How Carriage Houses Drive Housing Options & Value in Kelowna

Posted by on Friday, July 23rd, 2021 at 4:33pm.

How Carriages Houses Drive Housing Options in KelownaHomeowners have been taking advantage of the easy development permit process in inner-city Kelowna to build carriage homes on their properties. The city gives the green light to as many as 40 permits for carriage houses annually, and to date, Kelowna has more than 425 of these homes in the city. Because the vacancy rate for rental accommodation in the city is so low, homeowners are earning extra income by building carriage houses on their properties and renting them out.

What is a Carriage House?

Known as laneway homes, coach houses, or even mother-in-law or granny suites in other Canadian municipalities, carriage homes are detached residences in the backyards of Kelowna homes with entry off the rear lane. Carriage houses were originally contrived to serve as quarters for caretakers or coachmen, who often lived upstairs in a garage-style unit.

In contemporary times, people will build these to serve as private studio spaces, guest homes, tiny houses, home offices or as detached garages. A carriage house typically has a large open living space on the first floor, just as when they served to store carriages or animals. The kitchen, bath, and sometimes a small bedroom are placed downstairs. Upstairs, there is typically a small bedroom, closets, and a half bath.

Kelowna allowed construction of these homes on private property starting in 2001 and they continue to grow in popularity. The city was actually the first in the province to allow these smaller homes to be constructed. However, there are permitting requirements in Kelowna and strict rules that must be followed during the design, placement and building processes.

Where Carriage Homes are Permitted

There are certain areas within the City of Kelowna where carriage homes are allowed. The RU6 Zone is in the Kelowna city centre and is a two-dwelling housing zone. Carriage homes outside of the RU6 Zone are not titled and can't be bought or sold. Though it was previously illegal in Kelowna for residents to host carriage homes as short-term rentals, ordinances have changed, and now Kelownaites can do so after applying for a business license.

Because this area is already zoned for two dwellings on one lot, homeowners need only to apply for a development permit. The application is reviewed by staff to ensure the blueprints fall in line with the character of the neighbour and are compliant with the dimensions allowed. In other areas of Kelowna, homeowners must apply for a rezoning permit. This is for minor rezoning and applications have to be reviewed and approved by Kelowna City Council.

Home Sizes

A one-storey home is allowed to have more square feet of living space than a one-and-a-half-storey home, which must have a smaller footprint on the lot. Homes on one level offer more privacy than a storey-and-a-half unit, both for the occupants and for adjoining neighbours, so construction of these has been encouraged. When Kelowna residents first started building these homes, two-storey units were allowed, but due to complaints, they stopped allowing them.

The Future of Carriage Homes

The Kelowna City Council is presented with rezoning applications every single month from Kelowna property owners, which speaks to the enormous popularity and financial opportunity for increased property values as well as household income. The rate of applications is expected to stay the same or increase in the future.

Property owners should meet with a qualified contractor to check how much it would cost to construct a carriage home along their back lane and then meet with a Kelowna real estate professional to compare that value to the potential value of their property with the additional structure.

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