Homes & Suites
Basement suites from $6,000. Garden suites, additions, and new homes from $10,000. That covers your architect, engineer, energy consultant, and permit application — services that cost $12,000–$18,500 when hired separately.
Thinking about hiring a cheap drafter?
A drafter charges $2,000–$3,000 for floor plans. But floor plans alone won’t get you a building permit. You still need structural engineering ($3,000–$5,000), energy compliance ($1,500–$2,500), and permit coordination ($1,500–$3,000). Total: $8,000–$13,500 — and you’re managing it all yourself. Our packages start at $6,000 with everything included.
What we help you build
Choose the project type that matches your plans. Each includes everything needed for permit approval.
Basement Suite
Legal secondary suite with separate entrance
Garden Suite
Detached backyard dwelling (ADU)
Addition
New room, floor, or wing to your home
Conversion
Convert single-family to duplex or two units
New Home
Custom home from the ground up
The coordination challenge
Most homeowners discover that getting a permit means becoming a project manager they never wanted to be. Here’s what it actually costs.
Hire the architect — $6,000–$8,000
Find someone available, wait for their quote, explain your project, wait weeks for drawings.
Hire the structural engineer — $3,000–$5,000
Architect’s drawings need engineering. Find an engineer, explain everything again, wait for calcs and P.Eng stamp.
Coordinate revisions — $1,000–$3,000 per cycle
Engineering changes require architectural updates. You pay revision fees on both sides and add weeks at every round.
Handle municipal feedback — weeks + contractor idle cost
Permit office wants changes. You’re coordinating both professionals again while your contractor waits at $2,000–$5,000/month.
Running total: $12,000–$18,500 + 5–12 months
One team, one timeline
Our integrated approach eliminates the coordination burden. Design and engineering work together from day one.
Faster timelines
No handoff delays between professionals. Design and engineering happen in parallel.
Predictable pricing
One quote covers everything. No surprise fees when coordination gets complicated.
Single point of contact
One team manages your project. You explain your vision once.
Permit-ready drawings
Our team knows what municipalities need. Fewer revision requests.
P.Eng stamped
All structural and mechanical designs carry a Professional Engineer's seal.
Risk transfer
We're responsible for getting your project through permit. Professional liability insurance included.
Renderings included
3D visualizations help you see your project before construction begins.
Project Visualizations
See your project before breaking ground
Garden Suite
Backyard perspective
Addition
Street view integration
Interior View
Suite layout visualization
Compare your options
Three ways to get your building permit. Only one gives you everything at a fixed price.
Cheap drafter + you coordinate
- ✕ You manage 3–4 contracts
- ✕ No P.Eng guarantee
- ✕ Revision fees on both sides
- ✕ You handle municipal feedback
Architecture firm
- ✕ Multiple invoices and handoffs
- ✓ Architect coordinates subs
- ✕ Hourly billing, revision fees extra
- ✕ You still manage timeline
Nova Scotia Permit
- ✓ One team, one contact
- ✓ P.Eng stamped engineering
- ✓ Fixed price, revisions included
- ✓ We handle everything
A basement suite in Bedford
One homeowner hired a drafter for $2,500. The drawings were rejected for missing engineering. They hired an engineer ($4,000), who required a floor plan redo ($1,200). Total: $7,700 over 4 months. Another homeowner started with our integrated package: $6,800, permit in 8 weeks.
Representative scenario based on common patterns.
Transparent pricing
Hiring separately typically costs $12,000–$18,500 for these same project types.
| Project Type | Starting At |
|---|---|
| Basement Suite | From $6,000 |
| Garden Suite | From $10,000 |
| Addition | From $10,000 |
| Conversion | From $12,000 |
| New Home | From $10,000 |
Every package includes P.Eng-stamped engineering, energy compliance, architectural drawings, and permit submission. Pricing varies by project complexity, size, and municipality.
Suite permit essentials
What every Nova Scotia homeowner should know before adding a basement suite or garden suite.
- HRM and municipal zoning requirements
- Building code essentials for secondary suites
- Realistic cost ranges and timelines
- Checklist for permit-ready projects
Have questions about your specific property? We'll walk you through everything in a free conversation — no strings attached.
Book Your Free ConversationPopular Locations for Homes & Suites
Explore homes and suites permit services in Nova Scotia's most active municipalities.
See our 6-unit case study — permitted across 2 jurisdictions in just 2 months.
Government grants available for suites
Nova Scotia offers up to $40,000 in forgivable loans for secondary and backyard suites. Halifax residents may also qualify for up to $12,900 in non-repayable grants.
Grant availability subject to change. See provincial and Halifax program pages for current details.
Ready to start your project?
Book a feasibility assessment. We'll review your property, discuss your goals, and give you a clear path forward. No obligation.
Assessments from $199 – $499 (credited toward your package)