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Lake Cowichan secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a garden suite in Lake Cowichan?

Lake Cowichan, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

Yes, in Lake Cowichan a secondary suite is allowed in a single detached house in zones R-1 to R-6, and a garden suite or coach house in R-1 to R-3. Only one accessory dwelling per lot. A building permit is needed.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedIn a single detached dwelling: zones R-1 to R-6 (R-6 only in a basement or walk-out garden level). In a duplex: R-2 only on a lot of at least 780 m²; R-3 to R-5 only on a corner lot, a lot with a tandem-parking garage, or a lot of at least 780 m². R-7: within an existing non-conforming single detached dwelling, or on a duplex lot meeting the same corner, tandem or 780 m² test.Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021, consolidated February 24, 2026, Part V, s. 5.1.3 (accessory uses, R-2 to R-6) and R-7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A secondary suite is permitted on a lot with a single detached dwelling.
A secondary suite is permitted on a lot with a duplex, provided it is a lot of a minimum 780 square metres.
provided it is a corner lot, or has a garage with tandem parking, or lot of a minimum 780 square metres.
The secondary suite is in a basement or in a walk out garden level.
Secondary suite within an existing non-conforming single detached dwelling
self-contained living quarters, including cooking equipment and a bathroom, located within the structure of a single-unit dwelling, and with its own separate entrance;
has a garage with tandem parking or is on a lot of a minimum of 780 square metres.
Coach house or garden suite allowedGarden suite or coach house: zones R-1, R-2 and R-3, on a lot with a single detached dwelling. Prohibited on lots without municipal sewer and water, and on duplex lots. One accessory dwelling per lot.Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021, consolidated February 24, 2026, Part V, s. 5.1.3 b. · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
One of three types of accessory dwelling unit is permitted on a lot with a single detached dwelling: a secondary suite, a garden suite, or a coach house.
a garden suite or coach house is prohibited on lots without municipal sewer and water service.
a coach house or garden suite is prohibited.
In all low and medium density residential zone districts one accessory dwelling unit is permitted on a lot.
ACCESSORY DWELLING – COACH HOUSE means a self-contained dwelling unit, forming the second story of a detached accessory building;
LimitsOne accessory dwelling unit per lot. Secondary suite: at most 40% of the principal dwelling's floor area or 85 m² (whichever is less), at least 30 m², 2 bedrooms maximum, separate entrance. Garden suite and coach house: at most 40% or 60 m² (whichever is less), at least 30 m², 2 bedrooms maximum. No owner-occupancy rule found. Garden suite goes in the rear yard (lakeside or riverside lots may use front or side yard).Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021, consolidated February 24, 2026, Part V, ss. 5.1.8 to 5.1.10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Maximum size is 40% of gross floor area of principal dwelling, or 85 square metres, whichever is less.
Maximum size is 40% of gross floor area of principal dwelling, or 60 square metres, whichever is less.
Minimum size is 30 square metres.
Maximum number of bedrooms is 2 (two).
A Garden suite shall be located in the rear yard of the principal dwelling, except in
Entrance shall be a separate independent entrance form the principal dwelling
In all low and medium density residential zone districts one accessory dwelling unit is permitted on a lot.
Parking1 space per secondary suite, in addition to the 2 per single dwelling. On a duplex lot that is not a corner lot or is not larger than 780 m², tandem parking is required when a suite is present. In R-6, one required space must be in a garage.Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021, consolidated February 24, 2026, Schedule B, Off-Street Parking · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Dwelling unit, secondary suite 1 per unit,
tandem parking for a duplex in the event a
secondary suite is present for lots that are not on a corner,
or not greater than 780 square metres.
Single dwelling unit, including mobile & 2 per unit
One of the required off street vehicle spaces is a garage.
PermitsA building permit is needed to build a suite. The fee schedule values a suite in a principal residence at $100 per ft². The zoning bylaw states no development permit requirement for suites.Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022, s. 9(1); Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A person must apply for, and obtain, a building permit before constructing, altering, or
Suite in a principal residence 100.00
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (Part V and Schedule B); Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021, consolidated February 24, 2026, Title page; Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
ZONING BYLAW NO. 1055-2021
Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022

How it works

The Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot in zones R-1 to R-6.

  • Single detached dwelling: a secondary suite in R-1 to R-6 (in R-6 only in a basement or walk-out garden level). In R-7, only within an existing non-conforming single detached dwelling.
  • Duplex: R-2 only on a lot of at least 780 m². In R-3 to R-5, only on a corner lot, a lot with a tandem-parking garage, or a lot of at least 780 m². R-7 follows the same corner, tandem or 780 m² test.
  • Garden suite or coach house: R-1, R-2 and R-3, on a lot with a single detached dwelling. Not allowed on lots without municipal sewer and water, or on duplex lots. R-4 to R-6 allow only a secondary suite.

Steps

  1. Check your zone and lot size in the Zoning Bylaw, or ask the Town.
  2. Apply for a building permit under the Building Bylaw.
  3. If your lot is near a watercourse or in another Official Community Plan development permit area, ask the Town whether you also need a development permit.

Good to know

  • Secondary suite: at most 40% of the principal dwelling's floor area or 85 m², whichever is less; at least 30 m²; no more than 2 bedrooms; separate entrance.
  • Garden suite or coach house: at most 40% or 60 m², whichever is less; at least 30 m²; no more than 2 bedrooms. A garden suite is a single-storey building in the rear yard (lakeside or riverside lots may use the front or side yard).
  • Parking: 1 space per secondary suite in addition to the 2 for the house. On a duplex lot that is not a corner lot or is not larger than 780 m², tandem parking is required. In R-6, one required space must be in a garage. Schedule B lists no parking line for garden suites or coach houses.
  • R-6 limits lot coverage to 50% with a suite.
  • The bylaw has no owner-occupancy rule that we found.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Ladysmith · Duncan · North Cowichan · Nanaimo · Lantzville · North Saanich

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021, consolidated February 24, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022 (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.