Panelboards in “Secondary Suites”

The following bulletin provides guidance on the 2024 BC Electrical Code. The requirements of local municipal authorities having jurisdiction may vary. Prior to undertaking work, installers should consult with local authorities having jurisdiction to determine their requirements.

Scope

This bulletin provides clarification on Rule 26-602 for requirements of installing panelboards in a subdivision(s) of a dwelling unit.

Code Definitions Related to Rule 26-600

Dwelling Unit - a suite operated as a housekeeping unit that is used or intended to be used by one or more persons and contains cooking, eating, living, sleeping, and sanitary facilities (see Suite).

Suite – a single room or series of rooms of complementary use operated under a single tenancy, including dwelling units and individual guest rooms in motels, hotels, boarding houses, rooming houses, and dormitories.

Secondary suite – a self-contained dwelling unit that is part of a house containing not more than two dwelling units (including the secondary suite) and any common spaces such as common storage, common service rooms, common laundry facilities or common areas used for egress. For more information, see Sentence A 1.4.1..2.(1) of the BC Building Code.

26-602 Panelboards in Dwelling Units (see Appendix B)

1. A panelboard shall be installed in every dwelling unit except for:
   1. dwelling units in hotels and motels; and
   2. dwelling units that have been created by subdivision of a single dwelling and are not individually metered for electrical power consumption.
2. Every panelboard installed in accordance with Subrule 1) shall have a single supply protected by overcurrent devices, and this supply shall be capable of being disconnected without disconnecting the supply to any other dwelling unit.

The rule says that both conditions (subdivision of a single dwelling and not individually metered) must be present for the panelboard exemption. The rule does not require separate metering (or separately fed) panelboards. Therefore, if the installer chooses not to have the suite individually metered, no separate panelboard is required.

Reminder: Subrule 2 only applies if the conditions of Subrule 1 apply.

View the Panelboards in Secondary Suites pdf for additional information including scenarios of panelboard requirements.

Vicky Kang
Manager, Energy
Provincial Safety Manager, Electrical

References:
Safety Standards Act
Electrical Safety Regulation
Safety Standards General Regulation