GovHandbook

Esquimalt secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a garden suite in Esquimalt?

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

Short answer

In Esquimalt you can have one secondary suite inside a single-family home in zones that allow it, such as RS-1, on a parcel of at least 530 m². A detached suite (garden suite) is allowed only in RS-5, RS-6, RD-4 and CD No. 137.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedYes, one secondary suite inside a single-family dwelling in zones that expressly permit it (for example RS-1), and on a parcel of at least 530 m² that is developed solely for single-family use. Not in a multiple-family building. May be in a two-family dwelling where the bylaw specifically permits it.Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), s. 34(1)(c) RS-1; s. 11(3)(d); s. 30.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(c) Secondary Suite: subject to the requirements of Section 30.6
Where the parcel is at least 530.0 square metres in area, and is developed solely for Single Family Residential use, one Secondary Suite may be permitted in the Single Family Dwelling
A Secondary Suite may not be located within a Multiple Family Residential building but may be located within a Two-Family Dwelling building where specifically permitted by this bylaw.
Coach house or garden suite allowedYes, only where a zone expressly permits a detached accessory dwelling unit (garden suite): RS-5, RS-6, RD-4 and CD No. 137. Not in RS-1. The bylaw says it cannot be in front of the house's front face; the Township's DADU page says rear yard only.Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), s. 37.1(1)(f); s. 31 zone list; s. 30.7; Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADUs), DADU page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit: subject to the requirements of Section 30.7 of this bylaw.
Single Family DADU Residential RS-6
Two Family DADU Residential RD-4
Detached Accessory Dwelling Units, where expressly permitted, are subject to
be located in front of the front face of the Principal Building.
(b) Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit: subject to the requirements of
DADUs are only permitted in the rear yard.
LimitsSuite: one per single-family dwelling; at most 90 m² or 40% of the house's floor area, whichever is less; cannot be subdivided or stratified; no boarding on the parcel; not allowed on a parcel with a DADU (except in the RSM-1 and RSM-2 small-scale multi-family zones). DADU: one per parcel, at most 65 m² and 4.2 m high (or the house's height if lower), no basement, 20 m² private open space; the owner must live in the house or the DADU.Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), s. 30.6; s. 30.7; s. 37.1; Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADUs), DADU page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Secondary Suites are limited to a Floor Area not exceeding 90 square metres, or 40% of the total Floor Area of the Principal Building, whichever is less.
For a Parcel with a Secondary Suite, Boarding is not permitted.
A Secondary Suite may not be located on any Parcel with a Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit.
Only one Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be permitted on a Parcel.
The Floor Area of a Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit shall not exceed 65 square metres.
No Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit shall exceed a Height of 4.2 metres or the Height of the Principal Building, whichever is the lesser.
the registered owner of the lot must occupy either the Single Family Dwelling or the Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit as the owner’s Permanent Residence.
The owner of the property is required to live in either the DADU or the principal dwelling.
ParkingThe Parking Bylaw requires 1.0 space per suite (dwelling unit) in a single-family dwelling, and 1.0 per detached accessory dwelling unit, in addition to the house's own space. This applies both in and outside the frequent transit area; lots that qualify as small-scale multi-family housing have different rates.Parking Bylaw 2025, No. 3089, Table 1, s. 10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Suite within a Dwelling –
Detached Accessory Dwelling
1.0 per dwelling unit
TABLE 1. MINIMUM VEHICLE PARKING SUPPLY REQUIREMENTS
PermitsA suite may need a building permit (contact Development Services); the Building Regulation Bylaw applies to alterations including secondary suites. A DADU also needs a development permit (areas 1, 3, 7 and 8), with no exemptions.Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page; Building Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2899, s. 3.1; Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), s. 30.7(8) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
you may need to apply for a Building Permit
occupancy of existing buildings and structures including secondary suites.
Detached Accessory Dwellings Units are subject to Development Permit requirements under Development Permit Areas
therefore no exemptions apply for Detached Accessory Dwellings Units.
BylawZoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (ss. 30.6, 30.7 and zone sections); Building Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2899; Parking Bylaw 2025, No. 3089Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), Title; Building Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2899, Title; Parking Bylaw 2025, No. 3089, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
ZONING BYLAW, 1992, NO. 2050
BUILDING REGULATION BYLAW, 2017, NO. 2899
BYLAW NO. 3089 | PARKING BYLAW Page 2 agreement with a term equal to the life of the building or shorter term approved by a
2. DEFINITIONS (1) Words and phrases used in the Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No.2050, as amended from time to time, shall have the same meaning in this Bylaw.
1. CITATION (1) This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "Parking Bylaw, 2025, No. 3089". 2. DEFINITIONS

How it works

Esquimalt's Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 allows one secondary suite inside a single-family dwelling in zones that expressly permit it (for example RS-1; RS-2, RS-3, RS-5 and RS-6 also list it). The parcel must be at least 530 m² and developed solely for single-family use. A suite is not allowed in a multiple-family building, and may be in a two-family dwelling only where the bylaw says so.

A detached suite (detached accessory dwelling unit, DADU, or garden suite) is allowed only in RS-5, RS-6, RD-4 and CD No. 137, not RS-1. The bylaw says it cannot be in front of the house's front face; the Township's DADU page says rear yard only.

Steps

  1. Look up your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and check that it lists a secondary suite or DADU.
  2. Call Development Services at 250-414-7103 about permits and your lot.
  3. Apply for a building permit if needed (see the building-permit answer). A DADU also needs a development permit, with no exemptions.

Good to know

  • Suite limits: one per single-family dwelling; at most 90 m² or 40% of the house's floor area, whichever is less; it cannot be subdivided or stratified; no boarding on the parcel; not allowed on a parcel with a DADU (except in the RSM-1 and RSM-2 zones).
  • DADU limits: one per parcel, at most 65 m² and 4.2 m high (or the house's height if lower), no basement, 20 m² of private open space. The owner must live in the house or the DADU.
  • Parking Bylaw 2025, No. 3089 requires 1.0 space per suite and 1.0 per DADU, in addition to the house's own space. Small-scale multi-family lots have different rates.
  • The bylaw text read sets no owner-occupancy rule for an ordinary secondary suite.
  • A home occupation with more than one client at a time is not allowed in a suite or DADU.
  • An unlawful secondary suite is a bylaw notice of $400 ($350 if paid early, $450 if late).

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

View Royal · Victoria · Colwood · Saanich · Oak Bay · Langford

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), Township of Esquimalt (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Building Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2899 (PDF), Township of Esquimalt (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Parking Bylaw 2025, No. 3089 (PDF), Township of Esquimalt (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Secondary Suites, Township of Esquimalt (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADUs), Township of Esquimalt (read 2026-11-06)
  6. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2014, No. 2839 (PDF, consolidated), Township of Esquimalt (read 2026-11-06)
  7. Contacts, Township of Esquimalt (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.