{"title":"Cumberland secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","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":"Village of Cumberland","url":"https://cumberland.ca"},"short_answer":"In the Village of Cumberland a secondary suite is allowed as a secondary use in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-RTMU and R-MU zones (not R-MHP) and some mixed-use and interchange zones. You need a building permit and one extra parking space. The zoning bylaw does not define a coach house.","aliases":["secondary suite cumberland bc","basement suite cumberland","carriage house cumberland","coach house cumberland"],"cost":"Building permit fees apply (see building-permit-fees). Amenity Cost Charges and Development Cost Charges may apply when a dwelling unit is added.","how_long":"The Village does not state a processing time.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Village Office","value":"2673 Dunsmuir Avenue, Cumberland, BC","note":"Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"250-336-2291"},{"type":"email","label":"Planner","value":"planning@cumberland.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, consolidated July 27, 2026 (PDF)","url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bylaw-1238-consolidated_27Jul2026_nav.pdf"},{"title":"Building and Plumbing Permits, Village of Cumberland","url":"https://cumberland.ca/building-permits/"},{"title":"Development Permits, Village of Cumberland","url":"https://cumberland.ca/development-permits/"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Cumberland building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Cumberland building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Cumberland zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Cumberland short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/powell-river","name":"Powell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/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":"Allowed as a secondary use in R-1, R-2, R-3, R-RTMU and R-MU (not R-MHP). Also allowed in the MU-2 and MU-3 mixed-use zones and in some Interchange zones; check the permitted-use table for the zone.","short":"Yes, in R-1, R-2, R-3, R-RTMU and R-MU","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bylaw-1238-consolidated_27Jul2026_nav.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026 (PDF)","section":"Table 10.2(1)","quotes":["Secondary Suite 6 S S S -- S S","Secondary Suite n/a S S"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"The Zoning Bylaw does not define a coach house or garden suite. It sets a 90.0 m² maximum floor area for each additional detached dwelling unit in the R-2 and R-3 zones (n/a in R-1); an R-1 lot may have up to 4 dwelling units, R-2 up to 3 and R-3 up to 2.","short":"Not named; detached units in R-2, R-3, max 90.0 m²","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bylaw-1238-consolidated_27Jul2026_nav.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026 (PDF)","section":"Table 10.5(1); Table 10.4(1)","quotes":["Maximum Floor Area of Each Additional Detached","Maximum No. of Dwelling Units 1 4 per lot 3 per lot 2 per lot"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"One secondary suite per principal dwelling unit. It must be incidental to and integrated with the principal dwelling, not connected to it through a breezeway, garage or similar unconditioned space, and have its own separate entrance. It cannot be strata-subdivided. Accessory buildings cannot contain a dwelling unit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bylaw-1238-consolidated_27Jul2026_nav.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.7; s. 6.1(3)","quotes":["A maximum of one secondary suite is permitted per principal dwelling unit.","have its own separate entrance.","No secondary suite can be subdivided from the principal dwelling unit under the Strata Property","No accessory building or structure can contain a dwelling unit or sleeping unit."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"1.0 space per secondary suite, in addition to the parking required for the principal dwelling unit.","short":"1.0 space per suite, plus the principal dwelling","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bylaw-1238-consolidated_27Jul2026_nav.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026 (PDF)","section":"Table 9.4.1(2) and condition 2","quotes":["Secondary suites 2","Parking requirements for secondary suites are in addition to the parking requirements for the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is required for a secondary suite. Adding a dwelling unit may trigger Amenity Cost Charges and Development Cost Charges. A development permit depends on the development permit areas that apply to the lot.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/building-permits/","title":"Building and Plumbing Permits, Village of Cumberland","section":"Building and Plumbing Permits page","quotes":["construction of an secondary suite","If you are adding a dwelling unit to your property ACC’s and DCC’s may apply."]},{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/development-permits/","title":"Development Permits, Village of Cumberland","section":"Is a Development Permit Needed?","quotes":["First determine if your property is within any of the DPAs."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (s. 6.7, Table 10.2(1)); Building Bylaw No. 949, 2012","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bylaw-1238-consolidated_27Jul2026_nav.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as “Village of Cumberland Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025”."]},{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bylaw-949-Building-Bylaw-CONS-Jan-17-2020.pdf","title":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bylaw-949-Building-Bylaw-CONS-Jan-17-2020.pdf","section":"Title page","quotes":["Cumberland Building Bylaw No. 949, 2012"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\n[Zoning Bylaw No. 1238](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bylaw-1238-consolidated_27Jul2026_nav.pdf) allows a secondary suite as a secondary use in R-1, R-2, R-3, R-RTMU and R-MU (not R-MHP), and also in the MU-2 and MU-3 mixed-use zones and some Interchange zones. Check the permitted-use table for your zone.\n\nRules for a suite: one secondary suite per principal dwelling unit; it must be incidental to and integrated with the principal dwelling, not connected to it through a breezeway, garage or similar unconditioned space, and have its own separate entrance; it cannot be strata-subdivided. Parking is 1.0 space per suite, in addition to what the principal dwelling needs.\n\nAccessory buildings cannot contain a dwelling unit. The bylaw does not define a coach house or garden suite. It sets a 90.0 m² maximum floor area for each additional detached dwelling unit in the R-2 and R-3 zones (not applicable in R-1). An R-1 lot may have up to 4 dwelling units, R-2 up to 3 and R-3 up to 2.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and check the use table.\n2. Ask the Planner (planning@cumberland.ca or 250-336-2291) whether a development permit area applies to your lot.\n3. Apply for a building permit; one is required for a secondary suite.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Adding a dwelling unit may trigger Amenity Cost Charges and Development Cost Charges.\n- The bylaw sets no suite size limit or owner-occupancy rule that we found; ask the Planner to confirm.\n- For a detached coach house or garden suite, ask the Planner what the bylaw allows.","sources":[{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bylaw-1238-consolidated_27Jul2026_nav.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/building-permits/","title":"Building and Plumbing Permits, Village of Cumberland","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/development-permits/","title":"Development Permits, Village of Cumberland","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bylaw-949-Building-Bylaw-CONS-Jan-17-2020.pdf","title":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bylaw-949-Building-Bylaw-CONS-Jan-17-2020.pdf","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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/cumberland/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/secondary-suite.json"}}