---
title: Ladysmith secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a coach house in Ladysmith?"
place: Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/ladysmith
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Ladysmith
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Ladysmith secondary suite and carriage house rules

**Question:** Can I add a secondary suite or a coach house in Ladysmith?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Ladysmith, https://www.ladysmith.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: Development Services, 250-245-6415
- Email: Development Services, ds@ladysmith.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), ss. 4.1, 6.4, 10.1-10.5](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), ss. 4.1, 6.5](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "DWELLING, COACH HOUSE: means a self-contained Accessory Dwelling Unit located within a" … "Coach House Dwelling, subject to Part 6, Section 6.5."
  - Source: [Secondary Suite and Coach House](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/development-resources/secondary-suite-and-coach-house)
  - Official wording: "In Ladysmith, a coach house is a self contained accessory dwelling unit located within a detached accessory building."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), ss. 6.4, 6.5](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Building Information, Secondary Suites](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/building-permits/building-information)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** 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).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), ss. 8.2(1), Table 8.1](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** 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.
  - Source: [Building & Plumbing Bylaw 2024, No. 2174, Appendix A](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2174_building-and-plumbing-bylaw-2024404b94fa7dea659dad49ff0000e75dbc.pdf?sfvrsn=c2a1f1db_2)
  - Official wording: "(f) Unfinished Basement $60 (g) Secondary Suite $90 (f) Buildings for ancillary use greater than 10m2 $50"
  - Source: [Secondary Suite and Coach House](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/development-resources/secondary-suite-and-coach-house)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Official Community Plan 2023, Development Permit Areas, DPA introduction, s. 4(i)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/official-community-plan-2023_dpa.pdf?sfvrsn=217df7db_2)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (ss. 6.4 and 6.5) and Building & Plumbing Bylaw 2024, No. 2174.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), s. 1.1](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Schedule A - Zoning Bylaw Text of "Town of Ladysmith Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860"."
  - Source: [Building & Plumbing Bylaw 2024, No. 2174, title](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2174_building-and-plumbing-bylaw-2024404b94fa7dea659dad49ff0000e75dbc.pdf?sfvrsn=c2a1f1db_2)
  - Official wording: "Building & Plumbing Bylaw 2024, No. 2174"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [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.

## Limits

- 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, in the rear or side yard.
- Units per parcel vary by zone and parcel size (R-1 allows two to four). Count suites and coach houses against that.
- 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.

## Steps

1. Check your zone and parcel size with Development Services.
2. 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.
3. Apply for a building permit; the work must meet the BC Building Code.

## Good to know

- The zoning bylaw sets no owner-occupancy rule that we found.
- A Bed and Breakfast or short-term rental is barred on a parcel with a suite, per the Town's building page.
- 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.

## Related questions

- [Ladysmith building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/building-permit.md)
- [Ladysmith building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Ladysmith zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Ladysmith short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/short-term-rental.md)
- [Ladysmith home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/home-based-business.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/secondary-suite.md)
- [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/secondary-suite.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/secondary-suite.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/secondary-suite.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/secondary-suite.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building & Plumbing Bylaw 2024, No. 2174 (PDF), Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2174_building-and-plumbing-bylaw-2024404b94fa7dea659dad49ff0000e75dbc.pdf?sfvrsn=c2a1f1db_2) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Secondary Suite and Coach House, Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/development-resources/secondary-suite-and-coach-house) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Official Community Plan 2023, Development Permit Areas (PDF), Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/official-community-plan-2023_dpa.pdf?sfvrsn=217df7db_2) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Information, Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/building-permits/building-information) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Ladysmith. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/secondary-suite/_