---
title: Bowen Island secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?"
place: Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/bowen-island
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Bowen Island Municipality
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Bowen Island secondary suite and carriage house rules

**Question:** Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

**Short answer:** Yes. Bowen Island allows one secondary suite per property, inside the house or detached, where the zone permits Accessory Residential Use. Both need a building permit, and a detached suite also needs a development permit unless exempt.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Bowen Island Municipality, https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit application fee $150 (final cost depends on construction value). A detached suite also needs a development permit costing $350, unless exempt.  
**How long:** The Municipality gives two to three months as the current processing time for complete building permit applications.  
**Where:**
- Email: Building Department, building@bimbc.ca
- Phone: Planning Department, 604-947-4255 ext. 6
- Email: Planning Department, planning@bimbc.ca
- In person: Municipal Offices (in the Community Centre), 580 Bowen Island Trunk Road, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed statutory holidays))

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** One secondary suite (inside the house) is allowed in all residentially zoned properties, subject to the Land Use Bylaw. Some strata bylaws or covenants on title prohibit suites.
  - Source: [Building and Planning Frequently Asked Questions, Bowen Island Municipality, Planning FAQ](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/property-development/building-planning-frequently-asked-questions/)
  - Official wording: "Yes, one secondary suite is permitted in the zoning bylaw for all residentially zoned properties on Bowen Island." … "Some strata bylaws or individual covenants do restrict secondary suites on certain properties"
  - Source: [Secondary Suites Guide, Bowen Island Municipality, Introduction](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/property-development/building-renovating/secondary-suites-guide/)
  - Official wording: "In July 2024, Council amended the regulations in order to allow secondary suites in any residential zone which didn’t previously allow them."
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.57](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/)
  - Official wording: "Where permitted in a zone, an accessory residential use shall comply with the following"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Allowed where the zone permits 'Accessory Residential Use'. Since 2022 there is no minimum lot size for a detached suite. Only one suite in total (attached or detached) per property; a detached suite needs a development permit in the Detached Secondary Suite Development Permit Area (some exemptions).
  - Source: [Secondary Suites Guide, Bowen Island Municipality, Introduction](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/property-development/building-renovating/secondary-suites-guide/)
  - Official wording: "in 2022 Council amended the regulations for detached secondary suites to remove the requirement of a minimum lot size."
  - Source: [Secondary Suites Guide, Bowen Island Municipality, FAQ](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/property-development/building-renovating/secondary-suites-guide/)
  - Official wording: "Only one secondary suite, either an attached or detached suite, can be constructed on a property."
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.58](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/)
  - Official wording: "a development permit shall be required for the construction of, addition to or alteration of a detached"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** Generally one suite per lot (attached or detached). Detached suite: up to 65 m² plus 0.625% of lot area, to a maximum of 140 m². Attached suite: up to the greater of 90 m², or 65 m² plus 0.625% of lot area to a maximum of 140 m². Some zones differ (CD 12 sets 75 m² for a detached suite). Zone coverage, height and density still apply.
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.57.1, .3, .4](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/)
  - Official wording: "not more than one (1) accessory residential use shall be permitted on a lot;" … "a detached secondary suite shall not exceed a total floor area of 65 square" … "a secondary suite shall not exceed the greater of either: a total floor area of 90" … "square metres plus 0.625% of lot area to a maximum of 140 square metres" … "Despite subsections 3.54.4 and 3.54.5, maximum size of detached"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** At least one parking space on the lot for each suite, in addition to the spaces required for the dwelling.
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.57.2](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/)
  - Official wording: "in addition to the parking requirements set out in Part 5 of this Bylaw, at least" … "one parking space must be provided on the lot for each secondary suite or"
  - Source: [Secondary Suites Guide, Bowen Island Municipality, General Regulations](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/property-development/building-renovating/secondary-suites-guide/)
  - Official wording: "A parking space is provided for the suite, in addition to any space(s) required for the dwelling;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** A building permit is required for an attached or detached suite (application fee $150, final cost depends on construction value). A detached suite also needs a development permit ($350) unless exempt; exemptions include a conversion of a building built with a building permit before December 2016. Septic certification is needed if living area increases.
  - Source: [Secondary Suites Guide, Bowen Island Municipality, FAQ / Permits and costs for secondary suites](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/property-development/building-renovating/secondary-suites-guide/)
  - Official wording: "A Building Permit is required to build an attached or a detached secondary suite." … "A Development Permit is required for a detached secondary suite and costs $350." … "If the building was built with a Building Permit issued before December 2016, you are exempt from requiring a Development Permit." … "The Land Use Bylaw defines Floor Area as all areas of a building or structure having a floor and ceiling more than 1.5 metres apart, and where more than 60% of the area between the roof and the floor is enclosed by walls and windows. What permits are necessary and how much do they cost? A Building Permit is required to build an attached or a detached secondary suite. A Building Permit application is $150, and final cost depends on the value of the construction. A Development Permit is required for a detached secondary suite and costs $350. Your property may also be located within another development permit area, like the Watershed, Aquifer and Stream Protection DP area. Check the Planning & Development webpage for current development permit areas and requirements."
  - Source: [Development Application Fees Bylaw No. 484, 2019, Table 2](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/274482/)
  - Official wording: "TABLE 2 - Permits Column 1 Column 2 1. Development Permit $350 2. Development Permit Amendment $250 3. Development Variance Permit $900"
  - Source: [Secondary Suites Guide, Bowen Island Municipality, FAQ](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/property-development/building-renovating/secondary-suites-guide/)
  - Official wording: "you must submit certification from a septic professional that the existing septic system can handle the additional load"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (s. 3.57, s. 3.58, s. 7.6; consolidated November 2025); Building Bylaw No. 489, 2019; Development Application Fees Bylaw No. 484, 2019.
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), Title page](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/)
  - Official wording: "Land Use Bylaw (Consolidated November 2025)"
  - Source: [Development Application Fees Bylaw No. 484, 2019, Citation](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/274482/)
  - Official wording: "1.0 Citation 1.1 This bylaw may be cited as the "Bowen Island Municipality Development Application Fees Bylaw, 484, 2019"."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 489, 2019 (PDF, consolidated for convenience to November 24, 2025), Title](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/341697/)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 489, 2019"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Bowen Island Municipality allows one secondary suite (inside the house) in all residentially zoned properties, subject to the [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/). Some strata bylaws or covenants on title prohibit suites.

A detached suite is allowed where the zone permits "Accessory Residential Use". Since 2022 there is no minimum lot size for one. Only one suite in total (attached or detached) is allowed per property. A detached suite must meet the BC Building Code, sit on a permanent foundation, meet Step Code and be served by water and sewer.

## Steps

1. Check your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and any strata bylaws or covenants.
2. Apply for a building permit (application fee $150). Septic certification is needed if living area increases.
3. For a detached suite, also apply for a development permit ($350) in the Detached Secondary Suite Development Permit Area, unless exempt. Exemptions include converting a building built with a building permit before December 2016, a suite 30 m or more from any lot line, or a suite under 5 m high at least 10 m from any lot line (s. 7.6).
4. Register a detached suite with the Homeowner Protection Office.

## Good to know

- **Size:** a detached suite may be up to 65 m² plus 0.625% of lot area, to a maximum of 140 m². An attached suite may be up to the greater of 90 m², or 65 m² plus 0.625% of lot area to a maximum of 140 m². Some zones differ. Zone coverage, height and density still apply.
- **Parking:** at least one space on the lot for each suite, in addition to the dwelling's spaces. The guide says a second driveway is not allowed, with exceptions through the Public Works Superintendent.
- A suite cannot be stratified or subdivided from the main dwelling, except a detached suite on a lot large enough to subdivide.
- No owner-occupancy rule was found in the bylaw or the guide. Ask Planning (604-947-4255 ext. 6).
- The guide page has an "Existing Secondary Suite" building permit application form for bringing an existing suite into compliance.

## Official forms and pages

- [Secondary Suites Guide, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/property-development/building-renovating/secondary-suites-guide/)
- [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF)](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/)

## Related questions

- [Bowen Island building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/building-permit.md)
- [Bowen Island building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Bowen Island zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Bowen Island short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/secondary-suite.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/secondary-suite.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/secondary-suite.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/secondary-suite.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/secondary-suite.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Secondary Suites Guide, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/property-development/building-renovating/secondary-suites-guide/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025)](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Development Application Fees Bylaw No. 484, 2019 (PDF)](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/274482/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Bylaw No. 489, 2019 (PDF, consolidated for convenience to November 24, 2025)](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/341697/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building and Planning Frequently Asked Questions, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/property-development/building-planning-frequently-asked-questions/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Bowen Island Municipality. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/secondary-suite/_