{"title":"Coquitlam secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/coquitlam","name":"Coquitlam","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":"City of Coquitlam","url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes, in many zones. Coquitlam's Zoning Bylaw treats a secondary suite, carriage house or garden cottage as an accessory dwelling unit, counted toward the zone's limit on units per lot (R-1 up to four; RS-2 one, inside the house). A suite needs a building permit. Call Building Permits at 604-927-3441.","aliases":["legal basement suite coquitlam","secondary suite permit coquitlam","coach house coquitlam","carriage house coquitlam","backyard suite coquitlam","basement suite coquitlam"],"cost":null,"how_long":"The City says the average time to first review of a minor residential application is typically 15 to 20 business days, depending on volumes.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building Permits","value":"604-927-3441"},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning and Development","value":"604-927-3430"},{"type":"online","label":"Submit an application (Coquitlam QFile)","value":"https://qfile.coquitlam.ca/filedrop/permit"}],"documents":["Permit Application Form and the Secondary Suite Permit Checklist","Proof of ownership, or an Agent Authorization Form if you are not the owner","Drawings per the City's secondary suite drawing requirements"],"forms":[{"title":"Secondary Suites, City of Coquitlam","url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/371/Secondary-Suites"},{"title":"Secondary Suite FAQs","url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/Faq.aspx?TID=33"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 (PDF)","url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Coquitlam building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Coquitlam zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Coquitlam short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/anmore","name":"Anmore","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/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":"Yes. A secondary suite is an 'accessory dwelling unit' and counts as a dwelling unit toward the zone's limit: R-1 and R-2 up to four per lot (R-2 three on lots 280 m² or less); R-3 two principal plus two accessory; RS-2 one accessory unit, inside the single-detached house.","short":"Yes, counts toward zone's dwelling unit limit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1166","title":"Zoning Bylaw 3000, Parts 1 and 2 (definitions) (PDF), City of Coquitlam","section":"s. 201 definitions","quotes":["may include secondary suite, carriage"]},{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174","title":"Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones (PDF), City of Coquitlam","section":"s. 1001-1002","quotes":["A maximum of four dwelling units are permitted on a lot.","(b) A maximum of one accessory dwelling unit is permitted on a lot.","An accessory dwelling unit must be contained within a principal building for a single-","A maximum of two principal dwelling units and two accessory dwelling units are"]},{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/Faq.aspx?TID=33","title":"Secondary Suites FAQs, City of Coquitlam","section":"FAQ: Can my home contain a secondary suite","quotes":["A single family dwelling may not contain more than one secondary suite."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The City's Secondary Suites FAQ (older wording) says a suite may only be in a single family dwelling and only one per dwelling; the current Zoning Bylaw counts accessory dwelling units within the zone's unit limit. Zoning Bylaw followed. Zones other than RS-2 and R-1 to R-4 were not checked."},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Yes in the R zones: an accessory dwelling unit may be a carriage house or garden cottage, and a building holding only an accessory unit counts as a principal building. In RS-2 the accessory unit must be inside the house.","short":"Yes, in R zones; RS-2 inside house only","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1166","title":"Zoning Bylaw 3000, Parts 1 and 2 (definitions) (PDF), City of Coquitlam","section":"s. 201 definitions","quotes":["house, garden cottage but excludes lock-off unit.","that do not contain a principal dwelling unit and only contain an accessory dwelling unit"]},{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/1038/Information-for-Building-Small-Scale-Mul","title":"Information for Building Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, City of Coquitlam","section":"Intro","quotes":["single-detached houses, backyard suites, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and multiplexes"]},{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174","title":"Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones (PDF), City of Coquitlam","section":"s. 1001(9)","quotes":["An accessory dwelling unit must be contained within a principal building for a single-"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Dwelling units per lot: R-1 four (floor area ratio 0.65 for one or two units); R-2 four, or three on lots of 280 m² or less; R-3 two principal plus two accessory; RS-2 one accessory unit. No owner-occupancy rule found.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174","title":"Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones (PDF), City of Coquitlam","section":"s. 1002-1004","quotes":["A maximum of four dwelling units are permitted on a lot.","One or Two 0.65","maximum of three dwelling units are permitted on the lot.","A maximum of two principal dwelling units and two accessory dwelling units are","(b) A maximum of one accessory dwelling unit is permitted on a lot."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"Small-scale residential: 1 space per dwelling unit under 79 m², 1.5 spaces for 79 to 158 m², 2 spaces over 158 m². In RS-2, A-3 and legacy zones: 1 space per accessory dwelling unit. No residential parking is required in Transit-Oriented Areas.","short":"1 space per accessory unit (RS-2, A-3)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1172/Part-7-Off-Street-Parking-and-Loading-PDF--Regulations-for-vehicle-and-bicycle-parking-and-infrastructure","title":"Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 7 Off-Street Parking and Loading (PDF), City of Coquitlam","section":"s. 706(1)","quotes":["1 space per dwelling unit that measures","1.5 spaces per dwelling unit that","1 space per accessory dwelling unit","Despite Sub-section 706(1)(a), off-street parking spaces are not required for the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is required for a secondary suite or coach house. A Development Permit may also be needed if the property is in a Development Permit Area; contact Planning and Development at 604-927-3430.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/Faq.aspx?TID=33","title":"Secondary Suites FAQs, City of Coquitlam","section":"FAQ: Can my home contain a secondary suite","quotes":["All secondary suites require building permits to be legal."]},{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/478/Building-Construction","title":"Building & Construction, City of Coquitlam","section":"Building & Construction","quotes":["check if the property is within a Development Permit Area to determine if your type of construction requires a Development Permit.","Contact the Planning and Development Department at 604-927-3430"]},{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/504/Building-Projects---HomeownerResidential","title":"Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential, City of Coquitlam","section":"Do I Need a Permit?","quotes":["Accessory buildings, additions, new living space, secondary suites, coach houses."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 3000, 1996 (Part 10 and Part 7) and Building Bylaw No. 3598, 2003","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1166","title":"Zoning Bylaw 3000, Parts 1 and 2 (definitions) (PDF), City of Coquitlam","section":"s. 101","quotes":["City of Coquitlam Zoning Bylaw No. 3000, 1996"]},{"url":"https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6392829","title":"Building Bylaw No. 3598 (consolidated September 2026), City of Coquitlam","section":"title page","quotes":["BUILDING BYLAW NO. 3598, 2003"]}],"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\nCoquitlam's [Zoning Bylaw 3000](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174) calls a secondary suite, carriage house or garden cottage an \"accessory dwelling unit\". It counts as a dwelling unit toward the zone's limit per lot, so what you can add depends on your zone.\n\n- R-1: up to four dwelling units per lot.\n- R-2: up to four, or three on lots of 280 m² or less.\n- R-3: two principal units plus two accessory units.\n- RS-2: one accessory unit, which must be inside the single-detached house.\n- R-4 requires at least three units per lot.\n\nIn the R zones a detached carriage house or garden cottage is allowed, and a building holding only an accessory unit counts as a principal building. No owner-occupancy rule was found.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Look up your zone on QtheMap, or call Planning and Development at 604-927-3430. Zones other than RS-2 and R-1 to R-4 were not checked.\n2. Prepare the application form, the Secondary Suite Permit Checklist, proof of ownership and drawings.\n3. Submit through Coquitlam QFile or at the City Hall counter. A Development Permit may also be needed in a Development Permit Area.\n4. Book inspections as work proceeds.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Parking (Zoning Bylaw Part 7, small-scale residential): 1 space per dwelling unit under 79 m², 1.5 for 79 to 158 m², 2 over 158 m². In RS-2, A-3 and legacy zones: 1 space per accessory unit. None is required in Transit-Oriented Areas.\n- The City's older suite FAQ says a suite is only allowed in a single family dwelling, one per dwelling, with one parking space. The current Zoning Bylaw is followed here; confirm with the City.\n- Suites add a utility surcharge: 40% if authorized, 100% if unauthorized, per the FAQ.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/Faq.aspx?TID=33","title":"Secondary Suites FAQs, City of Coquitlam","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1166","title":"Zoning Bylaw 3000, Parts 1 and 2 (definitions) (PDF), City of Coquitlam","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174","title":"Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones (PDF), City of Coquitlam","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1172/Part-7-Off-Street-Parking-and-Loading-PDF--Regulations-for-vehicle-and-bicycle-parking-and-infrastructure","title":"Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 7 Off-Street Parking and Loading (PDF), City of Coquitlam","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/1038/Information-for-Building-Small-Scale-Mul","title":"Information for Building Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, City of Coquitlam","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/478/Building-Construction","title":"Building & Construction, City of Coquitlam","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.coquitlam.ca/504/Building-Projects---HomeownerResidential","title":"Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential, City of Coquitlam","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6392829","title":"Building Bylaw No. 3598 (consolidated September 2026), City of Coquitlam","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/coquitlam/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/secondary-suite.json"}}