Chilliwack secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

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

Short answer

Yes, in Chilliwack, where your lot's zone permits an accessory dwelling unit. A secondary suite is limited to 90 m² and needs a building permit that meets the BC Building and Fire Code. Coach houses and garden suites also need a development permit (Development Permit Area 8).

Key facts

Secondary suite allowed	A secondary suite is allowed as an accessory dwelling unit where the lot's zone permits one (Zoning Bylaw s. 4.06(1)(a); for example the R1-A zone lists accessory dwelling unit as an ancillary use). Only 1 accessory dwelling unit is allowed on a lot, unless the ALC approves more. The City's web page and Policy G-30 describe suites as permitted in any single detached dwelling / all residential zones where a single detached home is permitted; the Zoning Bylaw ties it to zones that permit an accessory dwelling unit. Lots in the ALR follow the ALC Act and Regulations.Sources differ: City page says suites are allowed in any single detached dwelling 'regardless of the zone'; Policy G-30 says 'all residential zones where a single family detached home is permitted'; the Zoning Bylaw (which wins) ties it to zones that permit an accessory dwelling unit. The SSMUH lot test in s. 4.08(7)(a) (urban growth boundary, community water and sewer, under 4,050 m2, etc.) applies to the 3-4 unit rules. Zoning copy is current to Oct 20, 2026 amendments.Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 4.06(1)(a), (d); s. 4.08(7)(c)(ii); Secondary Suites, Coach Houses and Garden Suites; Secondary Suites Policy, Policy Directive No. G-30, A. Purpose; Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording An ADU is permitted where the LOT is in a ZONE permitting an ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT. SINGLE DETACHED DWELLING, which may contain one SECONDARY SUITE; On properties within the Agricultural Land Reserve, ADUs are permitted in accordance with the Agricultural Land Commission Act and Regulations. (c) ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT to permit the rental of secondary suites within any single detached dwelling in the City, regardless of the zone of the lot. now permits secondary suites in all residential zones where a single family detached home is permitted 1 secondary suite in all single detached zoned properties
Coach house or garden suite allowed	Coach houses and garden suites are allowed as accessory dwelling units where the zone permits them. A coach house sits above an ancillary or agricultural building on a single storey; a garden suite is a ground-oriented unit on the same lot as the main dwelling. A detached unit needs a minimum lot area: 4,000 m2 with septic and private well, 2,000 m2 with septic and community water, or the zone minimum with community sewer and water.Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 2 definitions; s. 4.06(1)(a), (c), (h); Secondary Suites, Coach Houses and Garden Suites, Coach House & Garden Suite · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording means an ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, located above an URBAN or RURAL ANCILLARY USE or means a GROUND ORIENTED, self-contained, ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT designed to be located on the minimum LOT AREA shall be 4000m². the minimum LOT AREA shall be 2000m². the minimum LOT AREA shall be the minimum set out for the ZONE in which the ADU is located. coach houses could be considered as an alternative rental option, subject to appropriate zoning provisions
Limits	A secondary suite is limited to 90 m2 and less than 40% of the building's habitable floor space, inside a building with one principal dwelling unit. A garden suite is limited to 100 m2. Only 1 accessory dwelling unit is allowed per lot, unless the ALC approves more; on lots that meet the provincial small-scale multi-unit housing test the Zoning Bylaw allows 3 units on lots of 280 m2 or less and 4 units on larger lots, and more than one accessory dwelling unit.Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 2 (Secondary Suite); s. 4.06(1)(b), (e), (g); s. 4.08(7)(b), (e)(iv)(B) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording Having a GROSS FLOOR AREA of not more than 90m2 in area Having a GROSS FLOOR AREA less than 40% of the habitable floor space of the BUILDING GARDEN SUITES shall be limited to a maximum GROSS FLOOR AREA of 100m². Only 1 ADU may be located on a LOT. 3 units on LOTS less than or equal to 280m2 in area; or, 4 units on LOTS greater than 280m2 in area. More than one ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT may be located on a LOT.
Parking	A secondary suite needs 1 off-street parking space, with any number of bedrooms. A coach house or garden suite needs 1 space if it has 1 bedroom and 2 spaces if it has 2 or more bedrooms. On lots using the small-scale multi-unit housing rules, 1 off-street space is required for each accessory dwelling unit regardless of bedrooms.Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 5.04 table; s. 4.08(7)(e)(iv)(C) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording any number of bedrooms 1 space per ADU 2 spaces per ADU One OFF-STREET PARKING SPACE is required for each ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT,
Permits	A building permit is required, and the suite must meet the BC Building and Fire Code and current flood protection requirements. A coach house or garden suite also needs a development permit (Development Permit Area 8) before the building permit can be issued; detached accessory dwelling units in the ALR or Ryder Lake neighbourhood are exempt from that development permit. New secondary suites are not permitted below the flood construction level.Secondary Suites, Coach Houses and Garden Suites, Secondary Suites; Design Guidelines; Official Community Plan Bylaw 2025, No. 5500, Schedule D-8, Development Permit Area 8, Requirements and Exemptions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording residents are required to build it with a building permit and meet the BC Building and Fire Code and current flood protection requirements. The development permit application must demonstrate the new building meets the design guidelines before a building permit can be issued. New secondary suites will not be permitted below the flood construction level Multi-unit, intensive, and detached accessory dwelling unit residential development, including new Detached accessory dwelling units in the Agricultural Land Reserve or Ryder Lake neighbourhood
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 (s. 4.06 and the zone sections). Also the Secondary Suites Policy, Policy Directive No. G-30, and Official Community Plan Bylaw 2025, No. 5500, Schedule D-8 (Development Permit Area 8).Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 1; Secondary Suites Policy, Policy Directive No. G-30, Title; Official Community Plan Bylaw 2025, No. 5500, Schedule D-8, Development Permit Area 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05 Official wording This BYLAW may be cited as “Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000”. POLICY DIRECTIVE NO. G-30 SUBJECT: SECONDARY SUITES POLICY APPROVAL DATE: May 15, 2018 LAST REVIEW DATE: Official Community Plan Bylaw 2025, No. 5500 "Schedule D-8"

How it works

A secondary suite is allowed in Chilliwack where your lot's zone permits an accessory dwelling unit, under Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 (s. 4.06). Only one accessory dwelling unit is allowed on a lot unless the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) approves more. The suite must be built with a building permit and meet the BC Building and Fire Code and current flood protection requirements. Coach houses and garden suites need a development permit first.

Steps

Check your zoning with Planning (604-793-2906) to confirm your zone permits an accessory dwelling unit. Lots in the Agricultural Land Reserve follow the ALC Act and Regulations.
For a coach house or garden suite, apply for a development permit showing it meets the Development Permit Area 8 design guidelines. This comes before the building permit. Detached units in the Agricultural Land Reserve or the Ryder Lake neighbourhood are exempt from this development permit.
Apply for a building permit with drawings.
Build, then pass the City's inspections before anyone moves in.

Good to know

The City's web page and Policy G-30 say suites are allowed in any single detached home. The Zoning Bylaw ties them to zones that permit an accessory dwelling unit, so confirm your zone with Planning.
A secondary suite is limited to 90 m² and less than 40% of the building's habitable floor space.
A garden suite is limited to 100 m².
Parking: a secondary suite needs 1 off-street space. A coach house or garden suite needs 1 space with one bedroom and 2 with two or more.
A detached unit needs a minimum lot area: 4,000 m² with septic and a private well, or 2,000 m² with septic and community water. With community sewer and water, the zone minimum applies.
New suites cannot be below the flood construction level; a coach house can be an alternative.
The City's pages do not state a permit fee or an owner-occupancy requirement. Ask the Building Department.

What you'll need

Building Permit Application Form and drawings
Development permit application, for a coach house or garden suite

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Harrison Hot Springs · Kent · Abbotsford · Mission · Hope · Township of Langley

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

Sources

Secondary Suites, Coach Houses and Garden Suites, City of Chilliwack (read 2026-11-05)
Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH), City of Chilliwack (read 2026-11-05)
Secondary Suites Policy, Policy Directive No. G-30 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Official Community Plan Bylaw 2025, No. 5500, Schedule D-8, Development Permit Area 8 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)

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