Laneway homes and secondary suites

Metro Vancouver cities have opened the door to more homes on a single lot: secondary suites inside a house, and laneway or garden homes at the back of the property. The rules differ from city to city and change more often than most homeowners expect, so the first step is always to check what your lot allows. We build both kinds of unit, and we start with that check.

Secondary suite or laneway home?

A secondary suite sits inside the existing house, usually the basement, with its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance. It uses space you already have, so it is typically the faster and less costly option. A laneway home is a separate small house at the rear of the lot. It costs more but gives more privacy to both households and more flexibility for family or rental use.

What the City checks

For a suite, the City looks at fire separation between units, exits, smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms, ceiling heights, ventilation and parking. For a laneway home, it looks at lot size, setbacks, height, lane access, servicing and tree protection. These rules are set by each municipality, so we confirm them against your City's current bylaws before any design work is paid for.

How the project runs

1. Site visit and lot check. We look at the house, the lot and the lane, and confirm what the City allows.
2. Design and drawings. Prepared by a designer or drafter, coordinated with us so the drawings are buildable and priced.
3. Permits. We submit and follow the application through review.
4. Construction. One contractor runs every trade through to final inspection.