---
title: Colwood secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?"
place: Colwood, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/colwood
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Colwood
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Colwood secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in Colwood. Land Use Bylaw 151 allows a secondary suite and an accessory dwelling unit (garden suite) in all zones unless a zone says otherwise. Unless a zone says otherwise, the limit is one of each per lot, each up to 90 m² or 40% of the floor area, whichever is less.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Colwood, https://www.colwood.ca)  
**Where:**
- Email: Planning (zoning questions), planning@colwood.ca
- Phone: Planning, 250-294-8153
- Email: Building Department, building@colwood.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Secondary suites are permitted in all zones as an ancillary use to residential use, unless the Land Use Bylaw says otherwise for a zone. A secondary suite is in a building that has only one other dwelling unit.
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.2.01](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suites and accessory dwelling units are permitted in all zones ancillary to residential use unless otherwise specified in this bylaw."
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), Definitions](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999)
  - Official wording: "is within a building or a part of a building of residential occupancy containing only one other dwelling unit"
  - Source: [Development, Secondary Suites](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/development)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suites are permitted in most Colwood single family homes."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Accessory dwelling units (garden suites) are permitted in all zones ancillary to residential use unless the bylaw says otherwise. They may be in or added to an accessory building on a lot with a one-family, two-family or attached housing dwelling. A garden suite goes through an approval process.
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.2.01](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suites and accessory dwelling units are permitted in all zones ancillary to residential use unless otherwise specified in this bylaw."
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), Definitions](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999)
  - Official wording: "contained within an accessory building associated with a one-family use, a two-family dwelling use, or an attached housing dwelling use"
  - Source: [Development, Garden suite](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/development)
  - Official wording: "Garden suites must go through an application process for approval."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Unless a zone says otherwise: one secondary suite and one accessory dwelling unit per lot, each with a separate entrance. Maximum 90 m² or 40% of the building's habitable floor area (ADU: of the principal dwelling), whichever is less. A covenant against stratification is required. R5 zone: 70 m², rental only. No owner-occupancy rule found.
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.2.02](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999)
  - Official wording: "up to one secondary suite and one accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted per lot" … "A secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit must have a separate entrance and exit." … "The maximum size of a secondary suite shall be 90m2 or 40% of the gross floor area of the total habitable floor area, excluding garages, of the building it is located in, whichever is less." … "The maximum size of an accessory dwelling unit shall be 90 m2 or 40% of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling unit, whichever is less." … "New secondary suites or accessory dwelling units are not a permitted use unless the owner has registered a restrictive covenant under section 219 of the Land Title Act for the purpose of prohibiting the stratification" … "Unless otherwise specified in this Bylaw, up to one secondary suite and one accessory dwelling unit" … "The maximum size of a secondary suite shall be 70 m2."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** One parking space per suite or accessory dwelling unit, on top of the 2 spaces for a one-family dwelling. The suite's space must have unobstructed access.
  - Source: [Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw No. 1909 (consolidated to June 29, 2026), Table 1](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/198446/)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suite and 1 per dwelling unit Accessory Dwelling Unit" … "Residential, One-family 2 per dwelling unit"
  - Source: [Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw No. 1909 (consolidated to June 29, 2026), Parking space design](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/198446/)
  - Official wording: "Parking space provided for a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit have unobstructed access."
  - Source: [Development, Secondary Suites](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/development)
  - Official wording: "An additional unobstructed parking space must be provided for each suite."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit is needed (submit the application and plans). Ask Planning whether a development permit is required for a garden suite. Suites must also meet BC Building Code fire and life-safety rules, such as smoke detectors.
  - Source: [Development, Secondary Suite FAQs](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/development)
  - Official wording: "Once you have confirmed what you intend to do is possible, please submit a completed building permit application and plans."
  - Source: [Development, Garden Suite FAQs](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/development)
  - Official wording: "to confirm whether a development permit is required please reach out to planning@colwood.ca"
  - Source: [Development, Secondary Suites](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/development)
  - Official wording: "Suites will also be subject to BC Building Code requirements for fire and life safety (e.g. smoke detectors)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (Section 2.2); Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw No. 1909, 2022; Building Bylaw No. 977, 2008
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), Section 2.2](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999)
  - Official wording: "SECTION 2.2 SECONDARY SUITES AND ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS"
  - Source: [Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw No. 1909 (consolidated to June 29, 2026), Whole bylaw](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/198446/)
  - Official wording: "Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw No. 1909, 2022"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024), Whole bylaw](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/164)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw No. 977, 2008"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Land Use Bylaw 151](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999) (Section 2.2) permits secondary suites in all zones as an ancillary use to residential use, unless the bylaw says otherwise for a zone. A secondary suite is in a building that has only one other dwelling unit.

Accessory dwelling units (garden suites) are also permitted in all zones unless the bylaw says otherwise. They may be in or added to an accessory building on a lot with a one-family, two-family or attached housing dwelling. A garden suite goes through an approval process.

Unless a zone says otherwise:

- One secondary suite and one accessory dwelling unit per lot, each with a separate entrance.
- Maximum 90 m² or 40% of the building's habitable floor area (for a garden suite, of the main dwelling), whichever is less.
- A covenant against stratification is required.
- The R5 zone limits a suite to 70 m² and rental only.
- The bylaw states no owner-occupancy rule that we found.

Suites occupied before July 1, 2009 are not subject to the maximum size or the covenant.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone's rules with Planning: planning@colwood.ca or 250-294-8153.
2. Plan one parking space per suite or accessory dwelling unit, on top of the 2 spaces for a one-family dwelling. The suite's space must have unobstructed access.
3. Ask Planning whether a development permit is required for a garden suite.
4. Apply for a building permit with plans. The suite must also meet BC Building Code fire and life-safety rules, such as smoke detectors.

## Good to know

- A one-storey accessory building with a garden suite is limited to 4 m high. A suite above the main floor may reach 7 m or 80% of the main dwelling's height, whichever is less. The rear setback is 1.5 m (one storey) or 3 m (taller).
- Suites do not count toward density.
- The City no longer issues "class two" secondary suite permits.
- The City page mentions a provincial program of forgivable loans up to $40k for suites.

## Official forms and pages

- [Development, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/development)
- [Land Use Bylaw 151 (PDF)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999)
- [Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw 1909](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/198446/)

## Related questions

- [Colwood building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/building-permit.md)
- [Colwood zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Colwood permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/secondary-suite.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/secondary-suite.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/secondary-suite.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/secondary-suite.md)
- [Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/secondary-suite.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Development, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/development) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw No. 1909 (consolidated to June 29, 2026)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/198446/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024) (PDF)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/164) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Colwood. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/secondary-suite/_