Secondary suites have become all the rage in Vancouver, partly in response to the city’s skyrocketing housing prices. However, renovating your home to include a secondary suite can be a complicated process.
Before you undertake such a renovation, it is important to consider what is required – and decide if a secondary suite is right for you.
Legal versus illegal secondary suites
While there are many illegal secondary suites in the city, we do not suggest taking this route.
Instead, we encourage you to focus on creating a legal secondary suite, protecting yourself against costly fines and renovations down the road. If you have already bought a home with a secondary suite and have discovered it is illegal, there are options available to you. Before taking any action though, it is best to call a professional for advice about how to move forward.
The ins and outs of adding a secondary suite to your Vancouver home
Zoning and permitting
If you are adding a new, legal secondary suite, you first need to check the zoning in your area. Are you zoned for secondary suites? If not, your renovation journey ends here.
If the zoning is on your side, the next step is to look into the basic health, safety, and living requirements for secondary suites in your area. You will need to consider how you are going to meet these requirements. Once you have that figured out, you can apply for the permits for your secondary suite. You will also need to file the plans for your proposed renovation.
Home inspection
Before you are approved to begin work, an inspector will come to inspect your home, ensuring that it matches the current plans on file with the city. This is where those with illegal suites can get into trouble. If the house does not match the plans on file, the city can levy hefty fines or insist that homeowners return the house to its previous plan, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
When your home does match the plans on file, the inspector will look at other concerns, including your proposal for meeting basic safety needs. If all is well with your proposal, it will be approved and you can move forward with the renovation of your secondary suite.
This process can be time-consuming and requires a thorough knowledge of Vancouver housing regulations. That is why, if you are looking to renovate your home to include a secondary suite, it is best to bring in a home renovation professional as soon as possible, as these homeowners did. This way, you can relax, feeling safe in the knowledge that your home and secondary suite renovation are in experienced hands.
