Secondary suites in Canada

Some Canadian municipalities permit secondary suites, while others do not.

Canadian Municipalities Permitting Secondary Suites

Coquitlam, B.C.

The City of Coquitlam B.C. permits secondary suites. It is limited in size to 40% of the total floor area of the house, and an additional parking space must be provided. [ [http://www.coquitlam.ca/NR/rdonlyres/E3C50D8B-721B-400F-A7B2-32AC9DFA42B0/7990/SecondarySuiteGuidelineswithParkingAppx2.pdf City of Coquitlam: Secondary Suites Guide] ]

Kelowna, B.C.

The City of Kelowna, B.C. permits secondary suites in land uses districts amended with an "S" designation. [ [http://www.city.kelowna.bc.ca/citypage/docs/pdfs/development%20services/Secondary%20Suites/Information%20to%20Applicants.pdf City of Kelowna, Secondary Suites: Information for Applicants] ] The main requirments are:
* You must have a minimum of 3 parking spaces on your lot.
* The maximum size is 90 m2 or 40% of the floor area of the house, whichever is less.
* You can have the secondary suite in the house or in a separate building (check the requirements for a separate building). [ [http://www.city.kelowna.bc.ca/citypage/docs/pdfs/development%20services/Secondary%20Suites/Secondary%20Suites%20FAQs.pdf City of Kelowna, Secondary Suites: Frequently Asked Questions] ]

Vancouver, B.C

The City of Vancouver, B.C. has permitted secondary suites since March 23, 2004. At that time, changes were made to the [http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/BYLAWS/zoning/zon&dev.htm Zoning and Development Bylaw] to make it possible for every single family house in Vancouver to have a secondary suite. These changes included:
* "One-Family Dwelling with Secondary Suite" to be permitted in all residential RS, RM, and RT zones;
* One on-site parking space will be acceptable for a house with a secondary suite, if the house was built prior to March 23, 2004;
* Partial sprinkler system will no longer be a requirement for existing non-sprinklered houses (certain conditions apply). Instead, interconnected hard-wired smoke alarms equipped with battery backup and manual silencing device are to be installed;
* Ceiling height requirement for an existing house reduced to 6'6" over 80% of the suite area and in all areas of exit from the suite. [ [http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/licandinsp/licences/ssp/index.htm City of Vancouver, Secondary Suites Program] ]

Calgary, Alberta

The vast majority of secondary suites in Calgary are basement suites. The regulations concerning secondary suites are complex, as they derive from a number of land use and zoning by-laws and differ vastly from community to community and even from street to street. The basic requirements for legal basement suites are that they must only exist in fully detached single-family homes in specific land use districts, they must be 70 square metres in area or less, they must meet all regulations concerning habitability (they must be heated, have adequate kitchen and bathroom facilities, be insulated, etc.), and that each must have its own separate entrance and windows large enough to allow for escape in case of fire. [ [http://www.calgary.ca/DocGallery/BU/dba/brochures/secondary_suites.pdf City of Calgary Guide to Secondary Suites.] Accessed September 23, 2008.]

However, many basement suites in Calgary are 'illegal' in that they contravene the regulations. One estimate states that over half the basement suites in the city are illegal. [http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/columnists/story.html?id=9bf1ff70-cdfe-43a5-9382-8db5aaeedf9f "Made-in-Calgary solution needed for illegal suites".] Calgary Herald, August 14 2008. Accessed September 23 2008.] Although the municipal government requires in theory that all suites be built pursuant to regulations, basement suites are one of the few forms of low-income housing available and are therefore generally tolerated; inspections are only conducted after specific complaints have been made. [http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_6_0_771_203_0_43/http%3B/content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall/Business+Units/Development+and+Building+Approvals+and+Land+Use+Planning+and+Policy/Home+Building+and+Renovations/I+Want+to+Build/Basement+Suite/Secondary+Suites.htm City of Calgary Secondary Suites Regulations] . Accessed September 23, 2008.] In 2007, rules were proposed that would retroactively legalize the thousands (or tens of thousands) of illegal basement suites in Calgary and make it easier for homeowners to build basement suites; the intent of the new rules was to ease the pressure on housing in a city where half of the homeless are fully employed. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2007/03/20/bylaw-suites.html Proposed rules for basement suites controversial.] CBC Calgary, March 20 2007. Accessed September 23 2008.] [ [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2008/09/16/homeless-count-shelters.html Half of homeless on Calgary streets are employed.] CBC News, September 16 2008. Accessed September 23 2008.] City Council voted against the proposition amid concerns over fire safety and the exploitation of low-income earners.

Other Cities

* Secondary suites can be registered in Abbotsford, B.C. [ [http://www.abbotsford.ca/Page235.aspx City of Abbotsford, Secondary Suites] ]
* Langley, B.C. has recently decided to legalize secondary suites in all single family residential zones in the City. [ [http://www.city.langley.bc.ca/pdf/secondarysuitesbrochure.pdf City of Langley, Secondary Suites Brochure] ]
* Port Moody, B.C. has adopted a secondary suite program. [ [http://www.cityofportmoody.com/City+Hall/Services/Licences+and+Permits/A+Guide+to+Secondary+Suites+in+Port+Moody.htm City of Port Moody, A Guide to Secondary Suites in Port Moody] ]
* Surrey, B.C. authorizes secondary suites through a two step process of rezoning then permit approval. [ [http://www.surrey.ca/Living+in+Surrey/Bylaw+Compliance/Secondary+Suites.htm City of Surrey, Secondary Suites] ]

Canadian Municipalities Not Permitting Secondary Suites

* Richmond, B.C. does not permit secondary suites except those located in Coach District Zoned Properties [ [http://www.richmond.ca/safety/property/resident/suites.htm City of Richmond, Secondary Suites] ]

References