Inside an apartment suite with a kitchen, dining room, and living room

Create or legalize a secondary suite

What is a secondary suite?

A secondary suite is an approved dwelling unit (with its own kitchen and living area as well as separate external access) within a larger one-family or two-family dwelling.

Secondary suites may share internal access with the main dwelling unit.

Review the steps to creating or legalizing a secondary suite before submitting an application.

Submit application package

Add a new secondary suite to your home or legalize a secondary suite that was created without permits.

What you need to know

A secondary suite cannot be strata titled
A third suite is not allowed under the Zoning and Development By-law
A duplex may have two suites; however, only one suite is allowed per primary dwelling unit
Secondary suites in duplexes or two-family homes are not approved in all zones
Secondary suites not approved through our permitting process are not legal dwelling units and not eligible for short- or long-term licences
A secondary suite must comply with all City by-laws prior to legalization (These items are usually addressed during the permit application phase.)
Questions about legalizing your secondary suite can be emailed to secondarysuite.office@vancouver.ca

Are you creating a secondary suite as part of building a new house? Review the steps to building a new house

Steps to creating or legalizing a secondary suite

Step 1: Confirm if secondary suites are allowed in your area
If your secondary suite is or will be located in a duplex or two-family dwelling:
- Review the Zoning and Development By-law to confirm if secondary suites are allowed in your area
Contact the Development and Building Services Centre if your zone's district schedule indicates two-family dwellings are not an approved use. You may still have options.
Step 2: Prepare plans, submit your permit application, and pay fees
A. Get a special inspection if you have an existing suite (optional)

We provide the optional service of a secondary suite inspection if you are legalizing an existing suite. You'll still need to contact a qualified design professional and/or contractor to prepare plans for your suite if a special inspection is completed.

Fee
- Special inspection fee: $240+ GST
Book inspection

To book a special inspection, you don't need to visit us. Request an inspection online, and we will contact you to explain the next steps.

Register for an online account and submit your request

B. Prepare your floor and site plans

A development and building permit will be required to carry out upgrading work and formally change the use of your house to include a secondary suite.

If your space is eligible to be used as a secondary suite, we recommend that you speak to a qualified design professional and/or contractor to prepare plans for your suite.

You will need to provide:
- Floor plans
- Site plans
Your plans must be drawn to scale and clearly labelled.

During the permit application review, additional requirements may be requested on a case by case basis.

Review a sample of an acceptable drawing package (557 KB)

Floor plan requirements

Your floor plans must include the:
- Location and dimensions of all rooms (bedrooms/kitchen/bathroom/living room, etc.), stairs, windows, doors, and all plumbing and gas fixtures in the suite
- Suite’s ceiling height
Plans of the main house are not required to be submitted.

Site plan requirements
- Your site plans must include the:
  - Location and dimension of all on-site parking
  - Access path from the street to the suite entry and any protrusions encroaching onto the access path
  - Location of the lane and the street
  - Finished floor elevation (height of floor in relation to grade)
  - Grade level at the four corners of the site
C. Submit application

To have your application accepted, provide all of the required drawings, documents, and application form.
1. Fill out a Development and Building Permit Application Form (196 KB)
2. Fill out an Owner's Undertaking Letter (533 KB)
3. Include your floor and site plans
Submit application package

Need assistance? Refer to the building permit online account guide (4 MB)

D. Application intake and pay fees

When your application is reviewed and accepted, you will receive an email notification that the permit application fees and deposits (if applicable) are ready to be paid.

How to pay fees
- Online by credit card ( Only the permit holder/applicant can make online payments toward a permit.)
- In person at the Development and Building Services Centre, 515 W 10th Ave:
  - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm
  - Tuesday and Thursday: 8:30am to 4pm
  - Closed on holidays
    There is a $200 maximum for cash payments.
- By mail at:
  Development and Building Services Centre
  515 West 10th Avenue
  Vancouver, BC V5Z 4A8
  Make sure that the permit number is noted on the cheque and the payee is made out to "City of Vancouver".
C. Application reviewed

Following a detailed review of the submitted plans and documents by various staff teams, we will:
- Ask additional questions, and/or
- Provide you with a list of any conditions and items to be addressed before an updated permit can be issued
D. Permit(s) approved

Once your permit(s) is issued, you:
- Will be notified by email with instructions to download and print your permit and approved drawings
- Are able to begin the work defined in the permit
One printed copy of the City-approved permit needs to be made available for viewing at the jobsite for City inspectors.

One paper set of City-approved drawings (full-sized and to scale), displaying the City accepted stamp, needs to be made available for viewing at the jobsite for City inspectors. If the City accepted stamp is missing, or the paper set isn’t at the jobsite, you will be required to reschedule your inspection and may be subject to a re-inspection fee.
Step 3: Begin construction, get trade permits, and book inspections
Once your building permit has been issued, you can begin work on your secondary suite, get the required trade permits, and book inspections.

If you need to make any change to the work approved in the permit, please contact the Development and Building Services Centre. Changes must be reflected on the approved plans and are subject to additional fees.

A. Apply for trade permits

Most house renovations will require separate trades permits. These are generally applied for by the contractor.

Get details about and apply for a:
B. Request inspections

All work completed will need to be inspected at various stages of construction. Your contractor can advise you when an inspection should be requested.

A secondary suite is not considered legal until the final inspection has been passed.

Get more information and book an inspection
Step 4: Complete construction and determine if you need a business licence
If the work meets all requirements, your suite will be approved.
- You DO NOT need a business licence, if your family (parents, children, etc.) will be living in the suite
- You DO need a business licence, if you intend to rent out your suite long-term
Unless you are the principal resident living in the suite (not the main house), you cannot use your secondary suite as a short-term rental.

How to get a business licence

Steps to submitting an amendment to an issued building permit

Step 1: Submit building permit amendment request
A. Fill out your amendment request form

Refer to the amendment request form (48 KB) to find out what information to include with your amendment request.

B. Submit your request
1. Log into your online account.
2. Select the permit you want to submit an amendment for.
3. Select the "Request Amendment" as the next action on the permit overview page.
4. Provide a detailed description of the amendment request and uploading any supporting documents, including your amendment request form.
Need assistance? Refer to the building permit online account guide (3 MB)
Step 2: Request is reviewed and next steps provided
Following a detailed review of the amendment request, we will:
- Ask additional questions, and/or
- Provide a list of any conditions and items to be addressed before an updated permit can be issued
When all conditions have been met, you'll receive notification that the amendment fees are ready to be paid.

How to pay fees
- Online by credit card ( Only the permit holder/applicant can make online payments toward a permit.)
- In person at the Development and Building Services Centre, 515 W 10th Ave:
  - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm
  - Tuesday and Thursday: 8:30am to 4pm
  - Closed on holidays
    There is a $200 maximum for cash payments.
- By mail at:
  Development and Building Services Centre
  515 West 10th Avenue
  Vancouver, BC V5Z 4A8
  Make sure that the permit number is noted on the cheque and the payee is made out to "City of Vancouver".

Questions?

Review our how to guide (213 KB)

Review our frequently asked questions (112 KB)

Removing your secondary suite?

If you no longer want a secondary suite in your home, you will need to apply for the appropriate permit(s) before you:

Remove the kitchen/cooking facilities (for example, the range, etc)
Resolve any other work that was previously completed without a permit

Contact the Services Centre for further information about the permit application process.

Buying a home with a secondary suite?

Did you know that you when you purchase a property, you are responsible for any work completed without a permit even if the work was competed by a former owner or before you lived there? This includes secondary suites.

Request an approved use letter to find out if the secondary suite in your home is permitted.

Our Zoning and Development By-law only allows one secondary suite per single family home.

PERMITS ISSUED IN 2023

for suites in newly constructed homes

PERMITS ISSUED IN 2023

for suites added to existing homes

PERMITS ISSUED IN 2022

for suites in newly constructed homes

PERMITS ISSUED IN 2022

for suites added to existing homes

General permit enquiries

Contact the Development and Building Services Centre online

Have you submitted an application online?

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Create or legalize a secondary suite

What is a secondary suite?

What you need to know

Steps to creating or legalizing a secondary suite

Step 1: Confirm if secondary suites are allowed in your area

Step 2: Prepare plans, submit your permit application, and pay fees

A. Get a special inspection if you have an existing suite (optional)

Fee

Book inspection

B. Prepare your floor and site plans

Floor plan requirements

Site plan requirements

C. Submit application

D. Application intake and pay fees

How to pay fees

C. Application reviewed

D. Permit(s) approved

Step 3: Begin construction, get trade permits, and book inspections

A. Apply for trade permits

B. Request inspections

Step 4: Complete construction and determine if you need a business licence

Steps to submitting an amendment to an issued building permit

Step 1: Submit building permit amendment request

A. Fill out your amendment request form

B. Submit your request

Step 2: Request is reviewed and next steps provided

How to pay fees

Removing your secondary suite?

Buying a home with a secondary suite?

General permit enquiries

Have you submitted an application online?

Permits, inspections, and forms

Apply for and manage permit

Inspections

Forms, checklists, and bulletins

Did you find what you're looking for?

Create or legalize a secondary suite

What is a secondary suite?

What you need to know

Steps to creating or legalizing a secondary suite

Step 1: Confirm if secondary suites are allowed in your area

Step 2: Prepare plans, submit your permit application, and pay fees

Step 3: Begin construction, get trade permits, and book inspections

Step 4: Complete construction and determine if you need a business licence

Steps to submitting an amendment to an issued building permit

Step 1: Submit building permit amendment request

Step 2: Request is reviewed and next steps provided

Removing your secondary suite?

Buying a home with a secondary suite?

General permit enquiries

Have you submitted an application online?

Permits, inspections, and forms

Apply for and manage permit

Inspections

Forms, checklists, and bulletins

Did you find what you're looking for?

Contact information, partner agencies, and website policies