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

# Coquitlam secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Coquitlam, https://www.coquitlam.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: Building Permits, 604-927-3441
- Phone: Planning and Development, 604-927-3430
- Online: Submit an application (Coquitlam QFile), https://qfile.coquitlam.ca/filedrop/permit

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** 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. (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.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Parts 1 and 2 (definitions), s. 201 definitions](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1166)
  - Official wording: "may include secondary suite, carriage"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones, s. 1001-1002](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Secondary Suites FAQs, FAQ: Can my home contain a secondary suite](https://www.coquitlam.ca/Faq.aspx?TID=33)
  - Official wording: "A single family dwelling may not contain more than one secondary suite."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Parts 1 and 2 (definitions), s. 201 definitions](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1166)
  - Official wording: "house, garden cottage but excludes lock-off unit." … "that do not contain a principal dwelling unit and only contain an accessory dwelling unit"
  - Source: [Information for Building Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, Intro](https://www.coquitlam.ca/1038/Information-for-Building-Small-Scale-Mul)
  - Official wording: "single-detached houses, backyard suites, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and multiplexes"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones, s. 1001(9)](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174)
  - Official wording: "An accessory dwelling unit must be contained within a principal building for a single-"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones, s. 1002-1004](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 7 Off-Street Parking and Loading, s. 706(1)](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1172/Part-7-Off-Street-Parking-and-Loading-PDF--Regulations-for-vehicle-and-bicycle-parking-and-infrastructure)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** 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.
  - Source: [Secondary Suites FAQs, FAQ: Can my home contain a secondary suite](https://www.coquitlam.ca/Faq.aspx?TID=33)
  - Official wording: "All secondary suites require building permits to be legal."
  - Source: [Building & Construction](https://www.coquitlam.ca/478/Building-Construction)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential, Do I Need a Permit?](https://www.coquitlam.ca/504/Building-Projects---HomeownerResidential)
  - Official wording: "Accessory buildings, additions, new living space, secondary suites, coach houses."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 3000, 1996 (Part 10 and Part 7) and Building Bylaw No. 3598, 2003
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Parts 1 and 2 (definitions), s. 101](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1166)
  - Official wording: "City of Coquitlam Zoning Bylaw No. 3000, 1996"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3598 (consolidated September 2026), title page](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6392829)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 3598, 2003"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Coquitlam'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.

- R-1: up to four dwelling units per lot.
- R-2: up to four, or three on lots of 280 m² or less.
- R-3: two principal units plus two accessory units.
- RS-2: one accessory unit, which must be inside the single-detached house.
- R-4 requires at least three units per lot.

In 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.

## Steps

1. 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.
2. Prepare the application form, the Secondary Suite Permit Checklist, proof of ownership and drawings.
3. Submit through Coquitlam QFile or at the City Hall counter. A Development Permit may also be needed in a Development Permit Area.
4. Book inspections as work proceeds.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- Suites add a utility surcharge: 40% if authorized, 100% if unauthorized, per the FAQ.

## What you'll need

- 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

## Official forms and pages

- [Secondary Suites, City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/371/Secondary-Suites)
- [Secondary Suite FAQs](https://www.coquitlam.ca/Faq.aspx?TID=33)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 (PDF)](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174)

## Related questions

- [Coquitlam building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/building-permit.md)
- [Coquitlam zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Coquitlam short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/secondary-suite.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/secondary-suite.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/secondary-suite.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/secondary-suite.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/secondary-suite.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Secondary Suites FAQs, City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/Faq.aspx?TID=33) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Parts 1 and 2 (definitions) (PDF), City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1166) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones (PDF), City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 7 Off-Street Parking and Loading (PDF), City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1172/Part-7-Off-Street-Parking-and-Loading-PDF--Regulations-for-vehicle-and-bicycle-parking-and-infrastructure) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Information for Building Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/1038/Information-for-Building-Small-Scale-Mul) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building & Construction, City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/478/Building-Construction) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential, City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/504/Building-Projects---HomeownerResidential) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 3598 (consolidated September 2026), City of Coquitlam](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6392829) (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 Coquitlam. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/secondary-suite/_