{"title":"Langford secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","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":"City of Langford","url":"https://www.langford.ca"},"short_answer":"Often yes, in Langford. Zoning Bylaw 300 allows a secondary suite inside a one-family dwelling, and garden or carriage suites where Part 6 allows them, with a building permit, an occupancy permit, an extra parking space, and the owner living on the property. Confirm your zone first.","aliases":["langford secondary suite rules","carriage house langford","garden suite langford","basement suite permit langford","legal suite langford"],"cost":null,"how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building Department","value":"250-474-6692"},{"type":"in_person","label":"City Hall","value":"2nd Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue, Langford, BC V9B 2X8"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Secondary suite application checklist (PDF)","url":"http://www.langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Checklist-Secondary-Suite.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 300, section 3.08 Suites (PDF, consolidated June 29, 2026)","url":"https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Zoning-Bylaw-20260629.pdf"},{"title":"Planning and Zoning page","url":"https://langford.ca/builders/planning-and-zoning/"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Langford building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/building-permit/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Langford permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Langford building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/building-permit-fees/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/metchosin","name":"Metchosin","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sooke","name":"Sooke","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/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":"A suite is permitted as an accessory use to a one-family dwelling, or another dwelling type specifically allowed in Part 6 of the Zoning Bylaw (check your zone). A secondary suite must be completely contained within the principal dwelling.","short":"Yes, as accessory to a one-family dwelling","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Zoning-Bylaw-20260629.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.08, 3.08.02(1)","quotes":["A suite is permitted as an accessory use to a one-family dwelling, or other type of dwelling unit as specifically","permitted in Part 6 of this Bylaw.","The secondary suite must be completely contained within the principal dwelling unit to which it"]},{"url":"https://langford.ca/builders/planning-and-zoning/","title":"Planning and Zoning, City of Langford","section":"Secondary suites","quotes":["The property must be zoned for a single-family dwelling with a secondary suite and meet the minimum lot size requirement"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Garden suites and carriage suites are allowed as accessory uses where Part 6 permits them, not on lots in the 'City Centre' designation, and only on lots at least 11 m wide and 29 m deep. Garden suites: lots over 400 m², up to 65 m², max 4.5 m high, behind the rear building line. Carriage suites: lots over 1,000 m² (smaller lots only where Part 6 allows), up to 90 m², max two storeys, ground floor for vehicle parking.","short":"Yes, where Part 6 permits; not in City Centre","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Zoning-Bylaw-20260629.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.08.03-3.08.05","quotes":["Garden suites and carriage suites are not permitted on lots within the “City Centre” designation","11 m (36.1 ft) and adepth greater than or equal to 29 m (95.1 ft)","Permitted only on lots over 400 m2 (5,305.6 ft2) unless otherwise noted in Part 6 of this Bylaw","The suite may not have a gross floor area of more than 65 m2 (700 ft2)","Permitted only on lots over 1,000 m2 (10,764 ft2) unless otherwise noted in Part 6 of this Bylaw;","The suite may not have a gross floor area of more than 90 m2 (969 ft2)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"One suite per lot unless Part 6 says otherwise. The owner must live in the principal dwelling or in the suite. The suite and house must be one real estate entity; strata titling is not permitted. An Occupancy Permit is required for the suite.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Zoning-Bylaw-20260629.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.08.01","quotes":["There may only be one suite per lot, unless otherwise permitted in Part 6 of this Bylaw;","The owner must occupy either the principal dwelling, or the suite that is accessory to the","Strata titling is not permitted.","An Occupancy Permit has been issued for the secondary suite;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"One additional off-street parking space for the exclusive use of the suite's occupants, not in tandem with a space for the principal dwelling.","short":"1 extra space, not in tandem","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Zoning-Bylaw-20260629.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.08.01(5)","quotes":["One additional off-street parking space shall be provided for the exclusive use of the occupancy","of a suite, and this space shall not be located in tandem with any parking space for the principal"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit (with the secondary suite checklist) and an Occupancy Permit. Garden and carriage suites also have a Development Permit process on the Planning page.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://langford.ca/builders/building-permits/","title":"Building Permits, City of Langford","section":"Permit applications","quotes":["Secondary Suites","Checklist For Application Submission"]},{"url":"https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Zoning-Bylaw-20260629.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.08.01(4)","quotes":["An Occupancy Permit has been issued for the secondary suite;"]},{"url":"https://langford.ca/builders/planning-and-zoning/","title":"Planning and Zoning, City of Langford","section":"Types of permit applications","quotes":["Carriage and Garden Suite Development Permits"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999, s. 3.08 (Suites); Building Bylaw No. 1160, 2008","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Zoning-Bylaw-20260629.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.08","quotes":["lot line or exterior side lot line may be reduced to 3 m. (Bylaw No. 2213) 3.08 Suites A suite is permitted as an accessory use to a one-family dwelling, or other type of dwelling unit as specifically","3. Citation This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as \"Langford Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999\". READ A FIRST TIME this 18th day of January, 1999."]},{"url":"https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1160-Building-Bylaw-2008-Consolidated-to-20260601-1.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1160, 2008 (Consolidated to June 1, 2026) (PDF)","section":"title","quotes":["Building Bylaw No. 1160, 2008 (Consolidated to June 1, 2026)"]}],"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\n[Zoning Bylaw 300](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Zoning-Bylaw-20260629.pdf), section 3.08, allows a suite as an accessory use to a one-family dwelling, or to another dwelling type that Part 6 specifically allows. Check your zone. A secondary suite must be completely contained within the principal dwelling.\n\nGarden suites and carriage suites are allowed as accessory uses where Part 6 permits them. They are not allowed on lots in the \"City Centre\" designation, and only on lots at least 11 m wide and 29 m deep.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone and which suites it allows with Planning.\n2. Check the limits. Garden suite: lot over 400 m², up to 65 m², maximum 4.5 m high, behind the rear building line. Carriage suite: lot over 1,000 m² (smaller lots only where Part 6 allows), up to 90 m², maximum two storeys, ground floor for vehicle parking.\n3. Apply for a building permit using the secondary suite checklist. Garden and carriage suites also have a Development Permit process on the Planning page.\n4. Provide one additional off-street parking space for the suite's occupants, not in tandem with a space for the main dwelling.\n5. Get an Occupancy Permit for the suite.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- One suite per lot unless Part 6 says otherwise.\n- The owner must live in the principal dwelling or in the suite.\n- The suite and house must be one real estate entity; strata titling is not permitted.\n- The Planning page also says the property must be on municipal sewer (or have a future-connection covenant), so confirm with Planning.","sources":[{"url":"https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Zoning-Bylaw-20260629.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://langford.ca/builders/planning-and-zoning/","title":"Planning and Zoning, City of Langford","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://langford.ca/builders/building-permits/","title":"Building Permits, City of Langford","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1160-Building-Bylaw-2008-Consolidated-to-20260601-1.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1160, 2008 (Consolidated to June 1, 2026) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/langford/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/secondary-suite.json"}}