User Rate Charges for Secondary Suites
Properties with a secondary suite are subject to additional sewer and garbage charges, and receive larger thresholds for each step rate of water consumption. For current charges, please see our Billing Rates page.
If you are not utilizing your secondary suite, you may be eligible to have your charges reduced. Please complete and submit a Secondary Suite Declaration Form to apply to have the suite fees removed from future statements.
Secondary Suite Declaration Form
Please note: If suite charges are removed, the larger garbage and organics carts will be downsized to standard single-family sized carts.
FAQ for Secondary Suite Charges
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What does User Rates consider to be a secondary suite?
For billing purposes, a secondary suite is defined as, "a self-contained dwelling unit located within an existing building or an accessory building which is clearly subordinate to the single family dwelling”. It will normally have a separate entrance and its own bathroom and cooking facilities that are utilized separately from the main dwelling. Carriage houses are considered a suite in an accessory building and qualify for a suite declaration.
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If I am being billed secondary suite charges on my user rates bill, does that mean my suite is considered to be officially legal or authorized?
No, being billed secondary suite charges does not confirm that a suite is considered to be legal or authorized. To learn more about secondary suites, our Citizen's Guide to Secondary Suites can be viewed online. If you have questions regarding the status of your suite, you can contact Building Inspections by email at building.inspections@nanaimo.ca or phone at 250-755-4429.
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I am a new owner. How do I know if I’m being charged for a suite?
When ownership changes on a property with a history of having a suite, a letter is sent to the new owner requesting confirmation of whether they intend to utilize the suite or not. If no response is received by the deadline indicated in the letter, secondary suite charges will be started automatically.
If you are being billed for a suite, your user rates bill will show charge lines indicating 2 or more units of sewer (if applicable) and garbage instead of 1 unit.
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I am not renting out the suite in my home, but a relative is living in it and using all of the amenities separate from the rest of the house. Can I apply to have the extra suite charges removed?
No. Even if you are not collecting rent, the suite charges will still apply if the suite is being used as an individual residence.
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I am not renting out the suite in my home; it is being used only by my immediate family and we are using it as an extension of the main area of the house. Can I apply to have the extra suite charges removed?
Yes. Please submit a Secondary Suite Declaration form to apply. -
If I am no longer utilizing my suite, can I keep the larger cart sizes?
Please contact the User Rates office for more information about cart options.
Note: Additional exchange fees may apply for cart exchanges requested after secondary suite changes are finalized. Please see the cart exchange page for details.
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I am building a new house with a suite or adding a suite to an existing house. When are charges added?
Garbage and sewer charges, including suite fees, are added when a new house passes the occupancy inspection. For a suite addition, the extra garbage and sewer fees will start once it passes final inspection.
Contact Us
User Rates
250-755-4525 ext. 2
userrates.info@nanaimo.ca
Last updated: June 20, 2024
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