A laneway house is a form of housing that is gaining popularity on the west coast of Canada, especially in the Metro Vancouver area. These homes are typically built into pre-existing lots, usually in the backyard and opening onto the back lane. The introduction of this form of housing was part of an initiative by Sam Sullivan as part of the EcoDensity movement to increase the density in pre-existing neighborhoods while retaining the single-family feel of the neighborhood.[1] Most laneway houses are small, though public concern has been raised in some communities due to the impact that larger forms of this type of housing have on privacy.[2]
In the case of Vancouver, the average laneway house is 550 square feet (51 m2), usually 1½ storeys, with one or two bedrooms.[3] Typical regulations require that the laneway home is built in the back half of a traditional lot in the space that is normally reserved for a garage.[4]
Similar housing was appearing in other dense Canadian cities, such as Toronto,[5] until in 2006 staff reviewed the impact on services and safety.[6]