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West Vancouver to allow coach houses

A laneway house is pictured in Vancouver. Lanefab / Krista Jahnke

West Vancouver is jumping into the coach house fray, allowing the backyard homes in the exclusive community.

The homes are now legal, and the district says the full program, including fees and application process, will roll out this fall. The first applications for coach houses will be accepted in November.

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Director of planning, land development and permits for West Vancouver, Bob Sokol, says the change comes after extensive public input.

“The District’s Community Dialogue on Community Character and Housing helped the District to gain a better understanding of what people desired for the future of their neighbourhoods, and issues related to housing choice and affordability,” says Sokol. “This change is designed to address those issues, which are present in our community and in municipalities across the Lower Mainland.”

The district is also establishing guidelines for the look and form of coach houses.

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Vancouver has seen an explosion of interest in coach houses, with many homeowners building them in their backyards and renting them out.

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