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Langford secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Langford, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedA 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08, s. 3.08, 3.08.02(1); Planning and Zoning, Secondary suites · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
The property must be zoned for a single-family dwelling with a secondary suite and meet the minimum lot size requirement
Coach house or garden suite allowedGarden 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08, s. 3.08.03-3.08.05 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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)
LimitsOne 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08, s. 3.08.01 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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;
ParkingOne additional off-street parking space for the exclusive use of the suite's occupants, not in tandem with a space for the principal dwelling.Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08, s. 3.08.01(5) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
PermitsA 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.Building Permits, Permit applications; Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08, s. 3.08.01(4); Planning and Zoning, Types of permit applications · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Secondary Suites
Checklist For Application Submission
An Occupancy Permit has been issued for the secondary suite;
Carriage and Garden Suite Development Permits
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999, s. 3.08 (Suites); Building Bylaw No. 1160, 2008Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08, s. 3.08; Building Bylaw No. 1160, 2008 (Consolidated to June 1, 2026), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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.
Building Bylaw No. 1160, 2008 (Consolidated to June 1, 2026)

How it works

Zoning Bylaw 300, 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.

Garden 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.

Steps

  1. Confirm your zone and which suites it allows with Planning.
  2. 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.
  3. Apply for a building permit using the secondary suite checklist. Garden and carriage suites also have a Development Permit process on the Planning page.
  4. Provide one additional off-street parking space for the suite's occupants, not in tandem with a space for the main dwelling.
  5. Get an Occupancy Permit for the suite.

Good to know

  • 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.
  • The Planning page also says the property must be on municipal sewer (or have a future-connection covenant), so confirm with Planning.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Highlands · Colwood · View Royal · Esquimalt · Metchosin · Sooke

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.08 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Planning and Zoning, City of Langford (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Building Permits, City of Langford (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Building Bylaw No. 1160, 2008 (Consolidated to June 1, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)

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.