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Abbotsford secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Abbotsford, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes, in the City of Abbotsford. One secondary suite is allowed in every single detached dwelling, but a coach house or garden suite only where your zone lists it. Adding a suite needs a building permit and City registration: $260 at permit issue, plus a $270 yearly infrastructure fee.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedOne secondary suite is allowed in every single detached dwelling. In the A1 to A6, RR, CR, SR, SRH, RMF and some N zones the suite must also meet that zone's own conditions. Suites must be registered with the City.Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.8(a), (b); Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
one Secondary Suite is permitted in all Single Detached Dwellings.
Where permitted, a Secondary Suite in the A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, RR, CR, SR,
Secondary suites are required to be registered with the City.
Coach house or garden suite allowedCoach house: RR, CR, SR and SRH (lot over 0.4 ha), SSMUH 1, 2, 2-g, 3 and 4, TH1, RS6-C and RCH zones. Garden suite: SSMUH 1, 2, 2-g, 3 and 4, TH1, TH2 and RS7. Only where the zone lists it. A zones list neither; N and CD zones not checked.Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.2.12(d); https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351, s. 351.1 (SSMUH 1); https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400385, s. 385.1 (RS6-C); https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400386, s. 386.1 (RS7); https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400387, s. 387.1 (RCH); Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 310 Rural Residential Zone (RR), s. 310.1 (RR); Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 335 Suburban Residential Hobby Farm Zone (SRH), s. 335.1 (SRH); https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400357, s. 357.1 (TH1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing shall not include a Garden Suite or Coach House except
.6 Short-Term Rental Accommodation .7 Boarding .8 Coach House .9 Garden Suite .10 Home Occupation - Level 1
.7 Boarding .8 Coach House .9 Garden Suite .10 Home Occupation - Level 1 .11 Home Occupation - Level 2
Accessory Uses .4 Boarding .5 Coach House .6 Home Occupation - Level 1 .7 Short-Term Rental Accommodation (B/L 3691-2025)
Accessory Uses 4. Boarding 5. Garden Suite 6. Home Occupation - Level 1 7. Secondary Suite
Accessory Uses .3 Boarding .4 Coach House .5 Home Occupation - Level 1 .6 Short-Term Rental Accommodations (B/L 3670-2025)
.8 Boarding .9 Coach House .10 Home Occupation - Level 3, on a Lot outside the Agricultural Land Reserve
.5 Short-Term Rental Accommodation .6 Boarding .7 Coach House .8 Hobby Farm Agriculture .9 Home Occupation Level 3
Accessory Uses .6 Short-Term Rental Accommodation .7 Boarding .8 Coach House .9 Garden Suite
LimitsSecondary suite: one per house, under 50% of its floor area (garage excluded), none with residential care, a boarding house, supported housing or home child care. Garden suite or coach house: one per lot. SSMUH and TH zones: 15% of lot area or 100 m², whichever is less (coach house: rear lane lots, no larger than the garage). RR, CR, SR: 90 m² or 40% of the house. RS7 and RCH: 55 m².Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.8(c); https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400386, s. 386.7.2; https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400387, s. 387.7.1; https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351, s. 351.1 .11, .13 (SSMUH 1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
be limited to one such Use per principal Dwelling Unit
be limited to a maximum floor area that is less than 50% of the floor area of the principal Dwelling Unit in which it is located, excluding the floor area of an attached garage
not be operated where there is a Residential Care, Boarding House,
be limited to a maximum floor area of 55 m2 and not be located within a
be limited to one such Use per Lot;
be limited to a maximum floor area not greater than the total floor area
be limited to a total maximum floor area not greater than 15% of the Lot Area, or 100 m2, whichever is less;
be limited to Lots with rear lane access;
Parking1 off-street space for the suite (also 1 for a coach house or garden suite), on top of the 2 spaces required for a single detached dwelling.Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 150 Parking, s. 150.3, Table 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Secondary Suite 1 space per Dwelling Unit
Single Detached Dwelling 2 spaces per Dwelling Unit
Coach House 1 space for each Dwelling Unit
PermitsA building permit is needed to add or remove a suite, and the suite must be registered. Fees: $100 application (credited), $260 registration at issuance, $270 a year infrastructure fee on the property tax bill. A development permit comes first if the OCP requires one.Building Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2883-2018), s. 25, s. 28(h); Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page; Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006 (Consolidated), Schedule G Building, Schedule G, s. 9(c), 10(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Construction or removal of an additional Suite, including but not limited to a Secondary Suite or Coach House;
no Building Permit will be issued for Construction until a Development Permit required under the City's Official Community Plan Bylaw, 2016
A $100 non-refundable application fee applies at time of submission of a building permit application.
A $270 infrastructure fee will be added to property taxes on an annual basis.
Bylaw No. 1532-2006 Page 25 (c) Processing Fee for Additional Suite (i) Registration (new) .........................................................................$260.00 (ii) Accessory Suite removal .................................................................$75.00 (iii) Multiple Suite Removal ..................................................................$260.00
including but not limited to a Secondary Suite or Coach House. (c) Infrastructure fee ............................................................................ $270.00/year 11. PERFORMANCE SECURITY
BylawZoning Bylaw, 2014 (Bylaw No. 2400-2014), s. 140.3.8 and s. 150; Building Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2883-2018); Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006 (No. 1532-2006), Schedule G.Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.8; Building Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2883-2018), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Secondary Suites (B/L 3246-2022, 3299-2022, 3560-2024, 3670-2025, 3691-2025)
City of Abbotsford - Building Bylaw, 2018- - - Search Results | Clear Search | Previous (in doc) | Next (in doc) | Prev Doc | Next Doc | License Bylaw No. 2883-2018 ## Building Bylaw, 2018 Consolidated and printed by authority of the

How it works

The Zoning Bylaw allows one secondary suite (a dwelling unit inside a house) in every single detached dwelling. In the A1 to A6, RR, CR, SR, SRH, RMF and some N zones the suite must also meet that zone's own conditions. A coach house (on the second storey of an accessory building) or a garden suite (in a single-storey one) is allowed only where your zone lists it:

  • Coach house: RR, CR, SR and SRH (lot over 0.4 ha), SSMUH 1, 2, 2-g, 3 and 4, TH1, RS6-C and RCH zones.
  • Garden suite: SSMUH 1, 2, 2-g, 3 and 4, TH1, TH2 and RS7.

A zones list neither. Zone sections for N and CD zones were not checked.

Steps

  1. Confirm your zone's rules (Planning Services, 604-864-5510, or the Property Information Search).
  2. Complete the Secondary Suite submission and drawing checklists.
  3. Apply online and pay the $100 application fee. A development permit comes first if the Official Community Plan requires one.
  4. At permit issue, pay the $260 registration fee. Book inspections online.
  5. The $270 yearly infrastructure fee then appears on your property tax bill.

Good to know

  • Size: a secondary suite must be under 50% of the house's floor area (garage excluded). Garden suite or coach house: one per lot; in SSMUH and TH zones up to 15% of lot area or 100 m², whichever is less (a coach house is on rear lane lots and no larger than the garage); RR, CR and SR zones 90 m² or 40% of the house; RS7 and RCH zones 55 m².
  • No suite where the house has residential care, a boarding house, supported housing or home child care.
  • Parking: 1 off-street space for the suite (also 1 for a coach house or garden suite), on top of the 2 required for the house.
  • The City says an unregistered suite can be fined $500 a day under the Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw. Suites not removed by May 1 stay on that year's tax bill.
  • Zoning also permits 3 to 4 units on many urban lots under section 140.2.12; ask Planning.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Mission · Township of Langley · Chilliwack · Langley City · Maple Ridge · Pitt Meadows

Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Secondary Suites, City of Abbotsford (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006 (Consolidated), Schedule G Building (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 120 Definitions (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 150 Parking (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Building Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2883-2018), City of Abbotsford (read 2026-11-05)
  7. Land Use Information Letters, City of Abbotsford (read 2026-11-05)
  8. https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351 (read 2026-11-05)
  9. https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400385 (read 2026-11-05)
  10. https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400386 (read 2026-11-05)
  11. https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400387 (read 2026-11-05)
  12. Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 310 Rural Residential Zone (RR) (read 2026-11-05)
  13. Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 335 Suburban Residential Hobby Farm Zone (SRH) (read 2026-11-05)
  14. https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400357 (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.