View source for Definition of Dwelling House

{{LevelOne}}
{{HeaderCrimLaw}}
==General Principles==
{{seealso|Break and Enter (Offence)}}
"Dwelling house" is defined in section 2:
{{quotation1|
s. 2<br>
...<br>
“dwelling-house” means the whole or any part of a building or structure that is kept or occupied as a permanent or temporary residence, and includes
:(a) a building within the curtilage of a dwelling-house that is connected to it by a doorway or by a covered and enclosed passage-way, and
:(b) a unit that is designed to be mobile and to be used as a permanent or temporary residence and that is being used as such a residence;

...<br>
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 2; R.S., 1985, c. 11 (1st Supp.), s. 2, c. 27 (1st Supp.), ss. 2, 203, c. 31 (1st Supp.), s. 61, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213, c. 27 (2nd Supp.), s. 10, c. 35 (2nd Supp.), s. 34, c. 32 (4th Supp.), s. 55, c. 40 (4th Supp.), s. 2; {{LegHistory90s|1990, c. 17}}, s. 7; 1991, c. 1, s. 28, c. 40, s. 1, c. 43, ss. 1, 9; {{LegHistory90s|1992, c. 20}}, s. 216, c. 51, s. 32; {{LegHistory90s|1993, c. 28}}, s. 78, c. 34, s. 59; {{LegHistory90s|1994, c. 44}}, s. 2; {{LegHistory90s|1995, c. 29}}, ss. 39, 40, c. 39, s. 138; {{LegHistory90s|1997, c. 23}}, s. 1; {{LegHistory90s|1998, c. 30}}, s. 14; {{LegHistory90s|1999, c. 3}}, s. 25, c. 5, s. 1, c. 25, s. 1(Preamble), c. 28, s. 155; {{LegHistory00s|2000, c. 12}}, s. 91, c. 25, s. 1(F); {{LegHistory00s|2001, c. 32}}, s. 1, c. 41, ss. 2, 131; {{LegHistory00s|2002, c. 7}}, s. 137, c. 22, s. 324; {{LegHistory00s|2003, c. 21}}, s. 1; 2004, c. 3, s. 1; {{LegHistory00s|2005, c. 10}}, s. 34, c. 38, s. 58, c. 40, ss. 1, 7; {{LegHistory00s|2006, c. 14}}, s. 1; {{LegHistory00s|2007, c. 13}}, s. 1; 2012, c.1, s. 160, c. 19, s. 371.
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Factors to consider include:<ref>
''R v Sappier'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1m1t3 2005 NBPC 37] (CanLII){{perNBPC|Ferguson J}}</ref>
* the intention of the builder;
* the traditional use;
* the type of temporary use;
* the seasonal use;
* the actual use; and 
* the character of the building.

Detached building on private property does not usually amount to dwelling. <ref>
''R v NM'',  [http://canlii.ca/t/1sg9k 2007 CanLII 31570] (ON S.C.){{perONSC|Hill J}}</ref> 

An incomplete building does not constitute a dwelling.<ref>
{{supra1|Sappier}}</ref> 
However, an abandoned building however is one.<ref>
''R v DeWolfe'' (1988), 82 N.S.R.(2d) 175 (CA){{NOCANLII}}</ref>

A driveway is not a dwelling house; it is a place where people drive and park their vehicles.<ref>
''R v Evans'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1frf4 1996 CanLII 248] (SCC), [1996] 1 SCR 8{{Plurality}}{{atL|1frf4|32}}
</ref>

A motel room,<ref> 
''R v Henderson'', [1975] 1 WWR 360 (BCPC){{NOCANLII}}</ref> camp,<ref>
''R v Nowlan'',  [http://canlii.ca/t/23c2s 2009 NBQB 117] (CanLII){{perNBQB|Ferguson J}}</ref> can be a dwelling.

A house which is not occupied can still retain its character as a dwelling-house.<ref>
{{supra1|De Wolfe}} - a house that was emptied a month prior was a dwelling</ref>

A garage or parkade under the residential building is also a dwelling-house.<ref>
''R v Chomik'', [http://canlii.ca/t/flb4s 2011 ABPC 152] (CanLII){{perABPC|Kerby J}}
</ref>

Certain types places will lose their dwelling-house status from non-use. A house may be abandoned for a period of time, dilapidated, boarded-up, and "not intending to be live[d] in ...again" rendering it a non-dwelling.<ref>
''R v Paquet'' [1978] O.J. No 980 (O.C.A.), [http://canlii.ca/t/htwb2 1978 CanLII 2510] (ON CA){{perONCA|Martin JA}} - abandoned three years, falling apart<br>
''R v Tapley'', [http://canlii.ca/t/fwx33 2013 NBPC 8] (CanLII){{perNBPC|Brien J}} - 3 months abandoned
</ref>

A "dwelling-house" for the purpose of a conviction under s. 348 for a break and enter will ''not'' include a building under construction that has not been occupied as a residence.<ref>
''R v Sappier'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1m1t3 2005 NBPC 37] (CanLII){{perNBPC|Ferguson J}}
</ref>

; Curtilage
"Curtilage" in US law is meant to "include all buildings in close proximity to a dwelling, which are continually used for carrying on domestic employment; or such place as is necessary and convenient to a dwelling and is habitually used for family purposes".<ref>
''United States v Potts'', 297 F.2d 68 [6th Cir. 1961]</ref>

The meaning of curtilage has been defined in domestic courts as "the land or yard adjoining a house, usually within an enclosure".<ref>
''R v Le (TD)'', [http://canlii.ca/t/frj5d 2011 MBCA 83] (CanLII){{perMBCA|Scott CJ}}{{atL|frj5d|83}}<br>
''R v Beune'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1knr3 2005 BCPC 175] (CanLII){{perBCPC|Dhillon J}}{{atL|1knr3|31}}<br>
</ref>

{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:Definitions]]