{"title":"Central Saanich secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Central Saanich","url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca"},"short_answer":"In Central Saanich a secondary suite is allowed inside the Urban Containment Boundary in the residential zones if it is wholly inside the main dwelling. A one-storey cottage or two-storey carriage house is also allowed there. You need a building permit.","aliases":["secondary suite central saanich","basement suite central saanich","carriage house central saanich","legalize suite central saanich"],"cost":"Based on the value of the work. See the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"See the building-permit answer for review times.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Planning Department","value":"250-544-4209"},{"type":"email","label":"Planning Department","value":"planning@csaanich.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"1903 Mount Newton Cross Road, Saanichton, BC V8M 2A9","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Secondary Suites, District of Central Saanich","url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/SecondarySuites"},{"title":"Residential Building Permits, District of Central Saanich","url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/home-property-development/building-property-improvements/residential-permits"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)","url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Central Saanich building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Central Saanich building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Central Saanich short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/short-term-rental/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Central Saanich zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sidney","name":"Sidney","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/secondary-suite/"}],"topic":{"title":"Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite/"},"facts":{"suite_allowed":{"label":"Secondary suite allowed","value":"Inside the Urban Containment Boundary, a secondary suite is allowed as an accessory use in the residential zones, if it is wholly inside the main dwelling. A suite cannot be in a detached building or one linked only by a breezeway. Outside the boundary, suites are allowed in Agricultural and Rural zones.","short":"Yes, in residential zones inside Urban Containment Boundary","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.5.4-5, 3.2, 6.23.2","quotes":["Where permitted inside the Urban Containment Boundary, Secondary Dwelling Units are permitted in the form of a secondary suite wholly contained within the principal dwelling unit","Outside of the Urban Containment Boundary, Secondary Dwelling Units are permitted in Agricultural and Rural zones","may not be in a detached accessory structure or in any structure connected only by a breezeway.","Secondary Dwelling Units in accordance with Section 4.5."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Yes, inside the Urban Containment Boundary: a one-storey cottage or two-storey carriage house. Outside it, in Agricultural and Rural zones: a cottage or carriage house up to 90 m² (basement excluded). In Agricultural zones the main dwelling must be 500 m² or less.","short":"Yes, inside Urban Containment Boundary; rural: up to 90 m²","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.5.4-6","quotes":["Secondary Dwelling Unit - Detached in the form of a one-storey Residential - Cottage or two-storey Residential - Carriage House.","A Residential - Cottage or a Residential - Carriage House shall have a maximum floor area of 90 m².","The principal dwelling is 500 m² or less in floor area,"]},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/home-property-development/building-property-improvements/residential-permits","title":"Residential Building Permits, District of Central Saanich","section":"Cottage or Carriage House","quotes":["only one accessory dwelling unit is permitted per lot in either the form of a secondary suite, cottage, or carriage house"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"A suite must be on the same title and cannot be stratified or subdivided. It must be lived in as a home only, rented for more than 30 days, and not used as a bed and breakfast or short-term rental. No set size limit inside the boundary.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.5.1-3","quotes":["shall be occupied for residential purposes only and shall not be used as a Bed and Breakfast or Short-Term Rental Accommodation.","Secondary Dwelling Units must be rented for an occupancy period of more than 30 days.","No Residential - Secondary Suite may be stratified, subdivided, or otherwise legally separated from the principal residential dwelling."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"1 off-street space per secondary dwelling unit, reserved for that unit only, with unobstructed access at all times.","short":"1 space per secondary dwelling unit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 7.4.3, 7.5","quotes":["1 per Secondary Dwelling","Specifically allocated for use of the Secondary Dwelling Unit only;","Located so as to allow for Access to and from the parking space at all times by means of an unobstructed driveway;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is needed to build a new suite or legalize an existing one, applied for online as a Secondary Suite Permit with a Secondary Suite checklist. A development permit is needed first for infill housing such as cottages on small lots. A septic review may be needed.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/SecondarySuites","title":"Secondary Suites, District of Central Saanich","section":"Secondary Suites","quotes":["You will require a building permit if you want to construct a new suite or legalize an existing non-permitted suite"]},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/home-property-development/building-property-improvements/residential-permits","title":"Residential Building Permits, District of Central Saanich","section":"Required for Submission","quotes":["If a form of infill housing: A Development Permit would be required prior to your building permit application","Secondary Suite checklist completed if authorizing an existing suite or building a new one in your home"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (s. 4.5 Secondary Dwelling Units; zones in Part 6) and Building Bylaw No. 2014, 2019","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.5","quotes":["Central Saanich Zoning Bylaw No. 2270"]},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%202014%20-%20Consolidated%20October%2023%2C%202023.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2014 (PDF, consolidated October 23, 2023)","section":"s. 1.0","quotes":["Central Saanich Building Bylaw No. 2014, 2019"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Zoning Bylaw No. 2270](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf) (s. 4.5) allows a secondary suite as an accessory use in the residential zones inside the Urban Containment Boundary, if it is wholly inside the main dwelling. It cannot be in a detached building or one linked only by a breezeway. Outside the boundary, suites are allowed in Agricultural and Rural zones.\n\nA detached unit is also allowed inside the boundary: a one-storey cottage or two-storey carriage house. Outside it, in Agricultural and Rural zones, a cottage or carriage house may be up to 90 m² (basement excluded), and in Agricultural zones the main dwelling must be 500 m² or less. Only one accessory dwelling is allowed per lot outside the boundary.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone and the rules below with Planning.\n2. For a cottage or carriage house on a small lot, get a development permit (Intensive Residential) first.\n3. Apply online for a building permit as a Secondary Suite Permit, with the Secondary Suite checklist. This applies to new suites and to legalizing an existing one. A septic review may be needed.\n4. Provide 1 off-street parking space for the suite, reserved for it only and always accessible. The parking table also shows 1 energized electric vehicle space with Level 2 charging per unit.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The suite must be on the same title and cannot be stratified or subdivided. It must be lived in as a home only, rented for more than 30 days, and not used as a bed and breakfast or short-term rental.\n- The bylaw sets no floor-area cap for a suite inside the boundary. Total dwelling units per lot are capped by zone (4 in R-N and R-NS).\n- A business licence is not issued for a property with bylaw infractions, including an unauthorized secondary suite.\n- The District's older Secondary Suite Guide (2023) states a minimum lot size that is not in the current bylaw. Confirm with Planning.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/SecondarySuites","title":"Secondary Suites, District of Central Saanich","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/home-property-development/building-property-improvements/residential-permits","title":"Residential Building Permits, District of Central Saanich","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%202014%20-%20Consolidated%20October%2023%2C%202023.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2014 (PDF, consolidated October 23, 2023)","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/secondary-suite.json"}}