West Vancouver legalizes secondary suites

What is a secondary suite?

West Vancouver defines a secondary suite as a separate residential unit accessory to a single family or two-family dwelling. The suite must have two or more rooms and include at least one living room, one kitchen and one bathroom.

A property with a secondary suite must meet the following requirements:

1. Only one secondary suite is permitted per lot.

2. The secondary suite cannot be detached from the principal

building.

3. The secondary suite must occupy a minimum floor area of 215

sq. ft and a maximum of 968 sq. ft. or 40 % of the total floor

area of the building excluding garage space, whichever is less.

4. The registered owner(s) of the property must occupy either

the principal dwelling unit or the secondary suite.

5. A building containing a secondary suite cannot have lodgers, a

personal care facility, a child care use, or a bed and breakfast.

6. A secondary suite must have a separate exterior entrance

from the principal dwelling unit.

7. The secondary suite must have an additional off-street parking

spot exclusively for the use of the secondary suite and at

least two off-street parking spaces for the exclusive use of

the principal dwelling unit.

8. The secondary suite parking must be located so that any

vehicle parked in any required vehicle parking space on the

lot may exit without needing to manoeuvre other vehicles

and must be provided in addition to parking spaces required

for visitor parking.

9. The secondary suite must not be subdivided from the principal

dwelling unit under the Land Title Act or the Strata

Property Act.

10. Water and electrical service for the secondary suite must not

be separately metered.

By September 30, 2010 property owners must:

1. Apply for a business licence and pay a fee of $250. As of

October 1, 2010 this fee increases to $400. (Note: March 1, West

Vancouver stopped accepting applications for in-law suites.)

2. Submit a general plan for the site including the existing floor plan

of the unit showing the suite and the location of parking spaces.

3. Have the suite inspected.

4. Meet any requirements as a result of the inspection, including

a follow-up inspection.

5. Sign an affidavit that the home owner will occupy either the

principal dwelling or the secondary suite.

In-law suites

Previously, in-law suites were legal for family members only. New applications for in-law suites are no longer accepted and only existing in-law suites with valid permits can continue as legal, non-conforming uses.

Penalties

If a West Vancouver home owner does not comply, they could be found to be in violation of the Zoning Bylaw and could face fines of up to $300 a day.

For more information contact our team at 604.983.2518.