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Consultation has concluded
We Heard You - and Now We're Proposing Changes!
Council adopted bylaw amendments in November of 2017 to permit carriage houses in most low and medium density residential neighbourhoods. Since 2017, Planning Services has processed dozens of carriage house applications and consulted with many more property owners about the possibility of building a carriage house on their property. We are now considering ways in which our bylaws could be amended to further support carriage house development and have sought public feedback. Planning staff held an open house on June 29th and launched an online survey (now closed). Feedback gathered from the survey and information session has informed staff reports back to Council - see the Documents tab - and bylaw amendments incorporating updates that reflect public and Council feedback are moving through readings of Council with a statutory public hearing scheduled for March 2, 2023.
What is a carriage house?
A carriage house (often referred to as a coach house, laneway house or garden suite) is a detached accessory dwelling unit that is subordinate to the principal dwelling in terms of scale and siting. Their living space can either be ground-oriented or above a garage. They are BC Building Code compliant standalone self-contained dwelling units on a residential property.
Carriage houses are an important form of housing stock that often allow for ‘gentle infill’ – density in existing neighbourhoods of modest impact to adjacent properties. Carriage houses are often constructed to permit intergenerational living on the same lot, for aging parents or young adult children. A carriage house can also provide much-needed rental stock in the City in a way that provides for more autonomous living arrangements between residents.
How does the City regulate carriage house development?
Carriage houses require a development permit.
Development permits require things such as:
dedicated outdoor spaces,
privacy between residents,
off-street parking, and landscaping.
Development permits are approved by the Director of Planning Services.
Once issued, a development permit is valid for two years for the property owner to secure a building permit and make a substantial start on construction.
Carriage Houses By the Numbers
30 carriage house development permits have been issued since 2017:
17 were for new construction
13 were for conversions of existing accessory buildings, such as garages.
Changes We're Proposing
We have some ideas about how to make it easier to build a new carriage house or convert an existing building in to one. Changes proposed in the draft bylaw amendments include:
More flexibility to accommodate siting and height needs when someone is converting an existing structure to a carriage house.
Allow a second level or storey of living space.
Increase the 90 square metre (968 square foot) maximum habitable floor space to 120 square metres (1291 square feet) to allow for more family-sized units with additional bedrooms.
More clear guidelines for carriage house conversions regarding landscaping and cladding.
We Heard You - and Now We're Proposing Changes!
Council adopted bylaw amendments in November of 2017 to permit carriage houses in most low and medium density residential neighbourhoods. Since 2017, Planning Services has processed dozens of carriage house applications and consulted with many more property owners about the possibility of building a carriage house on their property. We are now considering ways in which our bylaws could be amended to further support carriage house development and have sought public feedback. Planning staff held an open house on June 29th and launched an online survey (now closed). Feedback gathered from the survey and information session has informed staff reports back to Council - see the Documents tab - and bylaw amendments incorporating updates that reflect public and Council feedback are moving through readings of Council with a statutory public hearing scheduled for March 2, 2023.
What is a carriage house?
A carriage house (often referred to as a coach house, laneway house or garden suite) is a detached accessory dwelling unit that is subordinate to the principal dwelling in terms of scale and siting. Their living space can either be ground-oriented or above a garage. They are BC Building Code compliant standalone self-contained dwelling units on a residential property.
Carriage houses are an important form of housing stock that often allow for ‘gentle infill’ – density in existing neighbourhoods of modest impact to adjacent properties. Carriage houses are often constructed to permit intergenerational living on the same lot, for aging parents or young adult children. A carriage house can also provide much-needed rental stock in the City in a way that provides for more autonomous living arrangements between residents.
How does the City regulate carriage house development?
Carriage houses require a development permit.
Development permits require things such as:
dedicated outdoor spaces,
privacy between residents,
off-street parking, and landscaping.
Development permits are approved by the Director of Planning Services.
Once issued, a development permit is valid for two years for the property owner to secure a building permit and make a substantial start on construction.
Carriage Houses By the Numbers
30 carriage house development permits have been issued since 2017:
17 were for new construction
13 were for conversions of existing accessory buildings, such as garages.
Changes We're Proposing
We have some ideas about how to make it easier to build a new carriage house or convert an existing building in to one. Changes proposed in the draft bylaw amendments include:
More flexibility to accommodate siting and height needs when someone is converting an existing structure to a carriage house.
Allow a second level or storey of living space.
Increase the 90 square metre (968 square foot) maximum habitable floor space to 120 square metres (1291 square feet) to allow for more family-sized units with additional bedrooms.
More clear guidelines for carriage house conversions regarding landscaping and cladding.
