Secondary Suites in BC: Electrical Checklist Before You Frame (2025 Edition)

akaielectricltd
Dec 13, 2025
5 min read

This 2026 guide gives homeowners a practical electrical checklist to use before framing a new or legalized secondary suite. It references the 2024 BC Building Code, shows common municipal interpretations for smoke and CO alarm interconnection, and outlines permit and inspection steps so your project passes the first time.

Quick answer:

Plan to meet the 2024 BC Building Code for suites. That means proper fire separations, life-safety devices, and dedicated circuits that match the new layout.
Most municipalities expect interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms across both units when reduced fire-resistance ratings are used. They provide illustrated guides that show exactly where to place and interconnect alarms.
Get your electrical permit and rough-in inspection booked early. Inspectors will check load calculations, circuit labeling, box and cable routing through fire separations, and alarm interconnection tests.

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At-a-glance: pre-framing electrical checklist for secondary suites

Item	What to confirm before you frame	Why it matters	Pro tip
Load calculation and panel capacity	Calculate demand for the main dwelling and the suite to decide on 100 A, 125 A, or 200 A service, or EV load management	Prevents nuisance tripping and costly rework after drywall	If close to the limit, consider EV load management now and revisit a service upgrade later
Circuit plan and labeling	Dedicated kitchen small-appliance circuits, laundry, bath GFCI, mechanical, and required lighting circuits for the suite	Part 9 dwelling wiring rules depend on room function and receptacle spacing	Label the new circuits on the panel schedule before rough-in inspection
Fire separations and penetrations	Required wall/ceiling ratings between units and how cables, boxes, and piping will pass through	Failing to address penetrations can trigger re-inspection and patching	Use listed fire-stopping and rated boxes as shown on drawings
Smoke and CO alarms plan	Locations in bedrooms, halls, and required common areas, plus interconnection across units where used for reduced FRR	Life safety and municipal acceptance of reduced FRR options	Choose photoelectric smoke alarms and confirm if wireless interconnect is acceptable
Egress and life-safety circuits	Lighting at exits, stair illumination, and outside lights at suite entrance on the right circuit	Required for safe exit and inspection sign-off	Put suite entry lighting on the suite panel or a labeled shared circuit
Kitchen and laundry equipment	Range, hood, dishwasher, microwave, fridge, and laundry circuits sized and routed	Avoids overloading and protects appliances	Pre-plan dedicated 240 V circuits and receptacle locations with cabinetry
Bathroom circuits	GFCI protected branch circuit, fan control, and any in-floor heat	Required protection in wet areas	Keep fan terminations and ducting clear of fire separations where possible
Heating and ventilation	Baseboards, heat pump, or furnace controls and smoke control interlocks where specified	Comfort and code compliance	If adding a heat pump soon, prewire now to avoid reopening walls
Metering and subpanels	Whether the suite has its own subpanel or shared service with labeled circuits	Simplifies maintenance and billing	A small subpanel in the suite reduces future disruption
Permits and inspections	Electrical permit, rough-in inspection before insulation and drywall, final inspection	Required for occupancy and insurance	Keep drawings, load calc, and product sheets on site for the inspector

Who qualifies in 2025

Homeowners building a new suite or legalizing an existing one in BC.
Properties updating older wiring during renovation to meet 2024 BC Building Code requirements.
Owners adding EV charging, heat pumps, or electric ranges alongside a suite project.

Dates, deadlines, and coordination tips

Apply for your electrical permit before any wiring starts and schedule rough-in inspection before insulation and drywall.
Confirm your smoke and CO alarm interconnection approach on drawings. Municipalities publish illustrated guides that inspectors follow.
Keep a binder on site with the load calculation, panel schedule, alarm cut sheets, and any fire-stopping data sheets. It speeds up inspection.

Stacking and special cases

Reduced fire-resistance options. Many municipalities allow lower fire-resistance ratings between units when alarms are interconnected across both units and common spaces. If you do not interconnect between units, expect higher fire-resistance assemblies.
CO alarm triggers. If the house has an attached garage or any fuel-fired appliance in the building or a shared service room, CO alarms are required near sleeping rooms.
Wireless interconnect. Some jurisdictions accept listed wireless interconnect for alarms when running new cable is impractical. Confirm acceptance at permit intake.

How to proceed in 3 steps

For homeowners

Book a pre-renovation inspection and create a simple electrical plan showing circuits, penetrations, and alarm locations.
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Pull the electrical permit and rough-in the suite to match your drawings, using listed fire-stopping and alarm devices.
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Call for rough-in inspection before insulation and drywall, then complete finishes and schedule the final.

For designers and GCs

Align architectural details with the electrical penetrations through rated assemblies.
Coordinate meter and subpanel locations early to reduce change orders.
Provide a one-page alarm interconnection diagram for the inspector.

Frequently asked questions

Do secondary suites require interconnected smoke alarms between units

Most municipalities require interconnection across both units when you use reduced fire-resistance ratings between units. They publish diagrams that show acceptable layouts.

Can I use wireless interconnect for alarms

Some jurisdictions accept listed wireless interconnect where running cable is impractical. Confirm with your local authority during permit intake.

Where do CO alarms go in a house with a suite

Install CO alarms near sleeping rooms when the home has an attached garage or any fuel-fired appliance in the building or in a shared service room.

Do I need a separate panel for the suite

Not always. A dedicated subpanel simplifies future work and labeling, but shared service with clearly labeled circuits is often accepted.

When is rough-in inspection scheduled

After cabling, box install, and fire-stopping are complete and before insulation and drywall. Keep drawings, load calc, and device cut sheets on site.

Make it easy with Akai Electric

We wire and renovate suites to the 2024 BC Building Code and local municipal guides. From load calculations and alarm interconnection to penetrations through fire separations, we handle permits and pass inspections the first time.

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