How Much Does It Cost to Build a Carriage House ADU in Squamish?
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Carriage House in Squamish?
If you own property in Squamish, you’ve likely thought about adding a carriage home or backyard suite. It’s one of the most practical ways to create rental income, family space, or long-term property value and demand is growing fast.
So, what does it actually cost to build one? Let’s break it down clearly.
Typical Carriage House Costs in Squamish
Carriage homes (also called Accessory Dwelling Units or ADUs) vary in cost depending on size, design, and site conditions. Here’s what to expect for turnkey construction, including design, permits, foundation, utilities, and finishes:
Type Typical Range Description
Single-Storey ADU : $240,000 – $550,000+
- Compact and efficient ideal for rentals, studios, or guest suites.
- Available in one or two-bedroom layouts, as modular or custom builds.
Two-Storey Carriage Home $450,000 – $800,000+
- Features a garage space below with a one or two bedroom suite above.
- Best for maximizing space and long-term ROI.
✅ These figures reflect complete, move-in-ready pricing, not just the structure. They even include appliances!
Modular vs. On-site Construction
Squamish homeowners can choose from three main build types, depending on property and goals.
Modular / Prefab Builds
Built off-site in a controlled environment and delivered 90%-95% complete, modular homes offer the best value and quickest delivery.
Your site work happens while the home is being prefabricated, you save weeks if not months.
They also help reduce architectural and engineering costs.
Best for: homeowners and investors wanting predictable costs, faster completion, and minimal disruption.
We proudly offer modular homes through our partnerships with aux box, Click Modular, Good Way Homes, and Kalesnikoff.
Each unit is sold and installed by NewlinesADU at the manufacturer’s advertised price.
Pre-Reviewed Carriage Homes
Architectural designs already pre-reviewed by the District of Squamish, helping you reduce lengthy design and permit reviews.
Best for: homeowners seeking a legal ADU quickly, without full custom design costs.
Custom Carriage Homes
Fully tailored to your property, architecture, and site challenges.
Best for: long-term family use or premium rental properties that need a one-of-a-kind design.
What Affects Cost in Squamish
No two properties in Squamish are the same and that’s what makes building here both exciting and unpredictable. Beyond the size and finishes of your carriage home, a few local site factors can have the biggest impact on cost:
1. Development Permit Areas (DPAs)
Some neighbourhoods fall within wildfire, floodplain, or streamside protection zones, which require additional reports and design adjustments. These aren’t dealbreakers, they just add coordination and engineering time.
2. Foundation and Site Conditions
Steep slopes, soil type, or flood construction levels (FCL) can mean deeper foundation or raised habitable space.
If your lot is flat and outside floodzones, this is usually one of the easiest savings areas.
3. Utilities and Services
Many older homes need power upgrades to 200 or 400 amps or sewer lift stations to handle the new home. These depend entirely on how your existing systems are set up.
4. Access and Layout
Tight driveways, trees, or other physical constraints can affect where a crane or excavation equipment can reach, especially for modular installations. Good access saves both time and money.
5. Design and Engineering Scope
Custom architecture and Step Code energy modeling naturally increase soft costs, while modular or pre-reviewed plans keep things efficient. Prefabricated models also reduce the need for extensive architectural and engineering work.
The Bottom Line:
These variables are normal in the Sea-to-Sky region, they just need to be identified early. That’s exactly why our Free Lot Assessment exists: we review your zoning, flood levels, access, and services so you know what’s possible (and what’s worth budgeting for) before you start.
Rental Potential & ROI
Carriage homes in Squamish typically rent for $2,000 – $4,300 per month, depending on size, layout, and location.
That means:
A modest single-storey suite can generate $24,000+ per year in income.
A larger two-storey carriage home could offset your mortgage or pay for itself over time.
Beyond rental income, a legal secondary dwelling boosts resale value and adds flexibility for future family use or retirement planning.
The Smarter Way to Build
At NewlinesADU, we handle every step, from zoning checks and permitting to engineering, site prep, modular coordination, and final installation.
Whether you choose a modular, pre-reviewed, or custom build, our goal is to make the process clear, efficient, and stress-free.
We proudly offer modular homes through our partnerships with aux box, Click Modular, Good Way Homes, and Kalesnikoff.
Each unit is sold and installed by NewlinesADU at the manufacturer’s advertised price giving you the benefit of a local Sea-to-Sky builder and a factory-quality product, without extra markups.
