Highlands secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Highlands?

Highlands, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In most zones in the District of Highlands you may have one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) of 90 m² or less in addition to your main home, either inside it or in a separate building. The owner must live in the main home or the ADU, and a registered covenant is needed first.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowed	Yes, in most zones: one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per lot in addition to the main home, which can be inside the main home (secondary or basement suite). Only the CD2 zone allows up to 3; GB1A allows 4 principal dwelling units with one ADU each.Secondary Suites and Accessory Dwelling Units, Page text; Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998, s. 6.1.2(2) (RR1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording The Zoning Bylaw allows one ADU in addition to the principal dwelling unit per lot in most zones. It can either be within the main home such as a secondary suite or basement suite Only the CD2 (Rivers Crossing area) and the GB1A (one property on Millstream Lake Road) zones allow more than one ADU per lot. there may be no more than one (1) accessory dwelling unit on each lot if the property owner grants
Coach house or garden suite allowed	Yes, in the same zones: an ADU may be in a separate accessory building, such as above a garage or a garden suite. It counts as the one ADU allowed per lot, and must meet the zone's siting and setbacks.Secondary Suites and Accessory Dwelling Units, Page text · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording or it can be within a separate accessory building, such as above a garage or a garden suite. Siting and setbacks of the ADU must match the individual zone’s siting and setbacks depending on whether the ADU is in the principal house or in an accessory building.
Limits	90 m² or less. The owner must live in the main home or the ADU. The ADU cannot be used for a home-based business or be subdivided or strata-titled from the main home. One ADU per lot in most zones (CD2: up to 3).Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998, s. 3.11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording The total floor area of an accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 90m2. The property owner must have as their principal residence either the principal dwelling unit or the accessory dwelling unit. An accessory dwelling unit must not be used for a home-based business. An accessory dwelling unit must not be subdivided from the principal dwelling unit on the same lot.
Parking	One additional parking space is required for the ADU.Secondary Suites and Accessory Dwelling Units, Page text · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording One additional parking space is required for the ADU.
Permits	A building permit (with Building Code compliance and, before occupancy, an occupancy permit). A section 219 no-subdivision covenant must be registered on title before applying (not needed in CD2). A development permit (DPA 6 check sheet) may also be needed.Secondary Suites and Accessory Dwelling Units, Building Code and Required Documents; Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.6.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording all Building Code requirements must be met, and an Occupancy Permit is required for the ADU. Building Permit Application form and all required documents listed on it (Appendix A of Bylaw 192). prior to the building permit application. This covenant is not required for properties zoned CD2. Development Permit Area 6 Guideline Check Sheet An owner must obtain a certificate of occupancy, on the form attached as Appendix
Bylaw	Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998 (s. 3.11 and each zone's residential density section); Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998, Title page; Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, Part 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998 (consolidated) Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003

How it works

The District of Highlands calls a secondary suite, garden suite or carriage house an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). The Zoning Bylaw allows one ADU per lot, in addition to the main home, in most zones. It can be inside the main home (a secondary or basement suite) or in a separate accessory building, such as above a garage or a garden suite. Only the CD2 zone allows up to 3, and GB1A allows 4 principal dwelling units with one ADU each.

Section 3.11 of the Zoning Bylaw sets these limits: the ADU is 90 m² or less; the owner lives in the main home or the ADU; the ADU cannot be used for a home-based business; and it cannot be subdivided or strata-titled from the main home. One additional parking space is required for the ADU. A detached ADU must meet the zone's siting and setbacks, and a Development Variance Permit can be requested if the setbacks cannot be met.

Steps

Confirm your zone allows an ADU (see the District's page for the list).
Register a section 219 no-subdivision covenant on title before applying (not needed in CD2).
Gather the documents listed above and check whether a development permit (DPA 6) is needed.
Apply for a building permit, which requires Building Code compliance (see the building-permit answer).
Get the final inspection and an occupancy permit before anyone lives in the unit.

Good to know

A development permit may also be needed.
Whether the Zoning Bylaw allows renting the ADU short term is not stated; see the short-term-rental answer.
Ask the Building Official about fees; the posted fee schedule could not be read.

What you'll need

Registered section 219 no-subdivision covenant on title (not needed in the CD2 zone)
Development permit check sheet (DPA 6), if a development permit is needed
Sewage disposal filing and Health Authority approval of the water system for the ADU
Step Code energy report
Owner's Undertaking and Owner's Declaration

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Langford · View Royal · Central Saanich · Colwood · Esquimalt · Saanich

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

Sources

Secondary Suites and Accessory Dwelling Units, District of Highlands (read 2026-11-08)
Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)

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.