City of North Vancouver agrees to Coach Houses (updated)
[Updated]: The City has approved a new Housing Action Plan allowing both a coachhouse and a secondary suite on a single family lot. Learn more about the change here >>
The City of North Vancouver has agreed to new regulation to allow home owners to build a Coach House in their back yard, provided they comply with the new regulation. A coach house is "a small, detached secondary residence located on an alley or lane behind an existing detached home."
The new regulations govern siting, access, setbacks, parking, habitable space, architectural style, privacy, building products, landscaping and use. Hom owners who have built to the maximum allowable density on their property won't be able to build a coach house. As well, the coach house can only be rented, it can't be sold.
Do you live in the City and wonder if you can have a coachhouse? Via CNV.org:
A property can have both a secondary suite and a coach house if the following requirements are met:
- Property is zoned for One-Unit Residential (RS) Use
- There is unused Gross Floor Area available on the lot which can be allocated to the coach house (As per the Zoning Bylaw, the maximum Gross Floor Area for One-Unit Residential (RS) Use is the lesser of 0.3 times the lot area plus 1,000 square feet or 0.5 times the lot area).
- Lot is at least 362.3 square metre (3,900 square feet)
- Lot is at least 10.1 metre (33 feet) wide
- The Coach House is designed in accordance with the Zoning Bylaw and Accessory Coach House Development Permit Guidelines
- Owner resides on the property
- Two parking spaces available on the property
For more information about these new changes and how they will affect your property, contact our team today at 604.983.2518.