{"title":"North Saanich secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a guest cottage?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of North Saanich","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca"},"short_answer":"In North Saanich a secondary suite (up to two bedrooms, inside a single family home) is allowed in RA-1 to RA-6, R-1 to R-3, RS-1 and CD-1, CD-3, CD-4, CD-5 and CD-6. A guest cottage is allowed in RA-2 to RA-6, R-2, R-3 and CD-2. Both need a building permit, and a suite also needs a suite permit.","aliases":["basement suite north saanich","granny flat","carriage house","guest cottage north saanich"],"cost":"Building permit fees apply; see the building-permit-fees answer. No fee or form for the secondary suite permit itself is stated in the documents we read.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Planning and Community Services","value":"250-655-5470"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"1620 Mills Road, North Saanich, BC V8L 5S9"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Secondary Suites and Guest Cottages","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/housing/secondary-suites-guest-cottages"},{"title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255, ss. 204, 206 and 208 (PDF)","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"North Saanich building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"North Saanich zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sidney","name":"Sidney","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/secondary-suite/"}],"topic":{"title":"Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite/"},"facts":{"suite_allowed":{"label":"Secondary suite allowed","value":"Yes, as a self-contained unit of no more than two bedrooms inside a single family home, in zones RA-1 to RA-6, R-1, R-2, R-3, RS-1, CD-1, CD-3, CD-4, CD-5 and CD-6, if the s. 206 conditions are met. The owner must also hold a secondary suite permit.","short":"Yes, in listed zones; owner needs a permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 206.1.1(a), s. 102 'secondary suite'","quotes":["be located within a zone in which Division 500 expressly permits","“secondary suite” means a self-contained dwelling unit, with no more than two bedrooms,"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 502.1.1 (R-1), 501.1.1 (RA-1)","quotes":["(i) Secondary Suite [See Section 206]","(vii) Secondary Suite, subject to Section 206.1"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/zoning","title":"Zoning, District of North Saanich","section":"Zoning page","quotes":["must hold a valid and current secondary suite permit."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Guest cottage (self-contained, lot at least 0.4 ha with a house already there) is permitted in RA-2 to RA-6, R-2, R-3 and CD-2. Carriage house (the lesser of 60 m² and 18% of lot area) is permitted only in CD-4 and CD-6. No garden suite or coach house category is otherwise listed.","short":"Guest cottage in some zones; carriage house in CD-4, CD-6","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 204.1.1, 204.1.5","quotes":["No guest cottage is permitted unless a principal residential dwelling has","No guest cottage is permitted on a lot that has an area of less than 0.4","(a) 60 m2 (649 ft2); or","(b)18% of the lot area."]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 208.1.2","quotes":["The gross floor area of the carriage house must not exceed the lesser of:","(a) 60 m2 (649 ft2); or"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"zone permitted uses","quotes":["(i) Guest Cottage [See Section 204]","(ii) Carriage House (See Section 208)"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/housing/secondary-suites-guest-cottages","title":"Secondary Suites and Guest Cottages, District of North Saanich","section":"Guest Cottages","quotes":["Guest cottages are permitted within the following zones only on parcels greater than 0.4 hectares:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The Secondary Suites and Guest Cottages page lists guest cottages only in RA-2, RA-6 (ALR rules), R-2 and R-3; the bylaw's permitted-use lists also include RA-3, RA-4, RA-5 and CD-2. Followed the bylaw. Guest cottage max floor area 92 m² (140 m² in CD-2), height 7.6 m, max one per lot, owner-occupied (s. 204). Carriage house also needs a 10 m wide lot and a 4.5 m separation (s. 208)."},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Suite floor area: the lesser of 90 m² (60 m² in CD-3 and CD-4) and 40% of the house's habitable area. One suite per lot, no other secondary dwelling, no more than one boarding room. The house cannot be stratified. Guest cottage: the owner must live in the cottage or the house.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 206.1.2","quotes":["The gross floor area of the secondary suite must not exceed the lesser of:","(a) 60 m2 (649 ft2) in the CD-3 or CD-4 zone and 90 m2 (970 ft2) in any other","40% of the habitable area of the single family residential dwelling in which"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 206.1.5","quotes":["A single family residential dwelling that contains a secondary suite must not","be subdivided under the Strata Property Act or otherwise."]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 204.1.6","quotes":["Either the guest cottage or the single family residential dwelling must be","owner occupied."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"One additional off-street parking space exclusively for the suite's occupants. A guest cottage needs 1 space; a carriage house needs 1 extra space.","short":"1 extra space for the suite","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 206.1.4","quotes":["One additional off-street parking space for the exclusive use of the occupants","of the secondary suite must be provided on the lot in accordance with"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 306 parking table","quotes":["Guest Cottage 1 space","Carriage House plus 1 space"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A secondary suite permit (held by the owner) and a building permit. The building permit application form says the suite permit needs a s. 219 covenant obtained from Planning. A guest cottage also needs a building permit. Review s. 204, consult a building professional, then submit a building permit application and pay the fee.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/zoning","title":"Zoning, District of North Saanich","section":"Zoning page","quotes":["must hold a valid and current secondary suite permit. Any owner applying to construct a guest cottage or secondary suite must also acquire a Building Permit."]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/housing/secondary-suites-guest-cottages","title":"Secondary Suites and Guest Cottages, District of North Saanich","section":"Permitting Process","quotes":["Complete and submit a Building Permit application and pay the required fee."]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/media/file/building-permit-information-package","title":"Building Permit Application Information package (PDF, updated March 26, 2026)","section":"Building Permit Application form, documents checklist","quotes":["(Bylaw 1244) Obtain s219 Covenant (LTA) from"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (ss. 204, 206, 208); Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150; the building permit application form cites Bylaw 1244 for the secondary suite permit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 206","quotes":["be on the same lot. 206. SECONDARY SUITE BL 1382 206.1. Where a zone permits a secondary suite use, all of the following conditions must be","bedrooms (without cooking facilities) for a maximum of four persons per lot/per visit. BL 1369 204. GUEST COTTAGE 204.1. Where a zone permits guest cottage use, the following conditions must be satisfied for","DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH BYLAW N O. 1255 A BYLAW TO REGULATE THE ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/permits","title":"Permits, District of North Saanich","section":"Applying for a Building Permit","quotes":["Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/media/file/building-permit-information-package","title":"Building Permit Application Information package (PDF, updated March 26, 2026)","section":"Building Permit Application form, documents checklist","quotes":["(Bylaw 1244) Obtain s219 Covenant (LTA) from"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the District of North Saanich's [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf), a secondary suite is a self-contained unit of no more than two bedrooms inside a single family home, allowed if the s. 206 conditions are met. The owner must also hold a secondary suite permit. A guest cottage is a separate self-contained unit on a lot of at least 0.4 ha that already has a house.\n\nA carriage house (the lesser of 60 m² and 18% of the lot area) is allowed only in CD-4 and CD-6, and needs a lot 10 m wide and a 4.5 m separation. No garden suite or coach house category is otherwise listed.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and read s. 204 (guest cottages) or s. 206 (suites).\n2. Consult a building professional about the Building Code.\n3. Submit a building permit application and pay the fee. The application form says the suite permit needs a s. 219 covenant, obtained from Planning.\n4. Ask Planning and Community Services (250-655-5470) about the suite permit, since no fee or form is stated.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Suite size is the lesser of 90 m² (60 m² in CD-3 and CD-4) and 40% of the house's habitable area. One suite per lot, no other secondary dwelling, and no more than one boarding room. The house cannot be stratified.\n- A suite needs one extra off-street parking space for its occupants. A guest cottage needs 1 space and a carriage house 1 extra space.\n- Guest cottage: up to 92 m² (140 m² in CD-2), 7.6 m high, one per lot. The owner must live in the cottage or the house. No owner-occupancy rule was found for a suite.\n- The Suites page lists fewer guest cottage zones than the bylaw (it omits RA-3 to RA-5 and CD-2). We followed the bylaw; confirm your zone with Planning.\n- The home must be on sewer or an on-site system meeting the Public Health Act.\n- Municipal tickets for suite breaches are $325 to $650 under Bylaw No. 1544 (2022 version); amounts may have changed.\n- The zoning copy is the February 2023 consolidation; later amendments exist.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/housing/secondary-suites-guest-cottages","title":"Secondary Suites and Guest Cottages, District of North Saanich","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/zoning","title":"Zoning, District of North Saanich","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/media/file/building-permit-information-package","title":"Building Permit Application Information package (PDF, updated March 26, 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-No.-1544.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/permits","title":"Permits, District of North Saanich","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/secondary-suite.json"}}