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2007 News and Information

Secondary Suites Now Legal in Detached Single Family Dwellings

02 August 2007

Recent amendments to the City of Richmond’s Zoning Bylaw now allow for one secondary suite to exist within detached single family dwellings.

Enabling the legalization of secondary suites within single family dwellings in Richmond provides the most effective, comprehensive and equitable solution to address illegal secondary suites while ensuring safety standards are met. This is also a proactive step towards addressing affordable housing.

For construction of secondary suites
The suite must be designed and constructed in accordance with Section 9.36., “Secondary Suites” of the 2006 BC Building Code. Submission of building plans and a Building Permit application are required prior to starting construction.

For existing secondary suites
To legalize an existing secondary suite, building plans must be submitted and an inspection must be conducted by the City’s Building Approvals Division to ensure code compliance. For further information, please refer to the Bulletin, Secondary Suite in an Existing Single Family Dwelling, which is also available at City Hall.

The secondary suite must have a minimum gross floor area of at least 33 m² (355 ft²) and must not exceed a gross floor area of 90 m² (969 ft²) or 40% of the gross floor area of the one-family dwelling wherein it is contained.

If you are the owner of a single family home with an existing secondary suite, it is important that you take proactive steps to get the suite inspected and legalized. The benefits of having your suite legalized include:

Home owners and potential buyers should also be aware that non-disclosure of an illegal suite may impact your home insurance and non-permitted construction is not covered under a new home warranty.

For more information, please contact John Irving, Building Approvals Director, at 604-276-4140.