---
title: Maple Ridge secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?"
place: Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/maple-ridge
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Maple Ridge
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Maple Ridge secondary suite and carriage house rules

**Question:** Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

**Short answer:** Yes, in zones that list them. The City of Maple Ridge allows one secondary suite inside a principal dwelling and a Detached Garden Suite (its name for a carriage house) in the rear yard. New construction or renovation needs a building permit. If both units are rented, you need a business licence.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Maple Ridge, https://www.mapleridge.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees apply (see building-permit-fees). The fee schedule lists a $250 Secondary Suite Registration fee. If both units are rented, the business licence has a one-time $500 application review fee plus the licence fee.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Planning, 604-467-7341
- Email: Planning, Planning@MapleRidge.ca
- Online: Citizen Portal (building permit), https://citizenportal.mapleridge.ca/citizenportal/app/landing
- Phone: Building general inquiries, 604-467-7311

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** As an accessory use inside a principal dwelling (one suite per house) in zones that list it, such as RS-1, and under Urban Infill Residential rules inside the Urban Containment Boundary. The City says single detached, duplex and triplex buildings. Not in a floodplain unless the floor is above flood level.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, definition; s. 402.24; 402.29(2); 605.3](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019)
  - Official wording: "is limited to one Secondary Suite per Principal Residential Use." … "shall be contained within a Principal Residential Dwelling Unit;" … "Accessory Residential Uses: (i) Secondary Suite Residential;" … "shall not be permitted on a Lot situated within a Floodplain Area unless the underside of the finished floor system of the Secondary Suite Residential Use is above the established minimum Flood Construction Level."
  - Source: [Home Improvements, Secondary Suites](https://www.mapleridge.ca/build-do-business/construction-development-permits/home-improvements)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suites are permitted in single detached, two-unit (duplex), and triplex residential buildings subject to meeting the BC Building Code regulations."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Called a Detached Garden Suite. Allowed as an accessory use in zones that list it (such as RS-1) and under Urban Infill rules. Must be in the rear yard, one storey (or second storey over an accessory or parking use in some cases), no basement, not strata-titled or subdivided, and not on lots with boarding, caretaker, agricultural employee or tourist accommodation use.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, s. 402.11; 402.29(2); 605.3](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019)
  - Official wording: "shall only be located within the Rear Yard of a Principal Residential Use, and" … "shall be limited to one Storey;" … "shall not be strata-titled or subdivided;" … "(ii) Detached Garden Suite Residential;" … "Agricultural Employee Residential, Boarding, Caretaker Residential, or Tourist Accommodation Use on the same Lot;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** One suite per principal dwelling, inside it; the City page says at most 40% of the building's gross floor area. Detached garden suite: up to 140 m² or 15% of lot area, whichever is less (90 m² in the ALR); one or two per lot per the City guide. If the owner lives elsewhere, a business licence and Good Neighbour Agreement are required.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, s. 402.24, 402.11(3)](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019)
  - Official wording: "shall not be strata-titled; and" … "not more than 140.0 square metres or 15% of the Lot Area, whichever is less" … "not more than 90.0 square metres or 15% of the Lot Area, whichever is less, for Lots within the Agricultural Land Reserve"
  - Source: [Home Improvements, Secondary Suites](https://www.mapleridge.ca/build-do-business/construction-development-permits/home-improvements)
  - Official wording: "A Secondary Suite cannot exceed 40% of the total Gross Floor Area of the principal residential building in which it is located."
  - Source: [Detached Garden Suite Guide, DGS Guide, items 1 and 20](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/detached-garden-suite-guide)
  - Official wording: "One or two DGS Residential Use allowed per residential or agricultural zoned lots" … "Should the property owner not reside on the property"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** Secondary suite: 1 space for the suite (Off-Street Parking and Loading Bylaw No. 7970-2023, s. 2.07). No space is required on lots over 281 m² with up to 6 units within 400 m of a bus stop, or in a Transit-Oriented Area. Detached garden suite: 1 space, not tandem, always accessible.
  - Source: [Detached Garden Suite Guide, DGS Guide, item 11](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/detached-garden-suite-guide)
  - Official wording: "One parking space dedicated exclusively to the DGS residents, as regulated under the Off-Street Parking and Loading Bylaw. It must not be tandem and must have unobstructed access and egress at all times"
  - Source: [Detached Garden Suites, Detached Garden Suite Regulations](https://www.mapleridge.ca/build-do-business/planning-land-use/community-planning/housing-ready/detached-garden-suites)
  - Official wording: "One parking off-street parking space must be dedicated to the detached garden suite"
  - Source: [https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/maple-ridge-street-parking-and-loading-bylaw-no-7970-2023, s. 2.07.1 table A; 2.07.2; 2.07.3](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/maple-ridge-street-parking-and-loading-bylaw-no-7970-2023)
  - Official wording: "1 space per Dwelling Unit" … "Secondary Suite Residential; 1 space per Dwelling Unit" … "the minimum Parking Space requirements listed in Section 2.07.1 shall not apply to Residential Uses"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit is required for any new construction or renovation of a secondary suite or detached garden suite (for example adding a kitchen, bedrooms, plumbing or electrical, fire separation, or egress windows). A business licence is needed if both units are rented (one-time $500 application review fee plus licence fee).
  - Source: [Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page](https://www.mapleridge.ca/build-do-business/planning-land-use/community-planning/housing-ready/secondary-suites)
  - Official wording: "Building permits are required for any new construction or renovation of a secondary suite." … "A Business Licence is required if there are two rental units on the property." … "there is a one-time Application Review Fee of $500."
  - Source: [Home Improvements, Do I Need a Permit for a Secondary Suite?](https://www.mapleridge.ca/build-do-business/construction-development-permits/home-improvements)
  - Official wording: "Adding a kitchen" … "Installing new plumbing or electrical" … "Creating required fire separation"
  - Source: [Detached Garden Suites, Detached Garden Suites page](https://www.mapleridge.ca/build-do-business/planning-land-use/community-planning/housing-ready/detached-garden-suites)
  - Official wording: "Building permits are required for any new construction or renovation of a detached garden suite."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 7600-2019, s. 402.24 (Secondary Suite Residential) and s. 402.11 (Detached Garden Suite Residential); Building Bylaw No. 8097-2026
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, s. 402.24, 402.11](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019)
  - Official wording: "402.24 Secondary Suite Residential" … "402.11 Detached Garden Suite Residential"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 8097-2026, s. 1.1](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-8097-2026)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw No. 8097-2026"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

A secondary suite is a self-contained unit inside a principal dwelling. A Detached Garden Suite is a small separate home on the same lot, in the rear yard. Both are accessory uses in zones that list them, such as RS-1, and under Urban Infill Residential rules inside the Urban Containment Boundary (Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, sections [402.24 and 402.11](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019)). The City says suites are allowed in single detached, duplex and triplex buildings. Neither is allowed in a floodplain unless the floor is above the flood construction level.

**Secondary suite:** one per principal dwelling, inside it. The City page sets a limit of 40% of the building's gross floor area, which the bylaw text does not repeat.

**Detached Garden Suite:** up to 140 m² or 15% of the lot area, whichever is less (90 m² in the Agricultural Land Reserve). One or two per lot per the City guide. It must be one storey with no basement, not strata-titled or subdivided.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zoning and flood status with Planning (604-467-7341).
2. Read the City's Secondary Suites or Detached Garden Suites page.
3. Apply for a building permit in the Citizen Portal. A permit is needed for any new construction or renovation of a suite, such as adding a kitchen, plumbing, electrical, fire separation or egress windows.
4. If both units are rented, get a business licence.

## Good to know

- Parking: the guide asks for one space for a Detached Garden Suite, not tandem and always accessible. For a secondary suite, check the Off-Street Parking and Loading Bylaw No. 7970-2023 with Planning.
- If the owner lives elsewhere, a business licence and a Good Neighbour Agreement are required.
- The Secondary Suites page says one suite per lot, while the Home Improvements page says single detached, duplex and triplex buildings. Confirm with Planning.
- The bylaws we read do not state an owner-occupancy rule.

## Official forms and pages

- [Secondary Suites (City page)](https://www.mapleridge.ca/build-do-business/planning-land-use/community-planning/housing-ready/secondary-suites)
- [Detached Garden Suites (City page)](https://www.mapleridge.ca/build-do-business/planning-land-use/community-planning/housing-ready/detached-garden-suites)
- [Detached Garden Suite Guide (PDF)](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/detached-garden-suite-guide)
- [Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019 (PDF)](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019)

## Related questions

- [Maple Ridge building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/building-permit.md)
- [Maple Ridge short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/short-term-rental.md)
- [Maple Ridge zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Maple Ridge business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/business-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/secondary-suite.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/secondary-suite.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/secondary-suite.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/secondary-suite.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/secondary-suite.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Secondary Suites, City of Maple Ridge](https://www.mapleridge.ca/build-do-business/planning-land-use/community-planning/housing-ready/secondary-suites) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Detached Garden Suites, City of Maple Ridge](https://www.mapleridge.ca/build-do-business/planning-land-use/community-planning/housing-ready/detached-garden-suites) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Home Improvements, City of Maple Ridge](https://www.mapleridge.ca/build-do-business/construction-development-permits/home-improvements) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019 (PDF)](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-7600-2019) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Detached Garden Suite Guide (PDF), City of Maple Ridge](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/detached-garden-suite-guide) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges (Consolidated) Bylaw No. 7575-2019 (PDF)](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/fees-charges-consolidated-bylaw-no-7575-2019) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/maple-ridge-street-parking-and-loading-bylaw-no-7970-2023](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/maple-ridge-street-parking-and-loading-bylaw-no-7970-2023) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 8097-2026](https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-8097-2026) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Maple Ridge. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/secondary-suite/_