GovHandbook

Maple Ridge secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Maple Ridge, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedAs 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.Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, definition; s. 402.24; 402.29(2); 605.3; Home Improvements, Secondary Suites · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
Secondary Suites are permitted in single detached, two-unit (duplex), and triplex residential buildings subject to meeting the BC Building Code regulations.
Coach house or garden suite allowedCalled 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.Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, s. 402.11; 402.29(2); 605.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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;
LimitsOne 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.Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, s. 402.24, 402.11(3); Home Improvements, Secondary Suites; Detached Garden Suite Guide, DGS Guide, items 1 and 20 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
A Secondary Suite cannot exceed 40% of the total Gross Floor Area of the principal residential building in which it is located.
One or two DGS Residential Use allowed per residential or agricultural zoned lots
Should the property owner not reside on the property
ParkingSecondary 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.Detached Garden Suite Guide, DGS Guide, item 11; Detached Garden Suites, Detached Garden Suite Regulations; 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 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
One parking off-street parking space must be dedicated to the detached garden suite
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
PermitsA 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).Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page; Home Improvements, Do I Need a Permit for a Secondary Suite?; Detached Garden Suites, Detached Garden Suites page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
Adding a kitchen
Installing new plumbing or electrical
Creating required fire separation
Building permits are required for any new construction or renovation of a detached garden suite.
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 7600-2019, s. 402.24 (Secondary Suite Residential) and s. 402.11 (Detached Garden Suite Residential); Building Bylaw No. 8097-2026Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019, s. 402.24, 402.11; Building Bylaw No. 8097-2026, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
402.24 Secondary Suite Residential
402.11 Detached Garden Suite Residential
Building Bylaw No. 8097-2026

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). 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

The same question in other places

Pitt Meadows · Port Coquitlam · Coquitlam · Anmore · Township of Langley · Port Moody

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

Sources

  1. Secondary Suites, City of Maple Ridge (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Detached Garden Suites, City of Maple Ridge (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Home Improvements, City of Maple Ridge (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Zoning Bylaw 7600-2019 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Detached Garden Suite Guide (PDF), City of Maple Ridge (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Fees and Charges (Consolidated) Bylaw No. 7575-2019 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  7. https://www.mapleridge.ca/media/file/maple-ridge-street-parking-and-loading-bylaw-no-7970-2023 (read 2026-11-05)
  8. 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. How answers are checked.