It's not looking good! :(

[littlefish]

It has being 10 years of hard work, managing a small business, but it's coming to an end all due to the new program secondary suite you can't run a family daycare if you have a secondary suite! you can't have both it is so sad to closed my business due to those new regulations! Are you having issues as well! �� Please any advice will much appreciated! Thanks

[Lou]

What is a secondary suite?

[Lou]

Never mind, looked it up. I've never heard that term before! Learn something new every day. I guess I'm just confused over your "how can we cook for the children" comment? What do you mean by that?
I'm sorry you're having troubles!

[5 Little Monkeys]

Secondary suite is what used to be called a Mother in law suite right?

I've never heard of this rule, can you expand on it please? Reason why? Which province(s)? Does it only apply if you rent it out?

Technically, I guess this is what we have but we don't rent it out and there's no separate entrance to it. It actually works wonderfully for us as I use it solely for daycare purposes. When we move to a bigger home, this is actually a must have for me now that I've been spoiled by having it!

[littlefish]

It's very confusing and I'm gathering info but apparently there is a new program where you can't run a daycare, in a secondary suite, how damn is that! you can't have both either a daycare or a secondary suite!! Makes me mad that all I have invested in making my business look good it's down the drain I'll be doing a daycare equipment sale soon! this program increases the garbage and sewage fees! Fed up of taxes and money.

[5 Little Monkeys]

What province are you in? Does it apply to private and licensed dc's?

[5 Little Monkeys]

Why is it no longer being allowed? I'm not sure I understand what the issue would be??

[littlefish]

It seems you'll be fine, but if you have a kitchen upstairs and downstairs, the downstairs is a secondary suite.

[5 Little Monkeys]

Yes, that is what we have

[bright sparks]

Littlefish, which province does this effect? Could you provide a link to some facts about it...thanks

[Lee-Bee]

Not sure what province you are in but it seems like this is a misinterpretation of the written guidelines.

I don't see why one can't have a home daycare in a suite within a house. But I can see the written guidelines saying something about not allowing a home daycare in a suite of a house that also has a home daycare (it's one home daycare per roof). Something like that.

I would find the written policies and ensure you are interpreting it correctly before closing your business.

[mickyc]

Yes interested in seeing this as well. My daycare is strictly in my basement. I have a kitchenette we installed. I have a sink, cupboards, and a microwave. I use a hot plate/electric frying pan on the counter to cook or my oven upstairs. I have a fridge in my laundry room. My basement could completely be used as a suite if we wanted to (other than no 2nd entrance and no actual stove).

Can you post more info?

[littlefish]

thanks Lee-Bee yes I need to have the facts clear before making a move like that, this a new program I'm gathering info as well, but it's quite confusing. But if you find any info will be much appreciated. I understand that if you have a secondary suite you may use it for home daycare no problem. This is for family daycares that run it through their actual home basement in their kitchen area.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Littlefish - a few ask what province you in so we can try find this and help. A few ask for links to what you talk about. Can you give some information?

[littlefish]

BC I don't have a link but you can google it just by typing secondary suites! It may no be in your province! I have asked but nobody knows about!

[Miss Richards]

I think in BC it is the municipality that controls regulations on secondary suites, at least in the Lower Mainland. Different cities will have different rules. I'm sure you can find someone who can answer questions over the phone from a city department.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

BC I don't have a link but you can google it just by typing secondary suites! It may no be in your province! I have asked but nobody knows about!

Are you in Surrey?

I find this. https://www.surrey.ca/files/Setting_Up_a_License d_Child_Care_Facilit y_Electronic_Copy.pd f


CHILD CARE FACILITIES FOR 8 CHILDREN OR LESS
Licensed child care facilities, accommodating eight children or less, are permitted in any residential zone.
In addition to the child care (with up to 8 children), someone must live in the residence.
A child care facility can only be operated in a rented/occupied secondary suite in a single family dwelling if the secondary suite has a finalized building permit and the operator of the child care facility resides in the secondary suite.

It also say Page 2 that in whole of BC, if have more than 3 child then must be licensed!


Provincial law requires all child care facilities serving 3 or more children to be licensed.


CHILD CARE LICENSING PROCESS
1. If you will be caring for three or more children, who
are not related to you by blood or marriage, you
must have a community care facility licence.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Maybe you in CITY OF PORT COQUITLAM?

They have information on secondary suite that say :


CHILD CARE FACILITIES
The zoning regulations do not permit a dwelling unit to have both a secondary suite and a child
care facility. If you wish to operate a childcare facility in your home, you must remove the
secondary suite. If you already operate a childcare facility at your home, you will not be
able to apply for a Building Permit to create a secondary suite in the building.

http://wcel.org/sites/default/files/Port%20Coquitlam%20S econdary%20Suites%20 Brochure.pdf

It would be really helpful to know which municipality you live in.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

North Vancouver have same rule with no secondary suite if you have daycare.


Can I install a secondary suite?
You can install a new secondary suite in your single family home, unless:

you do not live in the house
you plan to build it in an accessory building or parking structure
there is already an existing suite in your home (a maximum of 1 suite is allowed)
you have boarders or lodgers
you have a home occupation (home-based business), such as an office or daycare
you want it to be larger than 90m2 (968 sq ft) or 40% of your residential floor space



https://www.dnv.org/property-and-development/secondary-suites-single-family-homes

[littlefish]

This is helpful this is my municipality thanks Port Coquitlam

[Lee-Bee]

I would look for local clarification as to whether you can have a suite with the daycare in the suite. I may just mean you can't rent out a suite and run a daycare in your home at the same time.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

This is helpful this is my municipality thanks Port Coquitlam

It seem this the rule in your municipality for long time. The brochure was last update in 2002. I likely that you just not know about it before.

[Van]

Why would you need to close?
Can you talk to your licence officer and clear up the matter as you ran your daycare for 10 years why would they suddenly want to close your daycare ?
Or is the secondary suite new ?

[Van]

it seems so unfair for you,
When you opened your licensed daycare the city had to inspect it and okay it for daycare so why would the city allow you to have a daycare for 10 years and just now say close your daycare ?
Did you apply for a new license and need the city to check on your house again?

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I also interested in what has changed for this to be problem now.

If house had secondary suite before day home, then with only allowed 3 before having be licensed in BC, the license people would have seen it before.

Or was it house without secondary which over years you added kitchen in basement where dayhome was and now getting permit for the secondary suite and find out the daycare exclude both?

It seem maybe the kitchen is what decides if it a suite or not. Maybe that new addition?

[33 Daiseys]

sorry for the stupid question but what defines a kitchen. Eg I have a u shapes counter and sink, no fridge, stove ect. in my daycare, so would that be classified as an in law suit or not? And why wouldn't they want for our set ups to be professional ?

[littlefish]

Hi everybody, I know it's confusing I spoke to my licensing officer and she said she hasn't heard anything about it, I'm fully licensed and all my clients are super happy with my services, my place has a secondary suite we didn't add anything it came like that, so I add my home daycare and my licensing was fine with it and is fine with it I don't see any issue about I will go by what my licensing guides me. Thanks for your inputs.

[Van]

Good Littlefish, I am so glad things have worked out for you :) Good Luck :)

[RedWagon8823]

Of my!! I had no idea this existed!! Is there a handbook we can find with all these new rules. Anything to shut us down!