City Of North Vancouver Approves Coach Houses
June 25, 2010
Photo courtesy of
Smallworks
Coach houses in the City of North Vancouver are coming. New regulations permitting the building of coach houses were approved by Council on April 19. Coach houses, also referred to as laneway homes, are separate secondary dwellings situated behind a larger primary house on the same property.
Regulations
Regulations cover a range of considerations, including siting, accessibility, setbacks, parking, livable area, structural design, privacy, construction materials, landscaping and land use.Key Regulations
- Requirement for public consultation
- Application for permit to be granted by council
- If a property has already achieved maximum density, a homeowner may not build
- Cannot be subdivided and sold
Why Coach Houses?
Laneway homes are intended to provide more housing choice, add density and make home ownership more sustainable. They add value to the community in the following ways:Increase Property Value
- The diminutive homes will alleviate housing woes by providing more rental stock on the market.
- They will maximize the value and usage capacity of existing properties, allowing elderly parents and their children to dwell on the same property.
- Laneway houses have a smaller environmental footprint because they use fewer materials
- They can utilize existing water, sewer and power systems, decreasing the need for new infrastructure
| Level-A Laneway House | Level-B Laneway House | |
| Maximum Square Footage | Lesser of x 0.15 lot area or 800 sf. | Lesser of 0.15 x the lot area or 1,000 sf. |
| Height | 1 storey and 15 ft. | Up to 1.6 storeys or 22 ft. |
| Public Consultation | Evidence of Consultation Required | Council Public Process |
| Development Process | Development Permit Issued by Staff | Zoning Amendment (Granted by Council) Development Permit (Issued by staff) |
Subdivision
Dave Watt, former REBGV president, welcomed the acceptance of the new regulations, but would like to see Council go further and permit them to be subdivided and sold. This would add density, but also diversity and affordability in housing stock. He suggested that they be subject to a similar kind of strata plan as is applied to duplexes.
Coach House Categories
There will be two levels regulating the structures. The table below outlines the individual specifications and their counterpart requirements.Coach House Categories
There will be two levels regulating the structures. The table below outlines the individual specifications and their counterpart requirements.
Source: City of North Vancouver