Custom Homes in Richmond Hill
From older homes on deep lots in South Richvale and Mill Pond to properties around Lake Wilcox and Oak Ridges, we design and build custom homes on land you own in Richmond Hill.
A New Zoning By-law for Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill now builds to one city-wide rulebook. Council adopted Comprehensive Zoning By-law 93-25 on September 24, 2025, and after a partial approval by the Ontario Land Tribunal on July 2, 2026, the City says it is in force for most of its land. For a knock-down rebuild, that by-law sets the zone, the height, the coverage and the setbacks your new house has to meet.
One rule matters on streets of older houses. Where a new home sits between two existing houses no more than 90 metres apart, the minimum front yard is found by averaging the neighbours' front walls, so the new house lines up with the street rather than jumping forward. In the Neighbourhood zone, minimum frontage and lot area are simply what existed when the by-law passed.
North of the older core, Richmond Hill rises onto the Oak Ridges Moraine. The province's moraine plan allows development near key natural heritage and hydrologic features only where it will not harm them, which is why lots around Lake Wilcox and Oak Ridges call for careful site planning.
- Licensed & insured contractors
- Transparent, itemized pricing
- Permits & approvals handled for you
- On-time delivery, every project
Richmond Hill Fees for a New Home
Current City and Regional figures for a single detached house.
| Building permit, new detached | $27.37 per m², $210.12 minimum |
| Demolition permit, single family dwelling | $546.14 flat fee |
| City development charge | $50,776 (from July 1, 2026) |
| York Region development charge | $84,718 (from May 21, 2026) |
| Minor variance application (2026) | $4,826 |
| Grading and road damage deposits | $7,000 and $3,000 |
Richmond Hill Custom Home Projects
What Richmond Hill homeowners most often ask us to design and build.
- Knock-Down Rebuilds. New homes on the deep lots of older streets in South Richvale, Mill Pond and the Village Core.
- Moraine Lots. Homes in Oak Ridges and around Lake Wilcox, planned around natural features and grading.
- Larger Family Homes. Bigger layouts with home offices and guest suites, designed within the Neighbourhood zone limits.
- Multigenerational Homes. Separate living space for parents or adult children under one roof.
- Homes With Additional Units. An additional residential unit planned to meet the by-law from the outset.
- Accessible Homes. Step-free entries, wider halls and space set aside for a future elevator.
Custom Home Costs in Richmond Hill
Hard construction for a custom single-family home in the GTA runs $500 to $1,130 per square foot, according to the Altus Group 2026 Canadian Cost Guide. Those figures cover the build only. Land, design, permits, development charges and HST are separate.
On a Richmond Hill rebuild, City and York Region development charges together come to $135,494 before any credit, which is why the timing of demolition matters: York Region credits a house that stood on the land within 48 months of the demolition permit. We review the lot, the zoning and the permit sequence before we quote.
Richmond Hill Custom Home FAQs
What is the cost per square foot to build a custom home in Richmond Hill?
What development charges will I pay on a new house in Richmond Hill?
How much is a building permit for a new house in Richmond Hill?
Does my builder have to be licensed?
Can I build a new house on a lot near Lake Wilcox?
Planning a Rebuild in Richmond Hill
These local rules and costs shape most Richmond Hill custom homes.
Front Yards Set by the Neighbours
Between two existing houses within 90 m, the front yard is the average of the neighbouring front walls.
Deposits Before the Permit
A new house permit needs a $7,000 grading deposit and a $3,000 road damage deposit, on top of the permit fee.
Tree Preservation By-law 19-25
Private trees 15 cm or more in diameter at breast height are protected, and a permit to injure or destroy one requires an arborist report.
Development Charges at Occupancy
Since November 3, 2025, City and Regional development charges on residential projects are paid before the occupancy permit, not at the building permit.
Conservation Authority Review
If your lot is in a TRCA regulated area, the TRCA permit or clearance has to come before the building permit.
Oak Ridges Moraine
On moraine lands, development near key natural features is allowed only where it will not harm them.
Homes and Interiors We Have Built
Rooms, finishes and details drawn from our design-build work.
Richmond Hill Neighbourhoods We Serve
We build custom homes across Richmond Hill, from the south end to the moraine.