Bunkie Cabins
Detached was created to provide living space for less: Less work, lower cost, and fewer regulations. Our first product is a bedroom that can sleep up to 4 people. Future products include a bathroom, workshop, garage, and a tiny house.
Detached Bedroom™
- Prebuilt, With Foundation
- Insulated For Cold & Hot Climates
- No Building Permit Required*
- Grid Or Off-Grid Ready
- Easily Transported
Having a Detached Bedroom on your property for guests is an absolute delight! It transforms gatherings into cozy retreats, allowing friends and family to stay close without feeling cramped. It’s a perfect blend of comfort and convenience, offering the freedom to relax and unwind after a day of fun. Plus, it adds a touch of hospitality to your home, making everyone feel welcomed and cherished, ensuring that every visit is memorable.
The Detached Bedroom does not have to be a bedroom, of course. It makes a good office, lounge, mud room, or whatever you can imagine!
*Accessory residential buildings under 10 m² (107 sq. ft.) in area typically do not require a building permit. Your local regulations may vary
Definitions and Permits
Accessory residential buildings under 10 m² (107 sq. ft.) in area typically do not require a building permit. Your local regulations may vary. The following is an example from the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Buildings
“Building” means a structure having a roof, and which is constructed in a permanent position upon the ground and is designed and intended to be used for the shelter or enclosure of persons, animals or property.
Backyard Suites
A backyard suite is a self-contained residence that is detached from the main residence. This includes garage suites, garden suites or laneway homes. Backyard suites, also known as garden suites, carriage houses and laneway houses always require permits. To build a backyard suite, you will need:
- a development permit.
- a building permit.
- a separate electrical permit is required to be pulled by an electrical contractor to hook up the service to the suite. A homeowner’s permit can then be pulled for the wiring of the suite.
- a separate plumbing permit for all plumbing installations
- a separate mechanical permit is required to be pulled by a licenced HVAC contractor.
- a separate gas permit is required to be pulled by a licenced gas fitter if there will be any gas appliances in the suite.
Accessory Buildings
Accessory buildings include detached bedrooms, garages, sheds, pergolas, gazebos, greenhouses, arbours, workshops, playhouses or detached carports.
Permits
Accessory residential buildings under 10 m² (107 sq. ft.) in area typically do not require a building permit, however, they must not be attached to a house and must comply with the rules listed under where can you build? and what design rules do you need to meet?
Where you can build?
Front
Accessory residential buildings (garages, sheds, pergolas,
etc.) are not permitted to be located in the actual front setback.
Back (rear)
If the rear property line is shared with an alley or another property, the distance from the property line must be 0.6m (1.9ft) unless:
- The building is under 10 m2.
- The exterior is maintenance-free (examples of maintenance-free materials including vinyl siding and stucco), or the owner of the adjacent property grants a private maintenance easement.
- All water drainage off the building remains on the property.
There is no eave overhang onto the neighbouring property.
Side
If the side property line is shared with a street, the distance from the property line must be 1.2m (3.9ft). If the side property line is shared with another property, the distance from the property line must be 0.6m unless:
- The building is under 10 m2.
- The exterior is maintenance-free (examples of maintenancefree materials including vinyl siding and stucco), or the owner of the adjacent property grants a private maintenance easement.
- All water drainage off the building remains on the property.
- There is no eave overhang onto the adjacent lot.
What design rules do you need to meet?
Design Rules
- The maximum height of your building cannot be higher than 4.6m
(15 ft) when measured from the finished floor to the highest point
– usually the roof peak. - The maximum height of the underside of the eave line cannot be
higher than 3.0m (9.8 ft) when measured from the finished floor
to the intersection of the wall and the roof structure at the highest
point. - The finished floor height of the building cannot be higher than
0.6m (1.9ft) above grade unless the building is a garage. For
example, a pergola built on a deck with a deck height higher than
0.6m would not meet the bylaw and would require a Development
Permit. - The building cannot be more than one storey in height; however it
is allowed to have an attic. The attic must:
• not have windows.
• be accessed by a removable ladder.
• be used by the occupants of the house for storage.
• have a maximum height of 1.5m (4.9ft) measured from the
attic floor to the underside of any rafter.
Garages
Garages do not require a permit if:
- less than 4.6 meters (15’-1”) high.
- the height from the parking surface to where the wall meets the roof truss is lower than 3 metres (9’-10”)
- the garage is smaller than 75 m2 (807 sq. ft.)
