Can I have both a basement apartment and a garden suite on my property in NB?

Yes, you can potentially have both a basement apartment and a garden suite on your property in New Brunswick, but this depends entirely on your local zoning regulations — there's no province-wide rule that automatically allows multiple secondary dwelling units.

Zoning is the key factor since New Brunswick doesn't have blanket secondary suite permissions like some other provinces. Each municipality and Regional Service Commission (RSC) sets their own rules about how many secondary units are permitted per lot. Some areas allow only one accessory dwelling unit total, while others may permit multiple units with specific conditions.

In Fredericton, the updated zoning bylaw is generally more permissive about secondary suites, and you'd need to check if your specific zone allows both an accessory dwelling unit (garden suite) and a secondary suite (basement apartment) simultaneously. Moncton and Dieppe have varying rules depending on the residential zone — some R-zones may allow multiple units while others restrict you to one secondary unit per property.

For Saint John, the rules vary significantly by neighbourhood, so you'd need to verify both uses are permitted in your specific zone. If you're in a rural area, your RSC administers the land use plan — some rural areas have minimal restrictions while others require development permits for any secondary dwelling.

Building Code requirements apply to both units regardless of zoning approval. Your basement apartment needs separate entrance and egress, bedroom windows meeting NBC egress requirements, interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, minimum 1.95m (6'5") ceiling height, and 45-minute fire separation from the main house. The garden suite requires its own building permit, proper foundation below the 4+ foot frost line, electrical service (wiring permit from NB Power at 1-800-615-0522), and plumbing connections.

Septic capacity becomes critical with multiple units. If you're on municipal water/sewer, you'll need to verify the system can handle the additional load. On private septic, you'll likely need a system upgrade — contact TIS at 1-844-249-6533 for sewage permits, as NB Reg 2009-137 requires licensed installers and typically larger lot sizes for multiple dwelling units.

Start by contacting your municipality or RSC immediately to confirm both uses are permitted before investing in design or construction. If you're unsure whether you're in municipal or rural jurisdiction, check your property tax bill or contact your local government office. Getting zoning confirmation upfront prevents costly surprises later in the process.