{"title":"Ladysmith secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a coach house in Ladysmith?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","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":"Town of Ladysmith","url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes, in Ladysmith a secondary suite or a coach house is allowed as an accessory use in the zones that list it, including RU-1, R-1, R-1-A, R-2 and R-2-B. You need a building permit. A coach house needs a development permit first only in Development Permit Area 10 on parcels under 0.4 ha.","aliases":["secondary suite ladysmith","coach house ladysmith","basement suite ladysmith","garden suite ladysmith"],"cost":"See the building-permit-fees answer. A secondary suite is valued at $90 per sq. ft. for the permit fee.","how_long":"The Town does not state a processing time.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Development Services","value":"250-245-6415"},{"type":"email","label":"Development Services","value":"ds@ladysmith.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Ladysmith building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Ladysmith building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Ladysmith zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Ladysmith short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/short-term-rental/"},{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Ladysmith home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/home-based-business/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/north-cowichan","name":"North Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/duncan","name":"Duncan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-cowichan","name":"Lake Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/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 an accessory use inside a single unit dwelling, two unit dwelling, townhouse or coach house, in zones that list it, including RU-1, R-1, R-1-A, R-2 and R-2-B. Not every zone allows it: check your zone's accessory uses.","short":"Yes, in zones that list it (RU-1, R-1, R-2 etc.)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), Town of Ladysmith","section":"ss. 4.1, 6.4, 10.1-10.5","quotes":["DWELLING, SECONDARY SUITE: means a self-contained Accessory Dwelling Unit","located within a Single Unit Dwelling, Townhouse Dwelling, Two Unit Dwelling, or","Secondary Suite, subject to Part 6, Section 6.4.","Despite Part 6, Section 6.4, a Secondary Suite is not permitted."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"A coach house (a self-contained dwelling in a detached building) is allowed as an accessory use in zones that list it, including RU-1, R-1, R-1-A, R-2 and R-2-B, subject to the conditions in s. 6.5.","short":"Yes, coach house in zones that list it","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), Town of Ladysmith","section":"ss. 4.1, 6.5","quotes":["DWELLING, COACH HOUSE: means a self-contained Accessory Dwelling Unit located within a","Coach House Dwelling, subject to Part 6, Section 6.5."]},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/development-resources/secondary-suite-and-coach-house","title":"Secondary Suite and Coach House, Town of Ladysmith","section":"Coach House","quotes":["In Ladysmith, a coach house is a self contained accessory dwelling unit located within a detached accessory building."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Suite in a single unit dwelling: no maximum area. In a two unit dwelling or townhouse: 90 m² or 40%, whichever is less. Coach house: 75 m² (150 m² with a suite), 8 m or 5.0 m high, rear or side yard. R-1 caps units per parcel at two to four. No owner-occupancy rule found.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), Town of Ladysmith","section":"ss. 6.4, 6.5","quotes":["Secondary Suites in Townhouse Dwellings and Two Unit Dwellings shall not","exceed a floor area of 90 square metres or 40% of the Townhouse Dwelling","Shall not exceed a Gross Floor Area of 75 square metres unless the Coach","House includes a Secondary Suite in which case the Gross Floor Area shall","8 metres for a two Storey Coach House Dwelling; or","Shall be located in the Rear Yard or a Side Yard.","The maximum number of Dwelling Units permitted per Parcel is as shown in"]},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/building-permits/building-information","title":"Building Information, Town of Ladysmith","section":"Secondary Suites","quotes":["There is no maximum GFA for a secondary suite in a single-family dwelling.","A Short-Term Rental or Bed and Breakfast is prohibited on a parcel where a Secondary Suite is located."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"Table 8.1 requires 1 off-street parking space per dwelling unit. The bylaw does not name secondary suites in the table. Parking for suites may be in tandem (one space behind the other).","short":"1 space per dwelling unit; tandem allowed","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), Town of Ladysmith","section":"ss. 8.2(1), Table 8.1","quotes":["Dwelling Unit 1 per Dwelling Unit","Parking spaces for Single Unit Dwellings, Secondary Suites, Coach House","Dwellings and Home Based Business may be arranged in tandem such that one"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is needed to build a suite, and the work must meet the BC Building Code. A coach house needs a development permit first only in Development Permit Area 10 (OCP map) on a parcel under 0.4 ha; the Town's page says any coach house does. The building permit follows.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2174_building-and-plumbing-bylaw-2024404b94fa7dea659dad49ff0000e75dbc.pdf?sfvrsn=c2a1f1db_2","title":"Building & Plumbing Bylaw 2024, No. 2174 (PDF), Town of Ladysmith","section":"Appendix A","quotes":["(f) Unfinished Basement $60 (g) Secondary Suite $90 (f) Buildings for ancillary use greater than 10m2 $50"]},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/development-resources/secondary-suite-and-coach-house","title":"Secondary Suite and Coach House, Town of Ladysmith","section":"Coach House","quotes":["A Coach House Development Permit is needed prior to either constructing a new coach house or converting an existing accessory building into a coach house."]},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/official-community-plan-2023_dpa.pdf?sfvrsn=217df7db_2","title":"Official Community Plan 2023, Development Permit Areas (PDF), Town of Ladysmith","section":"DPA introduction, s. 4(i)","quotes":["construction of a coach house building on parcels 0.4 hectares in","on land designated as Development Area 10 (DPA 10) on Official","constructed on parcels less than 0.4 hectares in size.","Prior to construction of a coach house building, an owner of property"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (ss. 6.4 and 6.5) and Building & Plumbing Bylaw 2024, No. 2174.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), Town of Ladysmith","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["Schedule A - Zoning Bylaw Text of \"Town of Ladysmith Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860\"."]},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2174_building-and-plumbing-bylaw-2024404b94fa7dea659dad49ff0000e75dbc.pdf?sfvrsn=c2a1f1db_2","title":"Building & Plumbing Bylaw 2024, No. 2174 (PDF), Town of Ladysmith","section":"title","quotes":["Building & Plumbing Bylaw 2024, No. 2174"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf) (sections 6.4 and 6.5) allows a secondary suite inside a single unit dwelling, two unit dwelling, townhouse or coach house, and a coach house (a self-contained dwelling in a detached building), as accessory uses in zones that list them, including RU-1, R-1, R-1-A, R-2 and R-2-B. Not every zone allows them, so check your zone's accessory uses. In the C-2 zone only suites lawfully built before December 19, 2023 are allowed.\n\n## Limits\n\n- Suite in a single unit dwelling: no maximum area. In a two unit dwelling or townhouse: 90 m² or 40%, whichever is less.\n- Coach house: 75 m² (150 m² with a suite), 8 m or 5.0 m high, in the rear or side yard.\n- Units per parcel vary by zone and parcel size (R-1 allows two to four). Count suites and coach houses against that.\n- Parking: Table 8.1 requires 1 off-street space per dwelling unit but does not name suites; tandem parking is allowed for suites. Confirm with Development Services.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone and parcel size with Development Services.\n2. For a coach house, confirm whether your parcel is in Development Permit Area 10 (OCP map) and under 0.4 ha; if so, get a development permit first.\n3. Apply for a building permit; the work must meet the BC Building Code.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The zoning bylaw sets no owner-occupancy rule that we found.\n- A Bed and Breakfast or short-term rental is barred on a parcel with a suite, per the Town's building page.\n- The Town's page differs from the bylaw on which zones allow coach houses and on development permits; the bylaw governs, so confirm with Development Services.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), Town of Ladysmith","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2174_building-and-plumbing-bylaw-2024404b94fa7dea659dad49ff0000e75dbc.pdf?sfvrsn=c2a1f1db_2","title":"Building & Plumbing Bylaw 2024, No. 2174 (PDF), Town of Ladysmith","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/development-resources/secondary-suite-and-coach-house","title":"Secondary Suite and Coach House, Town of Ladysmith","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/official-community-plan-2023_dpa.pdf?sfvrsn=217df7db_2","title":"Official Community Plan 2023, Development Permit Areas (PDF), Town of Ladysmith","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/building-permits/building-information","title":"Building Information, Town of Ladysmith","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/ladysmith/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/secondary-suite.json"}}