Do I need to live in my house to have a secondary suite in Vancouver?

No, you do not need to live in your house to have a secondary suite in Vancouver. This is a common misconception that confuses Vancouver's rules with other municipalities.

Vancouver allows secondary suites in both owner-occupied and rental properties. Whether you live in the main house, rent out the main house, or rent out both the main house and the secondary suite is entirely up to you as the property owner. This flexibility makes Vancouver one of the more permissive jurisdictions in Metro Vancouver for secondary suite rentals.

However, you must still follow all the legal requirements for secondary suites. Your suite must be properly registered with the City of Vancouver, meet all building code requirements including separate entrance and egress windows, have proper fire separation between units, and comply with zoning bylaws. The suite must have been legally created through the proper permit process or grandfathered under previous regulations.

Vancouver's approach differs significantly from some other Metro Vancouver municipalities. For example, Richmond requires owner-occupancy for secondary suites, and several other municipalities have similar restrictions. Burnaby, Surrey, and Coquitlam have varying rules about owner-occupancy requirements, so if you own property elsewhere in the region, always check the specific municipal bylaws.

From an investment perspective, this makes Vancouver secondary suites particularly attractive for real estate investors. You can purchase a property specifically to rent out both the main house and the suite to separate tenants, maximizing your rental income. Many investors in Vancouver's expensive housing market rely on this dual-income strategy to make properties cash-flow positive.

Keep in mind the practical considerations of being a non-resident landlord with two separate rental units. You'll need to manage two sets of tenants, handle maintenance requests for both units, and ensure both comply with BC's Residential Tenancy Act. Many owners hire property management companies to handle the day-to-day operations, especially if they live outside Vancouver.