Are basement suites legal in Maple Ridge?

One secondary suite per lot is permitted and it must be contained within the same building as the single detached building. Secondary suites must not exceed a Gross Floor area of 90m 2, and/or exceed 40% of the total Gross Floor Area of the building.

What is an unauthorized suite?

An illegal suite is when a garden suite or secondary suite within a single-family home, duplex, or townhome does not meet all the BC building codes, zoning bylaws, or it was not completed with the proper permits. For instance, a secondary suite could have its own kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and a separate entrance.

Are secondary suites allowed in Oak Bay?

It is estimated that there are between 500 and 750 unregulated secondary suites in Oak Bay which, currently, are not allowed under zoning bylaws.

How can I legally build a suite in BC?

To qualify as a ‘legal’ suite, the apartment will need to meet certain zoning, property, occupancy, health and safety, fire and electrical standards. Usually this involves the suite being its own residence separate from the rest of the home by its own walls, floor, and doors.

How do you know if a suite is illegal?

FAQ – How do I know if I live in an illegal secondary suite?

a separate mailing address.
a ceiling height of at least 1.95m.
direct access to the outdoors.
a window in each bedroom.
fire protected walls and ceiling between the secondary suite and the main home and around common exits by the use of ½ inch of drywall.

What constitutes a suite?

A suite in a hotel or other public accommodation, such as a cruise ship denotes, according to most dictionary definitions, connected rooms under one room number. In addition to one or more beds and a bathroom, such “suites” include a living or sitting area, often equipped with a sofa bed.

How do you know if a suite is legal?

The secondary suite registry is an online, searchable list identifying legal and safe secondary suites in Calgary. These suites have been registered and inspected to meet Alberta’s safety code requirements. View the suite registry bylaw and go to secondarysuites.calgary.ca to view the registry.

How many illegal suites are there in BC?

According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, there are about 155,000 secondary suites in BC. Based on a 2017 survey, insurance company Square One estimates about 15% of these suites are illegal.

Can you insure an illegal suite?

Insurance companies will not ask for verification to confirm if a homeowner’s secondary suite is legal or illegal. However, a claim can be denied if it is deemed that damage occurred due to homeowner negligence.

What makes a basement suite legal in BC?

2.0 Measure Floor Areas of Your Home There’s single bigger limiter to obtaining a legal basement suite then BC Building Code requirement of “a secondary suite shall have a maximum gross floor area of 90 m2 (968.8 ft2) or 40% of the habitable floor area of the principal dwelling, whichever is less.”

What makes a room a suite?

The Suite. A large apartment-like layout with separate living area, one or two bedrooms with attached bathrooms and/or powder rooms and most times, a dining area as well. Most of these suites have living rooms and bedrooms separated by a solid partition like a door.

Are there secondary suites in Maple Ridge BC?

The following information provides a summary of the regulations that apply to secondary suites within Maple Ridge: Secondary Suites are permitted in specific zones, please refer to the Zoning Bylaw. One secondary suite per lot is permitted and it must be contained within the same building as the single detached building.

Do you need a licence to rent a secondary suite in Maple Ridge?

However, properties that have two rentals on the property are required to hold a valid Business Licence in order to lawfully rent out both dwelling units All secondary suite regulations can be found in the City of Maple Ridge Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019.

What is a secondary suite in a house?

A registered secondary suite is a self contained area within a single detached dwelling that contains cooking facilities, a living area and a bedroom area that has gone through the building permit process. A registered secondary suite has been approved by the Building Department.