{"title":"Vancouver secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Vancouver?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/vancouver","name":"Vancouver","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Vancouver","url":"https://vancouver.ca"},"short_answer":"Apply to Vancouver to create a new suite or legalize one built without permits. A secondary suite has its own kitchen, living area and external access. The City’s guide explains how to submit the application package.","aliases":[],"cost":null,"how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall","value":"311"}],"documents":[],"forms":[],"related":[{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Vancouver fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"tree-removal","title":"Vancouver tree removal rules and permits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/tree-removal/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Vancouver zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/richmond","name":"Richmond","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/delta","name":"Delta","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/secondary-suite/"}],"topic":{"title":"Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite/"},"facts":{"suite_allowed":{"label":"Secondary suite allowed","value":"In R1-1, single detached houses and duplexes may include secondary suites. Check the dwelling type and zone for the actual lot.","short":"Yes, in R1-1 (houses and duplexes)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/zoning/zoning-by-law-district-schedule-r1-1.pdf","title":"District schedule, City of Vancouver (PDF)","section":"R1-1 District Schedule, section 1.1","quotes":["1.1 Intent The intent of this Residential Inclusive district schedule is to enable a variety of small-scale housing options while retaining the single lot character of the area. Housing options include multiple dwellings (“multiplex” up to 6 dwelling units, or up to 8 rental dwelling units), duplexes and single detached houses. Duplexes may include additional dwelling units such as secondary suites and lock-off units, and single detached houses may include additional dwelling units such as secondary suites and laneway houses."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"The R1-1 schedule includes laneway houses with single detached houses. The conditions for the lot and proposed buildings still apply.","short":"Yes, laneway houses in R1-1","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/zoning/zoning-by-law-district-schedule-r1-1.pdf","title":"District schedule, City of Vancouver (PDF)","section":"R1-1 District Schedule, section 1.1","quotes":["The intent of this Residential Inclusive district schedule is to enable a variety of small-scale housing options while retaining the single lot character of the area. Housing options include multiple dwellings (“multiplex” up to 6 dwelling units, or up to 8 rental dwelling units), duplexes and single detached houses. Duplexes may include additional dwelling units such as secondary suites and lock-off units, and single detached houses may include additional dwelling units such as secondary suites and laneway houses."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"A single-family home can have one secondary suite. A duplex may have one per primary dwelling unit where zoning allows. A secondary suite cannot be separately strata titled.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/creating-a-secondary-suite.aspx","title":"Create or legalize a secondary suite","section":"What you need to know and buying a home with a suite","quotes":["## What you need to know * A secondary suite cannot be strata titled * A third suite is not allowed under the Zoning and Development By-law * A duplex may have two suites; however, only one suite is allowed per primary dwelling unit * Secondary suites in duplexes or two-family homes are not approved in all zones * Secondary suites not approved through our permitting process are not legal dwelling units and not eligible for short- or long-term licences","Request an approved use letter to find out if the secondary suite in your home is permitted. Important note Our Zoning and Development By-law only allows one secondary suite per single family home."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","note":"Checked Create or legalize a secondary suite; not found there.","sources":[]},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"Apply to Vancouver to create a new suite or legalize one built without permits.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/creating-a-secondary-suite.aspx","title":"Create or legalize a secondary suite","section":"What is a secondary suite?","quotes":["Add a new secondary suite to your home or legalize a secondary suite that was created without permits."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Vancouver Zoning and Development By-law and the district schedule for the property. R1-1 addresses secondary suites and laneway houses.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/creating-a-secondary-suite.aspx","title":"Create or legalize a secondary suite","section":"City suite guidance and R1-1 district schedule, section 1.1","quotes":["## What you need to know * A secondary suite cannot be strata titled * A third suite is not allowed under the Zoning and Development By-law * A duplex may have two suites; however, only one suite is allowed per primary dwelling unit * Secondary suites in duplexes or two-family homes are not approved in all zones * Secondary suites not approved through our permitting process are not legal dwelling units and not eligible for short- or long-term licences * A secondary suite must comply with all City by-laws prior to legalization (These items are usually addressed during the permit application phase.)"]},{"url":"https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/zoning/zoning-by-law-district-schedule-r1-1.pdf","title":"District schedule, City of Vancouver (PDF)","section":"City suite guidance and R1-1 district schedule, section 1.1","quotes":["The intent of this Residential Inclusive district schedule is to enable a variety of small-scale housing options while retaining the single lot character of the area. Housing options include multiple dwellings (“multiplex” up to 6 dwelling units, or up to 8 rental dwelling units), duplexes and single detached houses. Duplexes may include additional dwelling units such as secondary suites and lock-off units, and single detached houses may include additional dwelling units such as secondary suites and laneway houses."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nFirst identify the kind of dwelling you want to add. A suite inside the main building and a separate dwelling in a backyard building can have different names and different permissions in the zoning bylaw. A single-family home can have one secondary suite. A duplex may have one per primary dwelling unit where zoning allows. A secondary suite cannot be separately strata titled.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check the housing guidance in [Create or legalize a secondary suite](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/creating-a-secondary-suite.aspx). Find the parcel's zone and look up the dwelling type you intend to create. Describe whether the space is existing, new or part of a detached building.\n2. Show the existing dwellings, proposed entrance and parking on a sketch. Ask planning about permitted use and the building office about the work needed for the space.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The R1-1 schedule includes laneway houses with single detached houses. The conditions for the lot and proposed buildings still apply.\n- In R1-1, single detached houses and duplexes may include secondary suites. Check the dwelling type and zone for the actual lot.\n- Find your Vancouver property on the City’s Digital Zoning Map and note its district.\n- Direct general questions about detached houses, secondary suites, duplexes, multiplexes, laneway houses, alterations and changes of use to the Development and Building Services Centre.\n- For a question about the dwelling type, the zone and whether the proposed suite is attached or detached, call City Hall at 311.","sources":[{"url":"https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/creating-a-secondary-suite.aspx","title":"Create or legalize a secondary suite","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://zoning.vancouver.ca/","title":"Digital Zoning Map","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/zoning/zoning-by-law-district-schedule-r1-1.pdf","title":"District schedule, City of Vancouver (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://vancouver.ca/your-government/contact-the-city-of-vancouver.aspx","title":"Vancouver municipal office contact information","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/development-permit-enquiry.aspx","title":"Make a development permit enquiry","accessed":"2026-11-09"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-09","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/secondary-suite.json"}}