Colwood secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

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

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.

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.Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.2.01; Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), Definitions; Development, Secondary Suites · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Secondary suites and accessory dwelling units are permitted in all zones ancillary to residential use unless otherwise specified in this bylaw. is within a building or a part of a building of residential occupancy containing only one other dwelling unit Secondary suites are permitted in most Colwood single family homes.
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.Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.2.01; Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), Definitions; Development, Garden suite · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Secondary suites and accessory dwelling units are permitted in all zones ancillary to residential use unless otherwise specified in this bylaw. contained within an accessory building associated with a one-family use, a two-family dwelling use, or an attached housing dwelling use Garden suites must go through an application process for approval.
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.Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.2.02 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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.
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.Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw No. 1909 (consolidated to June 29, 2026), Table 1; Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw No. 1909 (consolidated to June 29, 2026), Parking space design; Development, Secondary Suites · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Secondary Suite and 1 per dwelling unit Accessory Dwelling Unit Residential, One-family 2 per dwelling unit Parking space provided for a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit have unobstructed access. An additional unobstructed parking space must be provided for each suite.
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.Development, Secondary Suite FAQs; Development, Garden Suite FAQs; Development, Secondary Suites · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Once you have confirmed what you intend to do is possible, please submit a completed building permit application and plans. to confirm whether a development permit is required please reach out to planning@colwood.ca Suites will also be subject to BC Building Code requirements for fire and life safety (e.g. smoke detectors).
Bylaw	Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (Section 2.2); Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw No. 1909, 2022; Building Bylaw No. 977, 2008Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), Section 2.2; Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw No. 1909 (consolidated to June 29, 2026), Whole bylaw; Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024), Whole bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording SECTION 2.2 SECONDARY SUITES AND ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw No. 1909, 2022 Building Bylaw No. 977, 2008

How it works

Land Use Bylaw 151 (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

Confirm your zone's rules with Planning: planning@colwood.ca or 250-294-8153.
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.
Ask Planning whether a development permit is required for a garden suite.
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

The same question in other places

View Royal · Esquimalt · Langford · Victoria · Metchosin · Highlands

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

Sources

Development, City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw No. 1909 (consolidated to June 29, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)

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