North Cowichan secondary suite and carriage house rules
Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in North Cowichan?
Short answer
In North Cowichan a secondary suite is allowed in certain zones (including R1-U, R2, R3 and A4), and a detached accessory dwelling unit in R1-U, R2, R3 and some comprehensive zones. A suite needs a building permit and one off-street parking space. Check your zone first.
Key facts
| Secondary suite allowed | 'Secondary Suite' is a permitted use in zones A4, R1-U, R2, R2-R, R3, R3-R, R3-S, R7 and comprehensive zones CD1, CD4, CD6, CD12, CD18, CD18-R, CD20, CD25 and CD28 (some only in certain areas). It must be accessory to a single-family or two-family dwelling.Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF, current to September 14, 2026), s. 3 definition; zone sections 54, 56.1, 57, 58 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmeans an additional dwelling unit which is accessory to a single-family dwelling or a two-family dwelling Community Care Facility Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit Home-based Business Multi-Family Residence Secondary Suite Single-Family Dwelling Mobile Food Service Resource Use Secondary Suite Single-Family Dwelling Secondary Suite (within Single-Family Dwelling) (v) secondary suite; (iii) accessory dwelling unit, coach house or secondary suite; |
|---|---|
| Coach house or garden suite allowed | Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit is a permitted use in R1-U, R2, R3, R3-S and CD1, CD4, CD6, CD12, CD18, CD18-R, CD20, CD25, CD28. Only with a single detached house; not on duplex lots; cannot be strata-titled or subdivided.Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF, current to September 14, 2026), zone sections 56.1, 57, 58(4)(a); Accessory Dwelling Unit, ADU page, 'An ADU:' · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingin which case one detached accessory dwelling unit is permitted. Community Care Facility Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit Home-based Business Multi-Family Residence Secondary Suite Single-Family Dwelling Is only allowed in conjunction with a single detached house Cannot be on lots with a duplex Cannot be strata-titled or subdivided |
| Limits | Secondary suite: no more than 2 bedrooms. Detached unit: at most 120 m² gross floor area; height at most 6.5 m (7.5 m with a pitched roof of at least 6:12); at-grade amenity space of at least 18.5 m² and 3.0 m wide. Zone density limits also apply.Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF, current to September 14, 2026), s. 40.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA secondary suite must have: (a) no more than 2 bedrooms, and The maximum size for a detached accessory dwelling unit is 120 m² (1,292 sq. ft.) of gross floor area. The maximum height for a detached accessory dwelling unit is 6.5 m (21.33’), or up to 7.5 m not less than 18.5 m (199.13 sq. ft) in area and 3.0 m (9.84 ft) in width |
| Parking | 1 off-street space for a secondary suite or a detached accessory dwelling unit, on top of the house's own requirements. (An attached 'accessory dwelling unit' needs 2 spaces.)Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF, current to September 14, 2026), s. 21(1) parking table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDetached Accessory Dwelling Unit, 1 space Accessory Dwelling Unit 2 spaces |
| Permits | A building permit is required to develop a suite (a new suite, or legitimizing a non-compliant one). Development cost charges may apply if construction value is $50,000 or more. Check development permit areas on the Planning Compliance Form.New Secondary Suite Guide 2025, Suite Building Permit; Considerations; Single-Family Dwelling / Duplex Permit, Step 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA Building Permit is required when developing a suite. Development Cost Charges may apply at the Building Permit stage if the value of the construction meets or exceeds $50,000. Development Permit Areas (DPAs), Agriculture Land Designation (ALR), zoning bylaw regulations and charges on title all play crucial roles |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (s. 40.4 and the zone sections) and Building Bylaw No. 3172.Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF, current to September 14, 2026), cover; https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/Building%20Bylaw.pdf, cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingZONING BYLAW 1997 No. 2950 Building Bylaw 2003 Bylaw 3172 |
How it works
In North Cowichan the Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 decides where a suite can go. A "Secondary Suite" is a permitted use in zones A4, R1-U, R2, R2-R, R3, R3-R, R3-S and R7, and in comprehensive zones CD1, CD4, CD6, CD12, CD18, CD18-R, CD20, CD25 and CD28 (some only in certain areas). It must be accessory to a single-family or two-family dwelling. Zones A1, A2, A3, A5 and R1 do not list it as a use.
A Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (a carriage house) is permitted in R1-U, R2, R3, R3-S and the comprehensive zones above. It must go with a single detached house, not a duplex, and cannot be strata-titled or subdivided. In A1 and A5, land of 2 ha or more may have a second smaller residential building with a covenant against strata subdivision.
Steps
- Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and confirm with Planning at 250-746-3104.
- Read the Municipality's suite guide or accessory dwelling unit page.
- Apply for a building permit; check development permit areas on the Planning Compliance Form.
- Pay the fee and book inspections.
Good to know
- A suite can have no more than 2 bedrooms.
- A detached unit is limited to 120 m² gross floor area and 6.5 m high (7.5 m with a pitched roof of at least 6:12). It needs at-grade amenity space of at least 18.5 m² and 3.0 m wide.
- You need 1 off-street parking space for a suite or detached unit, on top of the house's own requirement.
- A suite must share driveway access with the house unless the lot fronts two streets or a lane.
- Development cost charges may apply if construction value is $50,000 or more. Garbage cart fees also apply to homes with suites.
- Zone density limits also apply. Legitimizing an existing suite also needs a building permit.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Duncan · Ladysmith · North Saanich · Sidney · Lake Cowichan · Central Saanich
Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF, current to September 14, 2026) (read 2026-11-06)
- New Secondary Suite Guide 2025 (PDF), Municipality of North Cowichan (read 2026-11-06)
- Accessory Dwelling Unit, Municipality of North Cowichan (read 2026-11-06)
- Single-Family Dwelling / Duplex Permit, Municipality of North Cowichan (read 2026-11-06)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw and Maps, Municipality of North Cowichan (read 2026-11-06)
- Building Services, Municipality of North Cowichan (read 2026-11-06)
- https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/Building%20Bylaw.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. How answers are checked.