What the current New Westminster suite source says
New Westminster requires secondary-suite plans to be approved before the building permit is issued. The city says most single-detached properties can accommodate a suite, and some can also accommodate a laneway or carriage house when zoning, development-permit guidelines and Building Code requirements are satisfied.
Open the official New Westminster suite source ↗Housing changes elsewhere in Metro Vancouver do not establish permission on this parcel. Use the New Westminster zoning and permit route for the local answer.
British Columbia: the provincial layer
B.C. legislation and the SSMUH policy framework expand secondary-suite and accessory-dwelling opportunities across the province. The exact lot still needs a municipal zoning, site-standard and permit check.
BC small-scale multi-unit housing ↗The four suite checks to do first
What kind of unit?
The approval route can change depending on whether the new home is internal, attached or detached from the main dwelling.
Is the use allowed?
Establish that the unit form is allowed on this parcel before solving construction details or applying for trade permits.
Can the building comply?
The code review is where an attractive floor plan meets life-safety requirements. Confirm exits, separations and building systems early.
Can the site serve it?
Check utilities and site layout along with zoning. A detached ADU can add sewer, water, electrical and access questions.
A better New Westminster planning order
A good sequence is property eligibility, unit type, building design, utilities/trades and inspections. Starting with finishes can hide the expensive constraints.
For resale properties, the most useful evidence is the municipal file, not the number of years the unit has been rented.
Official sources
Reviewed 2026-09-14. The dedicated city source was reviewed alongside the provincial housing and building framework. Recheck the property-specific permission and permit path before construction.