---
title: Metchosin secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Metchosin?"
place: Metchosin, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/metchosin
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Metchosin
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Metchosin secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Metchosin allows a secondary suite inside the house in zones that list accessory dwelling units. A detached suite or carriage house is allowed only on lots of 0.8 ha (1.98 acres) or more. A building permit is required.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Metchosin, https://www.metchosin.ca)  
**Cost:** A building permit and its fee are required; see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** No processing time is stated by the District.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Municipal Hall (Building Permits and Inspections), 250-474-3167
- Email: Building Permits and Inspections, building@metchosin.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 4450 Happy Valley Road, Victoria, BC V9C 3Z3 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Yes. A secondary suite inside the principal dwelling is allowed in zones that list accessory dwelling units (Agricultural, Upland, Rural, Amenity Residential, Rural Residential, Commercial 2 and Commercial Recreation). On lots under 0.8 ha (1.98 acres) it is the only accessory dwelling unit allowed per lot.
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 23 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), s. 23(1)(c)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "On lots less than 0.8 hectares (1.98 acres), only one accessory dwelling unit is permitted per lot, and it shall be in the form of a secondary suite located within the principal dwelling." … "Accessory dwelling unit, subject to Section 23" … "On lots less than 0.8 hectares (1.98 acres), only one accessory dwelling unit is permitted per lot, and it"
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 23 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), s. 23(1)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Dwelling Unit is secondary suites, detached secondary suites and carriage houses."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Yes, only on lots of 0.8 ha (1.98 acres) or more. Outside the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR): one accessory dwelling unit of any type (secondary suite, detached secondary suite or carriage house). In the ALR: one secondary suite plus one detached secondary suite or carriage house.
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 23 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), s. 23(1)(d), (e)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "On lots 0.8 hectares (1.98 acres) or greater that are not located within the Agricultural Land Reserve" … "one secondary suite within a principal dwelling and one detached accessory dwelling unit, in the form of"
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 23 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), s. 51(6)(b)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "The minimum lot area required for a detached secondary suite or carriage house is 0.8 ha (1.98 acres)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Secondary suite: up to 120 m² or 40% of the principal dwelling's floor area, whichever is less, joined by a common wall or floor/ceiling. Detached suite: up to 90 m², 1 m to 15 m from the dwelling, at least 15 m from lot lines, one kitchen. Carriage house living area up to 90 m². No strata title or subdivision of a suite.
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 23 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), s. 23(2)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "The floor area of a secondary suite shall not exceed 120 m 2 (1,291 ft2) or 40% of the gross floor area of"
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 23 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), s. 23(3)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "The gross floor area of a detached secondary suite shall not exceed 90 m 2 (968 ft2)." … "shall be located no closer than 15 m (49.2’) from any lot" … "shall not have more than one (1) kitchen."
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 23 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), s. 23(1)(f)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "An accessory dwelling unit shall not be strata titled"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** Two off-street parking spaces for the accessory dwelling unit, in addition to two for the principal dwelling. A front-yard driveway leading to a space that is not in the front yard may count as the second space (in tandem).
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 23 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), s. 23(1)(b)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "Two off-street parking spaces shall be provided for an accessory dwelling unit"
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 23 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), s. 49 Required Parking Spaces](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "2 per principal dwelling unit and 2 per accessory dwelling unit provided that a front yard driveway"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit and its fee are required for any suite. Before it issues, the owner must show CRD water or adequate well water (3,400 L/day) and an approved sewage disposal system. A Homeowner Protection Office declaration is needed for detached suites. Development permit areas or tree cutting permits may add approvals.
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 23 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), s. 23(1)(g), (h)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "without first obtaining a building permit from the District and paying the" … "provide proof of CRD water, or adequate potable well water (3400 L/day) and an approved means of"
  - Source: [Building Permit Requirements, Application checklist](https://www.metchosin.ca/sites/7/files/2026-01/Building%20Permit%20Requirements.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Homeowner Protection Office Declaration: For new homes, substantial reconstructions and, detached secondary"
  - Source: [Accessory Dwelling Units information guide, Important Notes](https://www.metchosin.ca/sites/7/files/2026-01/Accessory%20Dwelling%20Units%20information%20guide%20%28web%20version%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Building Permit is required for all ADUs." … "These site restrictions/conditions may trigger additional permits, studies or approvals"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 23 (Accessory Dwelling Units); Building Bylaw 2024, No. 694
  - Source: [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 23 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy), s. 1](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 2024, No. 694, s. 1.1](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/475/)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw 2024, N0. 694"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under s. 23 of the [Land Use Bylaw No. 259](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/), a secondary suite inside the principal dwelling is allowed in zones that list accessory dwelling units: Agricultural, Upland, Rural, Amenity Residential, Rural Residential, Commercial 2 and Commercial Recreation. On lots under 0.8 ha (1.98 acres) it is the only accessory dwelling unit allowed.

On lots of 0.8 ha or more, a detached secondary suite or carriage house is also allowed. Outside the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) you may have one accessory dwelling unit of any type. In the ALR you may have one secondary suite plus one detached suite or carriage house. A carriage house has living space on the upper floor above an accessory building such as a garage or workshop.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone and lot size with Municipal Hall (250-474-3167).
2. Check size limits and parking (below).
3. Apply for a building permit. Before it is issued you must show CRD water or adequate well water (3,400 L/day) and an approved sewage disposal system. Detached suites also need a Homeowner Protection Office declaration.
4. Ask staff whether development permit areas or a tree cutting permit apply to your lot.

## Good to know

- Secondary suite: up to 120 m² or 40% of the principal dwelling's floor area, whichever is less, joined by a common wall or floor and ceiling.
- Detached suite: up to 90 m², 1 m to 15 m from the dwelling and at least 15 m from lot lines, with one kitchen. Maximum height is 8 m. A carriage house's living area is up to 90 m², and the building can be up to 10.5 m high.
- A detached suite or carriage house may not have separate road access. A suite cannot be strata titled or subdivided.
- Parking: two off-street spaces for the suite, in addition to two for the main dwelling. A front-yard driveway leading to a space that is not in the front yard may count as the second space.

## Official forms and pages

- [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/)
- [Accessory Dwelling Units information guide (PDF)](https://www.metchosin.ca/sites/7/files/2026-01/Accessory%20Dwelling%20Units%20information%20guide%20%28web%20version%29.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Metchosin building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/building-permit.md)
- [Metchosin building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Metchosin short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/short-term-rental.md)
- [Metchosin zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/secondary-suite.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/secondary-suite.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/secondary-suite.md)
- [Sooke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/secondary-suite.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/secondary-suite.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Metchosin Land Use Bylaw No. 259, s. 23 (consolidated March 2026, reference copy)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/4091/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw 2024, No. 694](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/475/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Accessory Dwelling Units information guide (PDF)](https://www.metchosin.ca/sites/7/files/2026-01/Accessory%20Dwelling%20Units%20information%20guide%20%28web%20version%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Permit Requirements (PDF)](https://www.metchosin.ca/sites/7/files/2026-01/Building%20Permit%20Requirements.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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Metchosin. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/secondary-suite/_