depending on lot complexity.
Yes. We are Tarion-registered for all applicable new home construction. Every home carries the Tarion statutory warranty: 7-year major structural, 2-year mechanical and 1-year workmanship coverage. Registration can be confirmed at Tarion.ca under our builder number. We enrol each home with Tarion before occupancy, walk you through the pre-delivery inspection (PDI) and handle warranty items through the same project manager who ran your build. The coverage also transfers to future owners on resale, which protects the value of the home.
Yes. Our in-house expeditor manages the city building permit, the Halton Conservation Authority permit, the Niagara Escarpment Commission Development Permit, any Committee of Adjustment variance and all revisions. Most projects reach permit-in-hand in 14-18 weeks. Because regulated-area and escarpment constraints are flagged during the lot evaluation, the studies these agencies ask for (slope stability, floodline, tree protection, stormwater) are commissioned early and sequenced with the building permit instead of pausing the project after design is done.
A design-build custom home puts design, engineering, permits and construction under one contract and one fixed price, so one team is accountable from lot evaluation to occupancy. With a general contractor build, you hire an architect first and then tender the drawings to builders, which means two contracts, a second pricing round and gaps when drawings meet site conditions. In the traditional route, cost surprises often appear after the design is finished, because the people pricing the work were not at the design table. In design-build, our estimators and site leads review every drawing as it develops, so the design stays inside the budget you set. See our design-build custom home page for how the single-contract model works in Burlington.
Read moreWe take only the lot evaluation fee before contract, then 10 percent at contract signing. The balance is paid in five draws tied to permit, excavation, framing, mechanical rough-in and final occupancy, so payments follow visible progress on site. If you are financing with a construction mortgage, we line the draw milestones up with your lender's inspection schedule, and Ontario Construction Act holdback is handled on each draw as required.
No change order happens without your written approval. Because the lot evaluation flags site, zoning and conservation risks before the contract, and finish allowances are written into the price, the number you sign is the number you pay unless you choose an upgrade. When you do choose one, you see the exact cost in writing before work proceeds, so there are no surprises at the final draw.
Yes. We build across Halton and west Hamilton, including South Oakville and Bronte, Waterdown, Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Grimsby and Milton. Recent builds include a $2.25M modern home in Bronte and a $2.89M luxury Craftsman in Ancaster. Oakville and Hamilton clients get the same written lot evaluation, fixed price, dedicated project manager and Tarion warranty, and we handle the Town of Oakville or City of Hamilton permit process in-house.
Yes. We manage the demolition permit, utility disconnections, tree protection, servicing upgrades and grading plan before construction starts. Our Palmer infill rebuild replaced a 1960s home with a 3,200 sqft custom home for $980K. On many 1950s-80s Burlington lots, a rebuild can use more of the By-law 2020 envelope than the existing house does, and it comes with Tarion new-home warranty coverage that a major renovation does not.
Yes. We review existing drawings against the lot evaluation and Zoning By-law 2020 first, then price and build them under a fixed contract. Where drawings conflict with the setback envelope or conservation limits, we flag the change before you sign, so you are not paying for a redesign after the permit comes back with comments.
Yes. Every build has one dedicated project manager who sends regular written and photo updates and schedules site walks at key milestones, so relocating clients can follow the project remotely and only visit for decisions that need them. Selections are booked in advance with clear deadlines, and most of our Toronto clients visit the site only a handful of times between excavation and the pre-delivery inspection.
Book a written lot evaluation. You get zoning, setback envelope, Conservation Halton and Niagara Escarpment flags and a realistic budget, typically within two weeks, before any construction contract.
