Industrial space for lease and sale in York Region

Warehouse, flex, and shop units with truck-level or drive-in shipping across York and Durham.

The short version

The tightest market in the GTA, decided by specifications

Industrial is the tightest commercial market in the GTA and has been for years. Small-bay units under 5,000 square feet in particular go quickly, often before they are properly marketed, which is why the off-market side of this category matters so much.

The specifications decide everything here. A unit with 14-foot clear height and a drive-in door is a completely different business than one with 24-foot clear and a truck-level dock, even if the square footage is identical. Get the requirement right first and the search gets much shorter.

Do this first

The specifications that actually decide the deal

Six things that decide whether the deal works. Every one of them is cheaper to check now than to discover later.

Clear height Measured to the underside of the joist, not the roof. Racking, mezzanines, and equipment all depend on it, and it cannot be changed.

Shipping type Truck-level dock for trailers, drive-in ramp for vans and forklifts. Many small users need drive-in and discover it late.

Power Amps, volts, and phase. Three-phase 600V is common in older shops; upgrading service can take months and cost more than a year of rent.

Floor load and slab Heavy equipment and racking need a slab rated for it. Ask, and if it matters, verify.

Office percentage Most units come with a fixed office component. Too much office in a warehouse deal means you are paying warehouse rent for space you do not use.

Outside storage Almost always a zoning question, not a landlord one. Very few York Region sites permit it, and the ones that do carry a premium.

Live from the MLS®

Amir’s listings

Every property Amir has on the market, homes first, then commercial. Active only, straight from the board feed.

Know the range

Industrial unit types

Type	Typical size	What it is used for
Small bay / shop	1,500 to 3,500 sq ft	Trades, service businesses, light assembly. The tightest segment.
Flex industrial	3,000 to 8,000 sq ft	Showroom or office at the front, warehouse behind.
Warehouse	8,000 to 25,000 sq ft	Storage and distribution. Clear height and dock count drive the rate.
Freestanding	10,000 sq ft and up	Owner-occupier buildings with their own yard and signage.
Condo unit for sale	1,500 to 6,000 sq ft	The main ownership route for small industrial users.

Where to look

Submarkets for industrial

Rates and supply change block to block. These are the pockets worth knowing for this category.

Headford Business ParkRichmond Hill: small-bay industrial and service units near Leslie and Elgin Mills.

Vaughan 400 and 407Large-bay distribution and modern warehouse. The deepest industrial market in York Region.

Concord and KeeleOlder stock, lower rates, good drive-in supply.

Markham 404 corridorLight industrial and technology assembly.

Newmarket and East GwillimburyNewer small-bay condo product, better value per square foot.

Ajax, Whitby, OshawaLowest rates in the region and growing supply.

Questions people actually ask

Industrial FAQ

Why is small industrial so hard to find?

Almost none has been built at that size in twenty years. The land economics favour large distribution buildings. Existing small units rarely come to market, which is why we track them before they are listed.

Can I put a mezzanine in?

Usually, if the clear height allows and you get a permit. The landlord's consent and the fire code both come into it, so agree it before signing rather than after.

Is buying an industrial condo unit a good idea?

For a stable business that needs the space long term, often yes. It has been one of the better performing asset classes in the GTA. The constraint is supply, not demand.

Tell us the requirement

Looking for industrial?

Send the size, area, and timing. You get a shortlist back, including space that has not been listed yet.

Other categories

Not quite what you need?

OfficeProfessional suites, medical space, and whole floors along the Yonge and Highway 7 corridors. RetailPlaza units, street-front stores, end-caps with parking, and pad sites across the Yonge corridor. LandDevelopment parcels, serviced lots, and assembly opportunities from Richmond Hill to East Gwillimbury. InvestmentMulti-residential, mixed-use, and net-leased property, valued on income that has actually been verified. Business for saleGoing concerns sold with the real estate, with the lease, or on their own.

Listings are provided under the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) programme of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate. Listings held by brokerages other than Nave Real Estate, Brokerage Inc. are identified with the name of the listing brokerage. Lease and operating cost figures on this page are general guidance, not an offer, and must be verified for any specific property.