Mackenzie secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Mackenzie, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Mackenzie, attached suites (such as a basement suite) are allowed in the A1, A2, RR1, RR2, R1 and R2 zones, on a parcel with a single-detached dwelling, one suite per parcel. Detached suites (garden or garage suites) are allowed in the same zones with limits. A building permit and a business licence are required.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowed	Attached suites (such as a basement suite) are allowed as an accessory use in the A1, A2, RR1, RR2 and R1 zones, and in R2, only on a parcel with a single-detached dwelling. They are not listed in R3, RM or commercial zones. One suite per parcel.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Suites (Section 4); Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, A1, A2, RR1, RR2, R1 and R2 use lists; Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, R2 other regulations · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Suites shall be considered an accessory use to a single-detached dwelling and are only permitted on parcels containing a single-detached dwelling. Only one suite per parcel is permitted in zones that permit suites as an accessory use. iv. Suite, attached v. Suite, detached vi. Suite, attached vii. Suite, detached xi. Suite, attached xii. Suite, detached x. Suite, attached xi. Suite, detached vii. Suite, attached viii. Suite, detached containing a single-detached dwelling
Coach house or garden suite allowed	Detached suites (garden or garage suites) are allowed in the A1, A2, RR1, RR2, R1 and R2 zones. In R1 and R2 only garden suites; in R1, none above a detached garage. Must be in the rear yard, with an exception for a suite on top of an existing detached garage.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, R1 and R2 other regulations; Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Detached Suites (Section 4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Detached suites in the R1 zone must be garden suites. Detached suites above a detached garage are not permitted. Attached suites and detached suites in the form of garden suites are only permitted on parcels Shall be located in the rear yard, with the exception of a suite on top of an existing detached garage
Limits	One suite per parcel. Attached suite: at least 40 m², at most 90 m² or 40% of the house's gross floor area, with its own entrance. Detached suite: up to 60 m², no basement, 5.0 m high (6.6 m if on a second storey). Not allowed on a parcel with a B&B or home occupation. Rentals must exceed one month.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Suites, Attached Suites, Detached Suites (Section 4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Be a minimum of 40 metres² in size and not exceed 90 metres² or 40% of the gross floor Shall not exceed a gross floor area of 60 metres² Basements are prohibited in detached suites Suites may only be rented for periods longer than one month in duration. Suites are not permitted on parcels that contain the following accessory uses:
Parking	One off-street parking space on the parcel, in addition to the spaces required for the single-detached dwelling.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Suites item 5 (Section 4); Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Table 3 (Section 5) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording One off-street parking space must be provided on-site for a parcel that contains a suite 1 space per dwelling unit in addition to principal
Permits	The suite must be registered with the District and hold an annual business licence, and must meet the BC Building Code and pass the District's building inspection. A building permit is needed before construction. The District says a valid development permit is needed before applying for a building permit for a building or structure.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Suites items 1 and 6 (Section 4); Building Bylaw No. 1066, 2000, s. 9.1.1; Building Permits, Development Permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording All suites must be must be registered with the District of Mackenzie and receive an annual Business Licence. must meet the BC Building Code requirements and pass inspection from the any new construction, repair, reconstruction You are required to have a valid development permit before you can apply for a building permit to construct a building or structure
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017 (Suites, and the A1, A2, RR1, RR2, R1 and R2 zones); Building Bylaw No. 1066, 2000.Bylaws and Regulations, Frequently requested bylaws · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Bylaw No. 1066, Amended by 1185, 1320 Bylaw No. 1368, Amended by 1517, 1518

How it works

The District of Mackenzie's Zoning Bylaw No. 1368 allows attached suites in the A1, A2, RR1, RR2 and R1 zones as an accessory use, and in R2, only on a parcel with a single-detached dwelling. Suites are not listed in R3, RM or commercial zones. Detached suites (garden or garage suites) are allowed in A1, A2, RR1, RR2, R1 and R2. In R1 and R2 only garden suites are allowed, and in R1 none above a detached garage. A detached suite must be in the rear yard, with an exception for a suite on top of an existing detached garage.

Steps

Confirm your zone and that the parcel has a single-detached dwelling.
Check the size limits below.
Get a valid development permit if the District requires one first, then a building permit (see the building-permit answer).
Register the suite with the District and get an annual business licence.
Have the suite pass the District's building inspection.

Good to know

One suite per parcel. One extra off-street parking space is required, in addition to the spaces for the house.
Attached suite: at least 40 m², at most 90 m² or 40% of the house's gross floor area, with its own entrance.
Detached suite: up to 60 m², no basement, 5.0 m high (6.6 m if on a second storey).
Not allowed on a parcel with a bed and breakfast or home occupation. Rentals must be longer than one month. A suite cannot be subdivided or strata titled.
The Zoning Bylaw has no owner-occupancy rule that we found.
The suite must meet the BC Building Code.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Chetwynd · Hudson's Hope · Tumbler Ridge · Fort St James · Vanderhoof · Prince George

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

Sources

Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017 (PDF), District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
Building Bylaw No. 1066, 2000 (PDF), District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
Building Permits, District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
Bylaws and Regulations, District of Mackenzie (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.