Secondary Suites and Two Dwelling Housing
A secondary suite is a self-contained dwelling unit located within a single family house or in an accessory building. It must have its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom and living quarters.
Two Dwelling Housing refers to a property that contains two principal dwelling units.
The difference between a second dwelling and a secondary suite is the regulated floor area, siting, required development regulations and DCC's of the dwelling. For a secondary suite, the floor area of the suite and the height of the accessory building are limited. In comparison, it is the site coverage and the building height that are often the limiting regulations for a second principal dwelling.
To have a secondary suite, a property must be zoned RU6 or have an "s" designation. To have a second dwelling on a property it must be zone RU6 zone. Examples include a duplex, semi detached or two single detached houses.
To find out your current zoning, refer to the online mapping system
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Required applications
| Rezoning |
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Required for properties that do not currently allow for a secondary suite (or second dwelling) |
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| Development Permit |
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Required for form & character of all second dwellings and for secondary suites within an accessory buildings or in an addition |
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| Building Permit |
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Required for construction of all secondary suites and second dwellings |
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| Business License |
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Required to rent out a suite |
For more information
Refer to:
We're here to help!
The Land Use Management Team is available to assist with Zoning or Development Permit questions. To make an appointment with our Planner of the Day, please phone: 250 469-8626.
Development Services staff is available to assist with Building Permit inquiries. To make an appointment with the Plan Checker of the Day, please phone: 250 469-8960.