Laneway & Carriage Houses

Laneway and carriage houses are small, detached, ground-oriented dwellings located in backyards. Laneway houses are located on properties that have access to a lane. Carriage houses are located on properties without a lane.

New Westminster's Laneway and Carriage House program began in 2017 after the building form was permitted through the updated Official Community Plan. The City of New Westminster now permits the development of laneway and carriage houses on many single detached dwelling properties.

These housing forms contribute to the amount and diversity of rental housing available in the city. Laneway and carriage houses can be used for family or as rental units, but cannot be strata-titled, sold or used for short-term rentals (e.g. for a bed and breakfast). Laneway and carriage houses offer more privacy and independence than secondary suites.

Resources for Building a Laneway or Carriage House

View the “Guide to Laneway and Carriage Houses” with information on developing townhouses in New Westminster. It outlines the planning and land use considerations that a potential applicant should consider.

Ready to apply? Visit the Making a Development Application page.

Streamlined Laneway and Carriage House Guidelines

Through the summer of 2022, the City engaged with past applicants and community members in a review of the laneway and carriage house program. Broad support for the program was heard, as well as a desire to see more laneway and carriage houses. Various recommendations for changes and streamlining of the program were received, as well as feedback regarding the need to continue to ensure that these housing forms fit well in neighbourhoods.

Council's new 2023-2026 Strategic Priorities Plan identifies homes and housing options as a key priority for the City. This, combined with anticipated changes in provincial regulations, has changed the scope and timeline of the infill housing program review. As an interim measure, to ensure that the feedback from community members and past applicants is acted upon, the City has implemented the Streamlined Guidelines for laneway and carriage houses.

These guidelines:

  • Focus in on guidelines most important to achieving the intent of the program, and remove some of the detail that was resulting in longer review timelines;
  • Clarify which guidelines "must be met" and which should "be considered";
  • Provide more clarity on definitions and expectations.

The intent of piloting these guidelines is to allow for rapid implementation of improvements to the program, and to allow revised guidelines to be tested and evaluated. The program implementation will continue to be monitored.

For fastest review times, laneway and carriage house proposals should meet all of the design guidelines listed as "must be met". If a site is unique or constrained, staff will work with applicants to find site-specific solutions that continue to meet the intent of guidelines; timelines for these reviews will be longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contacts

Planning Division

For questions about the about zoning regulations, guidelines or the Development Permit process.

Phone: 604-527-4532
Email: plnpost@newwestcity.ca

Building Division

For information on Building Code and Plumbing Bylaw requirements, and the Building Permit process.

Phone: 604-527-4580
Email: inspections@newwestcity.ca
Webpage: Building and Property Improvements

City Arborist

For information about the Tree Protection and Regulation Bylaw, and tree removal requirements.

Phone: 604-636-4318
Email: treeprotectionbylaw@newwestcity.ca
Webpage: Tree Permits

Energy Savings

For information about Energy Save New West, and access to energy evaluations, upgrades, rebates and incentives.

Phone: 604-515-3818
Email: info@energysavenewwest.ca
Webpage: Energy Save New West

Electrical Utility

For information about service connections, connection location and metering.

Phone: 604-527-4528
Webpage: Electrical Utility

Water, Sewer, & Garbage Services

For information about engineering servicing and requirements (including water, sewer, and garbage).

Phone: 604-527-4592
Email: engpost@newwestcity.ca
Webpages: 
Services Permit Guide
Garbage Collection