Potential monthly income
- Nightly rate: $100–$350
- Occupancy: 60–80%
- Monthly income: $2,000–$8,400
- Annual income: $24K–$100K
North Shore STR coach houses, detached suites & eligibility
Check if your property qualify
Rules differ between the City of North Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, and West Vancouver. We’ll help you confirm whether the proposed unit may qualify, and the path to permits, build, and licensing.
24–72h • Remote • No obligation
Is Your Property Eligible for a STR Coach House?
- You live on the property (principal residence)
- Single-family lot in NV or WV
- One legal coach house allowed
- STR licenses required
What We Handle
- DNV zoning check
- Permits & approvals
- Design → construction → occupancy
Get a free lot assessment
Free • Remote • No obligation
Potential return
What a coach house Airbnb may earn
For many homeowners, the coach house is not just extra space — it is also a potential income stream. These are high-level examples to help you understand the range before you go too far into design.
Simple income example
- Build cost: $350K
- Monthly income: $5,000
- Annual income: $60K
Want to see what your property could earn?
Contact us and we’ll help you assess the STR path, high-level budget, and income potential for your lot.
Short-term rental rules
City vs. District vs. West Vancouver STR rules
If short-term rental income is part of the plan, this is one of the first things to confirm. The City of North Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, and West Vancouver do not treat coach houses and additional units the same way.
City of North Vancouver
The City is generally the more straightforward path. Its current short-term rental rules require principal residence use, but they also allow short-term rental use in your own residence plus one additional authorized rental unit on the same property, such as an authorized secondary suite or coach house.
The City defines principal residence as where you live at least 183 days per 12-month licensing period, and says you may operate no more than two STRs on the same property. Unauthorized suites or coach houses do not qualify.
District of North Vancouver
The District is more cautious. A business licence is required, and the District’s owner declaration confirms that the rental premises must be the operator’s principal residence, the business licence number must appear in advertising, an approved off-street parking plan must be followed, occupancy is capped at six patrons, and each stay must be less than 90 consecutive days.
That means a District coach house STR path should be confirmed carefully before you design around it.
West Vancouver
Effective January 1, 2025, West Vancouver allows short-term rentals in principal residences. For properties with a secondary or detached suite, including a coach house, STRs are limited to one unit per parcel — either the primary residence, the secondary suite, or the detached suite.
West Vancouver also requires a business licence, and to qualify for a Short-Term Rental Accommodation – Dwelling Unit licence, the dwelling unit must already have an approved Secondary Suite licence.
If your goal is a coach house or detached suite that may also work as a short-term rental, the safest first step is confirming which municipality the property is in, whether the proposed unit will be authorized, and whether that exact setup can legally be licensed.
That is exactly the kind of thing we help clarify in a free lot assessment.
Not sure which rules apply to your property?
Get My Free Lot AssessmentBuild paths
Choose your build path
We are not tied to one system or one manufacturer. That means we can recommend the build path that best fits your property instead of forcing your property into one way of building.
Path 1
Modular / prefab builds
Fastest + most predictable
Built off-site in a controlled environment and delivered mostly complete, modular homes usually offer the most predictable path and the shortest on-site timeline. They can also be custom-designed, finished to a much higher standard than many people expect, and built for strong energy performance when that matters.
Best for: Homeowners who want predictable pricing, faster completion, and less disruption on site.
Path 2
Panelized builds
Custom design + faster build
Panelized construction gives you more flexibility than a standard prefab model while still capturing some of the speed and efficiency of off-site construction.
Best for: Homeowners who want a custom home with more design flexibility, while still benefiting from a more efficient build process.
Path 3
Full custom build
Highest flexibility
When the lot is unusual, the design goals are more specific, or a standard product is not the right fit, a full custom build gives the most flexibility.
Best for: Homeowners who want the most flexibility in layout, appearance, and overall design approach.
Not sure which build path fits your property?
Contact us and we’ll help you narrow down the right approach before you go too far into design.
Our 5-Step Process
From free lot assessment to move-in — clear, predictable, and tailored to your property.
1 Free Lot Assessment ▾
24–72h remote check: zoning basics, likely constraints, access, and servicing — before you spend a dollar.
- Email summary + quick call
- High-level size & placement options
2 Site Visit (as needed) ▾
On-site verification of access, utilities, slope, and placement. Photos, measurements, and a refined direction.
- Access + delivery/crane considerations
- Refined placement shortlist
3 Pre-Construction Planning ▾
$3,500 + GST (credited to build) • 10–15 business days — planning-grade work to remove unknowns and give you a confident go/no-go.
- Client priorities recap + recommended direction
- Preliminary siting sketch + compliance check
- Planning-grade budget range
- Next-step roadmap for permit phase
Note: This phase does not include survey, engineering, energy modelling, permit drawings/submission, or District approvals.
4 Permit + Engineering Phase ▾
Once direction is confirmed, we coordinate the professional work required to get to permit-ready and submitted.
- Survey / structural / geotech / energy (as required)
- Permit drawings + submission + review responses
- Scope lock + updated build schedule
5 Build + Install ▾
Site work first, then delivery/assembly (modular/panelized when applicable), connections, inspections, and handover.
- Foundation + site services
- Delivery planning + crane/set + assembly
- Connections + inspections + walkthrough
Our Proven Expertise
Proudly delivering innovative, efficient, and high-quality homes across the Sea to Sky region.
- 10+ Luxury custom home projects completed (2006–2026)
- 5+ Carriage & Coach houses
- Extensive experience in renovations & architectural concrete projects
- Expertise across methods: traditional wood framing, prefab/panelized, modular, and ICF construction
- Collaborations with award-winning architects
Quick Answers
Can I really run an Airbnb in a North Van coach house?
Yes. New DNV rules allow licensed STRs.
How much can I earn?
$2,000–$8,400/month ($100–$350/night at 60–80% occupancy).
What's the build cost?
$250K–$600K+ depending on size and finishes.
How long does it take?
5-8 months total (prefab = faster than traditional 12-18 month builds.
What's the difference between prefab and traditional?
Prefab = built off-site in factory = faster, higher quality, better value, less disruption. Installation in 1-2 weeks (not 6+ months on-site).