Garden suite electrical in Victoria means getting power to a second building. The two routes are a separate service with its own BC Hydro meter, or a feeder from the main house to a panel in the suite. Either way the Code requires a panel in each building, and the service must be sized for both.
Separate meter or subpanel: which route fits a garden suite?
Technical Safety BC's Information Bulletin IB-EL 2023-03 (Revision 2, March 4, 2025) uses a coach-house example that applies directly. For a single dwelling with a separate coach-house or laneway home, it describes a home with a 400 amp main service and a 200 amp feeder to the coach-house, with a panel in the main home and a separate panel in the coach-house. Because the second building is not a subdivision of the single dwelling, a panel is required in each.
| Route | How it works | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Feeder from the main house | One service, a feeder to the suite, a panel in each building. Both loads sit on the one service. | Whether the existing service, or an upgraded one, can carry both buildings under the Rule 8-200 calculation |
| Separate service and meter | The suite has its own BC Hydro connection and its own billing | BC Hydro's connection rules, the meter location and the site layout |
BC Hydro and the municipality decide what is permitted at your lot, so ask them before design is final. Metering also matters for who pays the bill. The City of Victoria's multiple occupancy metering bulletin points to a BC Hydro advisory on permitted metering configurations and the resale of electricity. If the suite will be rented, confirm how it will be metered before the walls are closed.
Does the main house need a bigger service?
Often, when the house is older. The load calculation adds the suite to the main house's loads: range, water heater, heating, any EV charger and the suite's own appliances. A house on 60 or 100 amp service may need a larger service before it can feed anything else. Our posts on whether 60 amp service is enough and the panel upgrade cost guide explain how that calculation works and what drives price.
What does BC Hydro require for an underground service?
If the suite or the main house is getting a new underground supply, BC Hydro's technical page sets the utility-side standards. Among them:
- The minimum depth of burial for all ducts is 900 mm below finished grade.
- The customer service conduit must be grey, 75 mm, rigid DB2 PVC, with pit run base and cover around it.
- Everything from the stub-off on private property is supplied and installed by the customer, including the conduit, grounding and a pull string.
- Meters go between 1.5 and 1.8 metres above grade, and not in carports, garages or breezeways.
Those figures apply to BC Hydro's service duct. The trench for a feeder between your own two buildings is governed by the Canadian Electrical Code's burial-depth requirements, which depend on the cable or conduit type and what is above the trench. Your electrician sets that, the inspector checks it, and we do not give a single depth because the right one depends on the installation.
What affects the cost of power to a garden suite?
We are not quoting a price here, because the range depends on the site. The main drivers are:
- Distance between the main house and the suite, which sets trench length.
- What is in the way: driveways, retaining walls, mature trees, rock.
- Whether the main service must be upgraded, and whether BC Hydro needs to do work on its side.
- Feeder size, conduit and panel size in the suite.
- Heat source and cooking: electric heat, a heat pump, induction and an EV charger all increase load.
- Permit and inspection fees, and how many inspections are needed.
Does an EV charger belong in the plan?
Plan for it. Saanich's EV infrastructure page says one on-site parking space per unit must have an energized outlet capable of Level 2 charging, and that the requirement applies to all new construction and new residential units added to existing developments. Whether a garden suite counts as a new unit for that rule is for Saanich to confirm, but the cheapest time to run the conduit is while the trench is open. For more on charging load, see panel upgrades for an EV charger.
Permits and who does the work
New services, feeders and panels are permitted, inspected work for a Technical Safety BC licensed electrical contractor. Technical Safety BC or your municipality issues the permit depending on location. See Technical Safety BC electrical permits.
Related reading
If the suite is inside the house instead, read secondary suite electrical requirements in Victoria. If the build is new and you want data and lighting wired at the same time, see smart home wiring for new builds.
Next step
Tell us the lot, the distance between buildings and the existing service size, and we will lay out the options. Our new electrical page describes how we work on new construction, and you can request a quote on the contact page. Confirm service arrangements with BC Hydro and your municipality.
Frequently asked questions
Does a garden suite need its own electrical panel?
Yes. Technical Safety BC's bulletin IB-EL 2023-03 shows a main home and a separate coach-house each needing a panel, because the second building is not a subdivision of the single dwelling.
Does a garden suite need its own BC Hydro meter?
Not necessarily. A feeder from the main house with a panel in the suite is one route, a separate service with its own meter is the other. BC Hydro and your municipality decide what is allowed at your lot.
How deep does the trench for a garden suite need to be?
BC Hydro's own service duct must be buried at least 900 mm. The feeder between your buildings follows the Canadian Electrical Code burial rules, which depend on the conduit or cable type. Your electrician specifies it.
Will I need a larger service on my main house?
It depends on the Rule 8-200 load calculation for both buildings. Older 60 and 100 amp services are the most likely to need an upgrade.
Does a garden suite need an EV-ready outlet?
Saanich requires an energized Level 2 outlet for one parking space per new unit in new construction. Confirm with Saanich whether your garden suite counts. Elsewhere in Greater Victoria, check with your own municipality.
Sources
- Technical Safety BC: IB-EL 2023-03 Panelboards in Secondary Suites (Rev. 2, March 4, 2025)
- BC Hydro: overhead and underground connection requirements
- City of Victoria Electrical Inspections: Multiple Occupancy Metering Requirements (2023)
- District of Saanich: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Requirements
Last verified October 8, 2026. Rebates, codes and prices change; confirm with the program or Technical Safety BC before you rely on them.