Secondary suite

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Secondary Suite is an urban planning term for an additional separate dwelling unit on a property that would normally accommodate only one dwelling unit. A secondary suite is considered "secondary" or "assessory" to the primary residence on the parcel. It normally has its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom and living area. Such a suite often is one of the following types:

• A suite above a rear detached garage,
• A suite above the main floor of a single-detached dwelling,
• A suite below the main floor of a single-detached dwelling (a "basement suite").
• A suite attached to a single-detached dwelling at grade, or
• A suite detached from the principal dwelling (a "garden suite" or "guesthouse").

In many municipalities, secondary suites are illegal because they do not conform to the zoning or land use district the property is in, they have been developed without the proper permits, or they do not meet the local building code. However, some localities only prohibit the renting out of secondary suites, and allow occupation by a relative or guest, leading to the use of the term "mother-in-law" house or apartment. Local juristictions may have rules regarding allowing certain relatives to live there and rules about what, if any, rent may be charged.

Secondary suites can also be called accessory suites.

Contents 1 Mother-in-Law House 2 Mother-in-Law Apartment 3 Guest House 4 Canada 4.1 Municipalities Permitting Secondary Suites 4.1.1 Coquitlam, B.C. 4.1.2 Kelowna, B.C. 4.1.3 Vancouver, B.C 4.1.4 Other Cities 4.2 Municipalities Not Permitting Secondary Suites 4.3 Government Programs 4.3.1 CMHC 4.3.2 British Columbia 5 Further Reading 6 References

[edit] Mother-in-Law House

A mother-in-law house is a form of guest accommodation that may be either completely detached (a guesthouse) or attached to a primary residence. An attached mother-in-law often involves some spaces shared in common with an attached primary dwelling. It may, for instance, have a separate bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, while sharing a living room and laundry facilities.

Mother-in-Law houses are sometimes abbreviated as MIL in internet or newspaper listings.

[edit] Mother-in-Law Apartment

A mother-in-law apartment is a small apartment accessory to a primary residence. Alternative names include "granny flat", "granny suite""in-law suite", and "accessory apartment", the first being used primarily in Britain, where it is the most familiar of these terms, but also in parts of the United States. Such apartments are frequently used to accommodate an elderly relative who is not capable of living on their own, but is not ready for a nursing home environment or other similar facility.

The apartment may or may not have a communicating door to the main house, but virtually always has a separate entrance and is usually not part of the original design. Many are located above the garage of the main house or as a separate building in the rear yard.

[edit] Guest House

A guest house is a private home which has been converted for the exclusive use of guest accommodation. The owner usually lives in an entirely separate area within the property and the guest house may serve as a form of lodging business, similar to a bed and breakfast.

Perhaps the most famous example of an individual residing in a guest house was that of Brian "Kato" Kaelin, who was living in such a dwelling on O.J. Simpson's property at the time that Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman were murdered. His presence there led to his later participation as a witness in Simpson's criminal and civil trials.

[edit] Canada

[edit] Municipalities Permitting Secondary Suites

[edit] Coquitlam, B.C.

The City of Coquitlam B.C. permits secondary suites. It is limited in size to 40% of the total floor area of the house, and an additional parking space must be provided. ^[1]

[edit] Kelowna, B.C.

The City of Kelowna, B.C. permits secondary suites in land uses districts amended with an "S" designation.^[2] The main requirments are:

• You must have a minimum of 3 parking spaces on your lot.
• The maximum size is 90 m2 or 40% of the floor area of the house, whichever is less.
• You can have the secondary suite in the house or in a separate building (check the requirements for a separate building).^[3]

[edit] Vancouver, B.C

The City of Vancouver, B.C. has permitted secondary suites since March 23, 2004. At that time, changes were made to the Zoning and Development Bylaw to make it possible for every single family house in Vancouver to have a secondary suite. These changes included:

• "One-Family Dwelling with Secondary Suite" to be permitted in all residential RS, RM, and RT zones;
• One on-site parking space will be acceptable for a house with a secondary suite, if the house was built prior to March 23, 2004;
• Partial sprinkler system will no longer be a requirement for existing non-sprinklered houses (certain conditions apply). Instead, interconnected hard-wired smoke alarms equipped with battery backup and manual silencing device are to be installed;
• Ceiling height requirement for an existing house reduced to 6'6" over 80% of the suite area and in all areas of exit from the suite.^[4]

[edit] Other Cities

• Secondary suites can be registered in Abbotsford, B.C.^[5]
• Langley, B.C. has recently decided to legalize secondary suites in all single family residential zones in the City.^[6]
• Port Moody, B.C. has adopted a secondary suite program.^[7]
• Surrey, B.C. authorizes secondary suites through a two step process of rezoning then permit approval.^[8]

[edit] Municipalities Not Permitting Secondary Suites

• Richmond, B.C. does not permit secondary suites except those located in Coach District Zoned Properties ^[9]

[edit] Government Programs

[edit] CMHC

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation provides a financial assistance program to help Canadians create affordable housing for low-income seniors and adults with a disability within a secondary suite. The program is called the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Pogram (RRAP) -- Secondary/Garden Suite. The maximum fully forgivable loan depends on the location of the property:

• Southern Areas of Canada: $24,000/unit
• Northern areas of Canada: $28,000/unit
• Far northern areas: $36,000/unit

A 25% supplement in assistance is available in remote areas.^[10]

[edit] British Columbia

The Housing Policy Branch of British Columbia's Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services published a guide for local govermnents to implement secondary suite programs called Secondary Suites: A Guide for Local Govenement. The current issue is dated September 2005. The intent of the guide is to "help local governments develop and implement secondary suite programs". It also highlights good secondary suite practices as well as provides practical information to "elected officials, planners, community groups, homeowners, developers, and others interested in secondary suites". It states its objectives as follows:

“	Identify the benefits of secondary suites as a form of affordable housing, and encourage legalization of suites; Identify the challenges and issues associated with secondary suites; Highlight strategies local governments can use to design and implement secondary suite programs.	”
—Secondary Suites: A Guide for Local Govenement

[edit] Further Reading

• West Coast Environmental Law: Urban Growth and Development, Secondary Suites
• Tenants Rights Action Coalition: Secondary Suites, A Tenant Survey

[edit] References