GovHandbook

Comox secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a coach house in Comox?

Comox, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

Yes. The Town of Comox's Zoning Bylaw permits a secondary suite and a coach house (a detached unit) as secondary uses in all four low-density residential zones, with limits. You need a building permit, and a development permit may also be needed. Each needs 1 extra parking space.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedSecondary suites (self-contained dwelling units inside a principal dwelling) are permitted as a secondary use in all four low-density residential zones (R-SSMU, R-WF, R-CL, R-LL) and in several other zones. The Town says they are permitted primarily in Low-Density Residential zones.Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Table 9.2(1); Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page; Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), s. 4 definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(l) Secondary Suites S S S S
Secondary suites are permitted primarily in Low-Density Residential zones, along with several other zones
Secondary Suite means a self-contained dwelling unit located within, and secondary to, a principal
Coach house or garden suite allowedCoach houses (self-contained dwelling units detached from the principal dwelling) are permitted as a secondary use in all four low-density residential zones, but in the R-CL zone not in the areas shown on Map 9-1 (Coach House Restriction Area). The Town says they are permitted primarily in Low-Density Residential zones, along with several other zones.Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Table 9.2(1); Coach Houses, Coach Houses page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(f) Coach Houses 1 S S S2 S
Despite Table 9.2(1), coach houses are not permitted in the areas indicated in Map 9-1.
Coach houses are permitted primarily in Low-Density Residential zones, along with several other zones
LimitsSecondary suite: must be incidental to and integrated with the principal dwelling (not joined by a breezeway or carport), have its own entrance, not be in a coach house, and cannot be strata-subdivided; maximum one suite per principal dwelling unit. Coach house: maximum 100 m² floor area; 5.5 m high if single-storey, 7.5 m if two-storey. Maximum dwelling units per lot are 4 (R-SSMU, R-LL), reduced to 2 on lots over 4,050 m² or not on community water and sewer; 2 (R-WF, R-CL). The bylaw sets no owner-occupancy requirement for a suite.Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), s. 6.6; Table 6.4(1); Table 9.4(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
A maximum of one secondary suite shall be permitted per principal dwelling unit.
not be located in a coach house; and
No secondary suite shall be subdivided from the principal dwelling unit under the Strata Property
(a) Maximum GFA 100.0 m2
(c) Maximum Number of 4 per lot 1 2 per lot 2 per lot 4 per lot 1
ParkingSecondary suites and coach houses each need 1.0 parking space per dwelling unit, in addition to the spaces required for the principal dwelling (1.0 per dwelling unit).Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Table 8.4.1(1); s. 8.4(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(ii) Coach Houses 1.0 space per dwelling unit
Parking and loading spaces for secondary uses shall be provided in addition to the parking and loading
PermitsA building permit from the Town is required to have a secondary suite or coach house approved. A development permit may also be needed, depending on the property (the Town asks applicants to determine whether a Development Permit is required). The Town also offers a $3,000 Home Suite Home grant for new or legalized suites, limited to the first 25 qualifying suites, with the program running until December 1, 2027 or until funds run out.Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page; Coach Houses, Coach Houses page; Home Suite Home, Home Suite Home page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
To have a secondary suite approved, you must get a building permit from the Town of Comox.
To have a coach house approved, you must get a building permit from the Town of Comox.
Determine if a Development Permit is required.
a $3000 grant to homeowners who create new accessory dwelling units
The program is limited to the first 25 qualifying ADUs
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 2056 (s. 6.4 Coach Houses, s. 6.6 Secondary Suites, s. 8.4 Parking, Table 9.2(1) permitted uses) and Building Bylaw No. 1472.Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), s. 6.6; Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), s. 6.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Town of Comox | Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 6.6 Secondary Suites (1) Where expressly permitted in a zone, a secondary suite shall:
Town of Comox | Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 6.4 Coach Houses Table 6.4(1) Development Regulations for Coach Houses

How it works

The Town of Comox Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 permits a secondary suite (a self-contained dwelling unit inside the principal dwelling) as a secondary use in all four low-density residential zones (R-SSMU, R-WF, R-CL, R-LL) and in several other zones. A coach house (a self-contained unit detached from the principal dwelling) is permitted in the same four zones, but in R-CL not in the areas shown on Map 9-1, the Coach House Restriction Area. Use the Town's zoning map to confirm your zone.

Steps

  1. Confirm your zone and whether a coach house is allowed on your lot (see the zoning-lookup answer).
  2. Ask Planning (250-339-1118) whether a development permit is needed for your property.
  3. Apply for a building permit through the Citywide portal (see the building-permit answer).
  4. If you want the grant, check the Home Suite Home page before you start.

Good to know

  • Suite limits: it must be incidental to and integrated with the principal dwelling (not joined by a breezeway or carport), have its own entrance, not be in a coach house, and cannot be strata-subdivided. Maximum one suite per principal dwelling unit.
  • Coach house limits: maximum 100 m² floor area, 5.5 m high if single-storey and 7.5 m if two-storey.
  • Units per lot: maximum 4 in R-SSMU and R-LL (reduced to 2 on lots over 4,050 m² or not on community water and sewer), and 2 in R-WF and R-CL.
  • Parking: 1.0 space per suite or coach house, in addition to 1.0 per principal dwelling unit.
  • The bylaw sets no owner-occupancy requirement for a suite.
  • The Home Suite Home grant is $3,000 for new or legalized suites, for the first 25 qualifying suites, and the Town's page says the program runs until December 1, 2027 or until funds run out. A suite must meet zoning, including parking, to qualify. Check the page for the current status.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Courtenay · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Secondary Suites, Town of Comox (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Coach Houses, Town of Comox (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Home Suite Home, Town of Comox (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Building Bylaw No. 1472 (PDF, consolidated to January 15, 2025), Town of Comox (read 2026-11-06)
  6. Get a Building Permit, Town of Comox (read 2026-11-06)
  7. Building, Town of Comox (read 2026-11-06)
  8. Departmental Directory, Town of Comox (read 2026-11-06)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.