What are the parking requirements for adding a secondary suite in Vancouver?

Vancouver does not require additional parking when adding a legal secondary suite to an existing single-family home. This is one of the key policy changes that has made secondary suites more accessible for homeowners across the city.

The City of Vancouver eliminated parking requirements for secondary suites several years ago to encourage more rental housing options. Whether you're converting a basement, adding a suite above a garage, or creating a separate entrance to part of your main floor, you won't need to add parking spaces to meet city requirements.

However, there are some important considerations around existing parking and access. Your property likely already has a driveway or garage that serves the main house, and while you don't need to add spaces, you'll want to think practically about how two households will share parking. Many homeowners find that having at least one additional parking space makes the suite more attractive to tenants, even though it's not legally required.

Lane access and parking arrangements can also affect your suite's rental potential. Properties with lane access often have more flexibility for parking arrangements, while front-access-only properties may need creative solutions. Some homeowners choose to add a parking pad in their backyard or convert part of their front yard (with proper permits), but again, this is for market appeal rather than city requirements.

The secondary suite registration process with the City of Vancouver will focus on building code compliance, fire safety, and habitability standards rather than parking. You'll need proper egress windows, fire separation between units, interconnected smoke alarms, and separate electrical panels, but parking won't be part of the inspection checklist.

If you're planning a secondary suite, contact the City of Vancouver at 311 or visit vancouver.ca/home-property-development/secondary-suites to start the registration process.