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

# Courtenay secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in Courtenay zones that list them. A secondary suite (inside the home) needs a building permit. A detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU, such as a garden suite or carriage house) is allowed, one per property, and also needs a building permit. Check your zone first.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Courtenay, https://www.courtenay.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit $150 + 1% of construction value, plus a $150 or 25% application fee (Building Bylaw 3114). Other fees depend on the project.  
**Where:**
- Email: Planning (zoning and development permits), planning@courtenay.ca
- Email: Building - Development Services, building@courtenay.ca
- Phone: Building - Development Services, 250-703-4862
- Online: Building permit application form, https://digitalsmartforms.ca/f/s/CourtenayBuildingPermitApplication
- Online: CourtenayMap (check your zone), https://gis.courtenay.ca/map/

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Yes, as accessory to a detached single dwelling or duplex, in zones that list it: R-SSMUH, R-1A, R-3, R-3A, R-3B, R-4, R-4A, R-4B, RM-1, MH-1, MU-1, C-1, A-1 and some CD zones. A suite is a separate dwelling unit inside the principal dwelling. No subdivision.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, section 6.18 (consolidated July 21, 2026, PDF), ss. 6.18.1(1), 8.1.11; definitions](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3203-consolidated-july-21-2026-1)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suite(s) and accessory dwelling unit(s)shall be permitted as accessory to a detached single residential dwelling or duplex dwelling on a lot, occupied or intended to be occupied as a single residence" … "“secondary suite” means a separate dwelling unit located within the principal dwelling." … "Townhouse, secondary suite, ADU" … "Single residential, secondary suite," … "no more than one (1) secondary suite or one (1) accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted as accessory to a single residential unit or duplex dwelling on a lot that is not connected to community water or sewer services." … "Secondary Suite, ADU" … "Secondary suite(s) and accessory dwelling unit(s)shall be permitted as accessory to a detached"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Yes: one accessory dwelling unit (ADU, such as a garden suite, carriage house or garage suite) per property, in zones that list it (for example R-SSMUH and R-1A). It must be detached, on a foundation and smaller than the main home; max height 6.5 m unless the zone says otherwise. It cannot be strata-titled or subdivided.
  - Source: [Accessory dwelling unit (ADU), Eligibility; units](https://www.courtenay.ca/adu)
  - Official wording: "Be detached from the primary home and on a foundation" … "Be smaller than the primary home" … "You cannot build more than one ADU" … "ADUs cannot be strata-titled or subdivided."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, section 6.18 (consolidated July 21, 2026, PDF), s. 6.18.1(3)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3203-consolidated-july-21-2026-1)
  - Official wording: "An accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 6.5 m in height, unless otherwise specified in the development regulations of a particular zone." … "Townhouse, secondary suite, ADU"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Minimum floor area: 30 m² studio, 45 m² one-bedroom, 65 m² two-bedroom, 85 m² three-bedroom. The City's suite checklist defines a suite as under 40% of the building's habitable floor space. At least 15 m² of private amenity space per suite or ADU. No owner-occupancy rule found. (Sources differ: Conflict on outdoor space: the ADU page says at least 20 m² for ADU residents; Zoning Bylaw s. 6.18.1(5) says 15 m². Bylaw followed. Searched the Zoning Bylaw for 'owner' near suite rules and found no owner-occupancy requirement for secondary suites or ADUs (it applies only to short-term rental).)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, section 6.18 (consolidated July 21, 2026, PDF), s. 6.18.1(2), (5)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3203-consolidated-july-21-2026-1)
  - Official wording: "30.0 m2 for a studio unit;" … "45.0 m2 for a one-bedroom unit:" … "65.0 m2 for a two-bedroom unit; and" … "85.0 m² for a three-bedroom unit." … "a minimum area of 15 m² of private amenity space shall be provided per dwelling unit unless otherwise specified in this Bylaw."
  - Source: [Requirements for Secondary Suites (checklist, PDF), Definition](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/secondary-suites)
  - Official wording: "having a floor space less than 40% of the habitable floor space of the building;"
  - Source: [Accessory dwelling unit (ADU), Other requirements](https://www.courtenay.ca/adu)
  - Official wording: "At least 20 m² of private outdoor space is required for ADU residents"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** Accessory dwelling unit: 1 space per dwelling unit. Single dwelling unit or duplex: 2 spaces per dwelling unit, or 1 per dwelling unit in R-SSMUH. The parking table has no separate line for secondary suites.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, section 6.18 (consolidated July 21, 2026, PDF), Division 7, parking table](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3203-consolidated-july-21-2026-1)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Dwelling Unit 1 space per dwelling unit" … "Single dwelling unit or duplex (Not" … "2 per dwelling unit" … "R-SSMUH 1 space per dwelling unit"
  - Source: [Accessory dwelling unit (ADU), Other requirements](https://www.courtenay.ca/adu)
  - Official wording: "Parking: At least one off-street parking space must be provided"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit is required for a secondary suite (approved before installation). An ADU also needs a building permit and, depending on location, a development permit (e.g. DPA-2 if it is the third or fourth unit, DPA-3 next to the ALR, DPA-4 environmentally sensitive areas, DPA-5 slopes of 20% or more), and a variance if zoning is not met.
  - Source: [Secondary suites, Building permit](https://www.courtenay.ca/secondary-suites)
  - Official wording: "Yes. A building permit application must be applied for and approved by a City of Courtenay Building Official for a secondary suite prior to installation."
  - Source: [Accessory dwelling unit (ADU), What permits will I need?](https://www.courtenay.ca/adu)
  - Official wording: "Required if the ADU will be the third or fourth housing unit on your property." … "Required if your property is next to Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) or other agricultural lands." … "Required if your property includes a slope equal to or greater than 20%." … "you must apply for a variance."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, 2026 and Building Bylaw No. 3114
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, section 6.18 (consolidated July 21, 2026, PDF), Part 18, s. 6.18.1](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3203-consolidated-july-21-2026-1)
  - Official wording: "Part 18 Secondary Suites and Accessory Dwelling Units"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), s. 1.1](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as “Building Bylaw No. 3114”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In [Zoning Bylaw No. 3203](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3203-consolidated-july-21-2026-1), a secondary suite is a separate dwelling unit inside a detached single dwelling or duplex, allowed in zones that list it (including R-SSMUH, R-1A, R-3, R-4, RM-1, MH-1, MU-1, C-1 and A-1, and some CD zones). A suite cannot be subdivided. A detached ADU must be on a foundation and smaller than the main home, and cannot be strata-titled or subdivided. A property may have one ADU plus one secondary suite.

## Steps

1. Check your zone on CourtenayMap and in the bylaw's permitted uses.
2. Ask Planning whether you also need a development permit or variance (for example, when an ADU does not meet zoning, or in some development permit areas).
3. Prepare drawings and submit the online building permit application. A suite needs approval before installation.
4. Book inspections once the permit is issued.

## Good to know

- Minimum floor area per unit: 30 m² studio, 45 m² one-bedroom, 65 m² two-bedroom, 85 m² three-bedroom. The City's checklist defines a suite as under 40% of the building's habitable floor space.
- Private outdoor space of at least 15 m² per suite or ADU under the bylaw. The ADU page says 20 m²; confirm with Planning.
- ADU height is 6.5 m maximum unless the zone says otherwise.
- Parking: 1 space per ADU; the parking table has no separate line for secondary suites.
- Do not rent an unauthorized suite until its building permit is finalized.
- The bylaw does not state an owner-occupancy rule for suites or ADUs.

## Official forms and pages

- [Secondary suite requirements checklist (PDF)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/secondary-suites)
- [Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) page](https://www.courtenay.ca/adu)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 (consolidated July 21, 2026, PDF)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3203-consolidated-july-21-2026-1)

## Related questions

- [Courtenay building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/building-permit.md)
- [Courtenay permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Courtenay zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Courtenay short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/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)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/secondary-suite.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/secondary-suite.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/secondary-suite.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/secondary-suite.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/secondary-suite.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Secondary suites, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/secondary-suites) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Accessory dwelling unit (ADU), City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/adu) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Requirements for Secondary Suites (checklist, PDF), City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/secondary-suites) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, section 6.18 (consolidated July 21, 2026, PDF), City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3203-consolidated-july-21-2026-1) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025) (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 Courtenay. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/secondary-suite/_