Township of Langley secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Township of Langley, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In the Township of Langley (not the City of Langley) a secondary suite is allowed in single family, two family, semi-detached, townhouse and similar housing, up to 120 m², and needs a building permit. A coach house is allowed only in the second storey of a detached garage, in some zones. Check your zone.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowed	The Zoning Bylaw says a secondary suite may be in a single family, two family, semi-detached, manorhome, townhouse, rowhouse or small-scale multi-unit housing development. In R-1A, one single family dwelling plus one accessory dwelling unit where the dwelling has no secondary suite. In the ALR, ALC rules apply.Sources differ: The Township's Guide to Secondary Suites (last updated January 2025) says a suite is only permitted in a detached, fee simple, single-family dwelling and not in townhouses or row houses. The Zoning Bylaw definition, amended by Bylaw 6147 on 21/07/25, is wider. The bylaw is followed here. Which zones allow a suite depends on each zone's residential-use section.Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 102 ("Secondary Suite"); Guide to Secondary Suites, Guide, first page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A secondary suite may be located within a single family dwelling, two family dwelling, semi-detached dwelling, manorhome, townhouse, rowhouse or small-scale multi-unit housing development. On lands within the Agricultural Land Reserve a secondary suite must comply with the Provincial Agricultural Land Secondary suites are not permitted in a multi-family unit, townhouse, row house or manor house.
Coach house or garden suite allowed	A coach house is an accessory dwelling unit located only in the second storey of a detached garage. One accessory dwelling unit (a dwelling unit within an accessory building) is allowed beside a single family dwelling with no secondary suite in R-1A, R-1B to R-1E, R-CL and R-2; some SR zones also allow it.Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 102; Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 400 Residential Zones, s. 401.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording COACH HOUSE" means an accessory dwelling unit which is located only within the second storey of a detached garage on a lot. ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT" means a dwelling unit within an accessory building. one (1) single family dwelling, plus one (1) accessory dwelling unit where the 2) one (1) single family dwelling, plus one accessory dwelling unit where the single 3) one (1) single family dwelling, plus one (1) accessory dwelling unit where the
Limits	A secondary suite may not exceed 120 m² gross floor area. Each principal dwelling unit in a townhouse, rowhouse or semi-detached home may have up to one suite. An accessory home occupation is not permitted within a secondary suite.Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 102 ("Secondary Suite"); Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 104.3 a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording may not exceed a maximum gross floor area of 120m2. a) an accessory home occupation is not permitted within a secondary suite;
Parking	Townhouses, semi-detached dwellings and rowhouses: 2 spaces per principal dwelling unit plus 1 per secondary suite. Manorhomes: 1 per principal dwelling unit plus 1 per suite. Single family dwellings: 1 per dwelling unit, minimum 2 per lot; no separate rate is given for a suite there.Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 107 parking table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 1 space per secondary suite 1 space per dwelling unit, with a minimum total of 2 spaces per viii) manorhomes 1 space per principal dwelling vii) semi-detached dwellings 2 spaces per principal dwelling ix) rowhouses 2 spaces per principal dwelling ii) townhouses 2 spaces per principal dwelling
Permits	A building permit is required for all secondary suites. Applications are online. The Township also charges an Annual Secondary Suite Infrastructure Fee with property taxes ($145 in 2026 and after).Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page; Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page; Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007, No. 4616, Schedule 5 (Annual Secondary Suite Infrastructure Fee) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A building permit is required for all secondary suites all properties with secondary suites will be subject to an Annual Secondary Suite Infrastructure Fee collected with the annual property taxes. Suite Building Permit is issued after May $245 in 2025 1, in which case the Fee is payable in the $145 in 2026 calendar year subsequent to the calendar and thereafter
Bylaw	Township of Langley Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500 (s. 102 definitions, s. 107 parking); Langley Building Bylaw 2008 No. 4642; Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007 No. 4616Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 101.1; Langley Building Bylaw 2008, No. 4642, title; Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007, No. 4616, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Township of Langley Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500 LANGLEY BUILDING BYLAW 2008 NO. 4642 FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW 2007 NO. 4616

How it works

The Township of Langley (a separate municipality from the City of Langley) allows a secondary suite in a single family, two family, semi-detached, manorhome, townhouse, rowhouse or small-scale multi-unit housing development, under its Zoning Bylaw. Which zones allow a suite depends on each zone's residential-use section. In the R-1A zone, one single family dwelling plus one accessory dwelling unit is allowed where the dwelling has no secondary suite. On land in the Agricultural Land Reserve, Agricultural Land Commission rules apply.

A suite may not exceed 120 m² gross floor area. Each principal dwelling unit in a townhouse, rowhouse or semi-detached home may have up to one suite. An accessory home occupation is not permitted within a secondary suite. A coach house is an accessory dwelling unit located only in the second storey of a detached garage. One accessory dwelling unit beside a single family dwelling with no secondary suite is allowed in R-1A, R-1B to R-1E, R-CL and R-2, and some SR zones. The term "garden suite" does not appear in the bylaw.

Steps

Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and read its residential-use section.
Apply online for a building permit (see the building-permit answer). A building permit is required for all secondary suites.
Plan parking: townhouses, semi-detached dwellings and rowhouses need 2 spaces per principal dwelling unit plus 1 per secondary suite; manorhomes need 1 per principal dwelling unit plus 1 per suite. Single family dwellings need 1 per dwelling unit, minimum 2 per lot, with no separate rate stated for a suite. Confirm with Permits, Licences and Inspections (604-533-6018).

Good to know

The Township's Guide to Secondary Suites (last updated January 2025) says a suite is only permitted in a detached, fee simple, single-family dwelling and not in townhouses or row houses. The Zoning Bylaw, amended on 21/07/25, is wider and is followed here. Confirm with the Township.
The Township charges an Annual Secondary Suite Infrastructure Fee with property taxes: $145 in 2026 and after.
The fee schedule values a secondary suite conversion at $345 per m² and basement finish or secondary suite at $1,220 per m² for building permit fees.
We found no owner-occupancy requirement in the bylaw or on the Township's secondary suite page. A development permit is not mentioned for suites. Unauthorized suites can be reported to the Township.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Langley City · Surrey · White Rock · Maple Ridge · Port Coquitlam · Mission

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

Sources

Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 400 Residential Zones (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Guide to Secondary Suites (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Secondary Suites, Township of Langley (read 2026-11-06)
Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007, No. 4616 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Langley Building Bylaw 2008, No. 4642 (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.