Toronto Multiplex
Housing
By NBRS Developments Inc. · Meet founder Anthony DiCenzo · Updated September 12, 2026
For decades, Toronto's residential neighbourhoods were locked into a binary: single-family houses or high-rise towers. Nothing in between.
That changed in May 2023, when Toronto updated its zoning to allow multiplex housing as-of-right across the city. Fourplex permissions extend across the city; five- and six-unit permissions depend on the location. A garden or laneway suite is a separate part of the building program. Check the current City rules and the specific property before assuming what can be built.
This is the most significant housing policy shift in a generation. And it opens the door to the kind of housing Toronto has been missing for 50 years.
What Is a Multiplex?
A multiplex is a residential building with two to six units. The term covers a range of building types:
- Duplex — 2 units
- Triplex — 3 units
- Fourplex — 4 units
- Fiveplex / Sixplex — 5-6 units
These are the building types that shaped Toronto's most beloved neighbourhoods — the Annex, Riverdale, High Park, Leslieville. Walk any established street and you'll see them. They fit the scale of the neighbourhood while housing more families per lot than a single home.
Plan your next step
- Fourplex or sixplex: what your lot allows
- Understand the construction cost drivers
- Follow a real approval and construction timeline
- How we approach a Toronto multiplex build
- See those decisions in the FAMILY 1 case study
Primary reference: City of Toronto — Multiplex Housing. Permissions and requirements vary by property and can change; the City’s current information is the starting point for a site assessment.
Why Toronto Needs Multiplex Housing
Toronto has a "missing middle" problem. The gap between detached houses and condo towers means families who need space — three bedrooms, storage, outdoor access — have almost nowhere to go. They're priced out of houses and squeezed out of condos.
Multiplex housing fills this gap. It adds gentle density to existing neighbourhoods without changing their character. It keeps families in the city, supports local schools and businesses, and makes better use of transit and infrastructure that's already there.
Learn more about the missing middle and why we build.
NBRS: Toronto's Multiplex Developer
NBRS (pronounced "neighbours") is building the multiplex housing Toronto needs — but with a difference. Where most developers build small units for investors, we build family-sized homes: three-bedroom, 1,300 sq ft units with real storage, and dedicated outdoor space in select homes.
We target as-of-right sites and plan around each property’s actual constraints. FAMILY 1 will be available for move-in November 1, 2026. Building permits and any necessary minor variances remain part of the process.
We're looking for partners who share our vision — investors, landowners, and organizations aligned with building better housing. Our first project, FAMILY 1, is under construction now.