A coach house is a detached structure in the rear of a main house. These ancillary buildings have their own entrances and are complete houses on their own, similar to a duplex. They can be strata-titled and are saleable separate from the main property, making them more valuable than a simple laneway house. Because they are “ground-oriented” with their own entrances, their usage is flexible: they can be rented out to relatives or tenants or can be sold off as part of the strata complex.  

Although coach houses add value to a property and can be rented out, the most common reason for building a detached house in the rear is to re-sell it. Other benefits include:

• No sharing walls: Unlike townhouses, coach houses are detached, so there are no shared walls with other buildings and residents.
• A real home: They feel like full homes, rather than apartments or townhouses.
• Bright and fresh: Because there are no shared walls, the interior often has more natural light and windows that open to the fresh air.
• Sell when you’re ready: Strata-titling allows owners the flexibility to sell the coach house on their own schedule, renting it out until the market is good or their home situation is right.
• Max out square footage: For those with older main houses, your property may be eligible for the Heritage Revitalization Agreement. This allows you to max out the buildable square footage limits set by the city.
• What’s your zone? Many two-family lots (RT zoned) in Vancouver are eligible for infill houses. This colour zoning map will determine which zone your property is in.   

Below is a sample lot floor plan for a coach house.