Additional Dwelling Unit Charges for User Rates

FAQ for Additional Dwelling Unit Charges

• What does User Rates consider to be an additional dwelling unit?

  For billing purposes, an additional dwelling unit is defined as, "a habitable room consisting of a self-contained unit with a separate entrance for the residential accommodation of only one family and contains a cooking facility but excludes all accommodation for the travelling public”.  It will normally have a separate entrance and its own bathroom and cooking facilities that are utilized separately from the main dwelling. 
  

  Types of additional dwelling units:

  Secondary suite: a self-contained unit with a separate entrance within the principal dwelling

  Carriage home: a secondary suite within an accessory building

• If I am being billed additional dwelling unit charges on my user rates bill, does that mean my additional unit is considered to be officially legal or authorized?

  No. Being billed additional charges does not mean that a unit is considered to be legal or authorized.  Visit our Citizen's Guide to Secondary Suites to learn more about secondary suites. If you have questions regarding the status of your unit, you can contact Building Inspections by email at building.inspections@nanaimo.ca or phone at 250-755-4429.

• I am a new owner. How do I know if I’m being charged for an additional dwelling unit?

  When ownership changes on a property with a history of having an additional unit, a letter is sent to the new owner requesting confirmation of whether they intend to utilize the unit or not.  If no response is received by the deadline indicated in the letter, additional user rates charges will automatically apply.

  If you are being billed for an additional dwelling unit, your statement of user rates will reflect charge lines indicating 2 units of sewer (if applicable) and 2 units of garbage.

• I am not renting out the additional unit in my home, but a relative is living in it. Can I apply to have the additional  charges removed?

  If an immediate family member resides in the additional unit, you may qualify for an exemption from additional dwelling unit charges by completing the Exemption From Additional User Rates Charges Form.  An "immediate family member" means a spouse, child, sibling, step-sibling, half-sibling, parent, or stepparent of the property owner living in the property as their principal residence.  

• If I meet the exemption criteria, or the unit has been decommissioned (removed), can I keep the larger cart sizes?

  For a Single-Family Dwelling, the standard cart set is as follows:

  Garbage - 120L (option to upsize to 240L for an additional daily charge)

  Recycling - 240L (option to upsize to 360L at no additional charge)
  

  Organics - 120L (no upsize options are available at this time)

  For additional information, please visit the cart exchange page.

• I am building a new house with an additional dwelling unit or adding an additional unit to an existing house. When are charges added?

  Additional garbage and sewer charges are added when the unit passes the final occupancy inspection.