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

# Nanaimo secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in most City of Nanaimo zones that allow a house, duplex or row house. You need a building permit for a secondary suite or carriage house. Zoning allows one suite per dwelling, or two on some single-dwelling lots if exactly one is in a detached building. One parking space is required.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nanaimo, https://www.nanaimo.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fee based on construction value (see the building permit fees answer). Authorizing a suite built before 2005 without a permit: $500 minimum.  
**How long:** The City's commitment is to process a complete residential application in three weeks.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Inspections, 250-755-4429
- Email: Building Inspections, building.inspections@nanaimo.ca
- Email: Planning (zoning questions), planning@nanaimo.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Allowed as an accessory use in all zones where a single residential dwelling, duplex, row house, or certain multiple family dwellings (stand-alone, or attached side to side with no unit above or below) is a permitted principal use and is present on the lot. Not permitted in a mobile home.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.15 Secondary Suites, s. 6.15.1, 6.15.2.2](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suites shall be permitted as an accessory use, subject to conditions of use as specified in individual zones, in all zones where the following uses are permitted as a principal use and where such use is present on the lot" … "secondary suites are not permitted in a mobile home."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** A secondary suite can be in an accessory building (carriage house, garden suite) when the principal use is a single residential dwelling and the lot is zoned R5 or R14, is a corner lot, has a side or rear line on a lane, is a through lot, or is 500 m² or larger. The suite cannot be stratified, needs 30 m² of private open space, and can be up to 100 m².
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.15 Secondary Suites, s. 6.15.3](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A secondary suite can be included within an accessory building where the principal use is" … "a lot zoned R5 or R14;" … "a corner lot;" … "a lot whose side or rear lot line abuts a lane;" … "a through lot; or" … "a lot that is 500m2 in area or greater; and" … "no secondary suite within an accessory building shall be stratified from the" … "a minimum area of 30m2 of private open space is provided for the secondary"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** One secondary suite per dwelling, but a single residential dwelling can have up to two if no other principal use is on the lot, the lot is not zoned R2 or R3, and exactly one suite is in an accessory building. A suite in the same building as a single dwelling is limited to 40% of the habitable floor space, up to 100 m². A suite has no more than three bedrooms. (Sources differ: The City's Secondary Suite Permit page says 'Only one suite is allowed per dwelling (e.g., if you have a suite in your basement, a carriage house is not allowed)'; this conflicts with the current Zoning Bylaw s. 6.15.2.1(b), which is followed here. For a duplex, row house or multiple family unit the suite may not exceed the main unit's floor area, up to 100 m². Three or four total units on a lot go through the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing permit. No owner-occupancy rule was found in s. 6.15 or on the permit pages.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.15 Secondary Suites, s. 6.15.2, 5 (definition)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Not more than one secondary suite shall be permitted per single" … "where the principal use is single residential dwelling up to two secondary" … "ii. the lot is not zoned R2 or R3; and" … "the gross floor area of a secondary suite shall not exceed" … "40% of the habitable floor space of the principal building up to a" … "maximum of 100m2." … "SECONDARY SUITE - means one or more habitable rooms, but not more than three bedrooms and one"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** The Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw requires 1 space for a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit (and 2 for a single residential dwelling). There is no minimum in Area 5 on the bylaw's Schedule A map.
  - Source: [Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw 2026 No. 7453, Part IV, s. 4.2, Table 2; s. 1.3](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7453.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Dwelling Unit 1 space Secondary Suite" … "Single Residential Dwelling 2 spaces per dwelling unit" … "there is no minimum requirement for the number of Vehicle Parking Spaces"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit is needed to build a new suite or upgrade an existing one, and for a new carriage house or altered accessory building. Three or four dwelling units on a lot (suites count) need a Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing permit. Authorizing a pre-2005 unpermitted suite costs $500 minimum.
  - Source: [Secondary Suite Permit](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/secondary-suite-permit)
  - Official wording: "A permit is required for the construction of a new suite or upgrade of an existing suite."
  - Source: [Carriage House Permit](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/carriage-house)
  - Official wording: "A building permit is required when you are constructing a new carriage house or altering an existing accessory building."
  - Source: [Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) Permit, SSMUH permit](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/SSMUH-permit)
  - Official wording: "A permit for Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing is required for new residential builds of three or four dwelling units"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01), Schedule A, Building Inspection Section](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Where a permit is required in order to authorize an illegal suite $500 minimum"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 4500, s. 6.15 (Secondary Suites); Building Bylaw 2016 No. 7224; Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw 2026 No. 7453
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.15 Secondary Suites](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 4500" … "6.15 SECONDARY SUITES"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 2016 No. 7224, s. 1](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7224.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw 2016 No. 7224"
  - Source: [Bylaw Search Results (complete list), Bylaw list](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/All)
  - Official wording: "OFF-STREET PARKING REGULATIONS BYLAW 2026 NO. 7453"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Nanaimo's [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) allows a secondary suite as an accessory use in zones where a single residential dwelling, duplex, row house or certain multiple-family dwellings (stand-alone, or side by side with no unit above or below) is a permitted principal use and is on the lot. Suites are not allowed in a mobile home. A suite is a self-contained unit with a separate entrance, no more than three bedrooms and one cooking facility. Zones may add conditions.

## Limits

- Normally one suite per dwelling. A single residential dwelling can have two if no other principal use is on the lot, the lot is not zoned R2 or R3, and exactly one suite is in an accessory building.
- A suite in the same building as a single dwelling is limited to 40 percent of the habitable floor space, up to 100 m². For a duplex, row house or multiple-family unit, it may not exceed the main unit's floor area, up to 100 m².
- Carriage house or garden suite (in an accessory building): the lot must be zoned R5 or R14, be a corner lot, have a side or rear line on a lane, be a through lot, or be 500 m² or larger. It cannot be stratified, needs 30 m² of private open space, and can be up to 100 m², no more than the zone allows for an accessory building. It must be at least 3 m from the house.
- Parking: the [Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7453.pdf) requires 1 space for a secondary suite, with no minimum in Area 5 on its map.

## Steps

1. Check your zoning and lot with Planning (planning@nanaimo.ca or 250-755-4429).
2. Apply for a building permit with the application, Appointment of Agent if needed, drawings and the Notice on Title form.
3. Book inspections.

## Good to know

- A building permit is needed to build a new suite or upgrade an existing one, and for a new carriage house or altered accessory building.
- Three or four dwelling units on a lot (suites count) go through the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing permit.
- The City's Secondary Suite Permit page says only one suite is allowed per dwelling, which differs from the bylaw's two-suite allowance above. Call to confirm.
- Authorizing an unpermitted suite built before 2005 costs $500 minimum.

## What you'll need

- Building permit application
- Appointment of Agent form, if you are not the registered owner
- Drawings
- Notice on Title form

## Official forms and pages

- [Secondary Suite Permit page](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/secondary-suite-permit)
- [Carriage House page](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/carriage-house)
- [Secondary Suite Forms](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/forms-and-guidelines/secondary-suite-forms)
- [Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) Permit page](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/SSMUH-permit)
- [Zoning Bylaw 4500 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Nanaimo building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/building-permit.md)
- [Nanaimo building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Nanaimo permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Nanaimo zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/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)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/secondary-suite.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/secondary-suite.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/secondary-suite.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/secondary-suite.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/secondary-suite.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Secondary Suite Permit, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/secondary-suite-permit) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Carriage House Permit, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/carriage-house) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) Permit, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/SSMUH-permit) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.15 Secondary Suites](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw 2026 No. 7453 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7453.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw 2016 No. 7224 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7224.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Search Results (complete list), City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/All) (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 Nanaimo. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/secondary-suite/_