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

# Parksville secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In the City of Parksville a secondary suite is allowed inside a single family dwelling or duplex unit in zones that list it, including RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, SLR-1 and A-1. You need a building permit, one off-street parking space and a business licence. The bylaw and City guide differ on maximum suite size.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Parksville, https://www.parksville.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees are based on construction value (see building-permit-fees). The suite rental needs a City business licence at $50 a year.  
**How long:** The City states no processing time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building, 250 954-3065
- Email: Building, building@parksville.ca
- Email: Community Planning (zoning), planning@parksville.ca
- Email: Business licences, biz@parksville.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Yes, as an accessory use inside a single family dwelling or duplex unit in zones that list it, including RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, SLR-1 and A-1. Each must meet s. 613.
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw, 1994, No. 2000 (consolidated to July 29, 2026, PDF), s. 202.1, 249.1, 613, definitions](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/70161)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suites must be in accordance with Section 613 of this Bylaw." … "secondary suite means a self-contained accessory dwelling unit within a single family dwelling or duplex dwelling unit" … "Where secondary suites are a permitted or accessory use within a zoning district"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** RS-1 and SLR-1 allow 2 principal dwelling units per lot, with single family buildings at least 3.0 m apart. The bylaw's 'accessory carriage house' (a separate dwelling) is named only for A-1 land in the Agricultural Land Reserve: one, up to 90 m², subject to Agricultural Land Commission rules.
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw, 1994, No. 2000 (consolidated to July 29, 2026, PDF), s. 202.2, 202.3, 210.2(b)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/70161)
  - Official wording: "Principal Dwelling Units 2 per lot" … "The distance between single family buildings must be a minimum of 3.0 m as measured from the closest points of each structure" … "the following is permitted: one (1) principal dwelling, one (1) secondary suite, and one (1) accessory carriage house not exceeding 90 m2 is permitted"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Zoning s. 613: one suite per single family dwelling or duplex unit, completely inside the principal building, no boarders or lodgers. The bylaw text states only a 30 m² minimum, but the City permit guide says a maximum of 90 m² or 40% of the dwelling, whichever is less; ask Planning. RS-1 and SLR-1 allow up to 2 suites per lot. (Sources differ: The City's Building Permit Submission Requirements say the Zoning Bylaw sets a maximum suite area of 90 m² or 40% of the principal dwelling's gross floor area, whichever is less; s. 613 of the bylaw (consolidated to July 29, 2026) states only the 30 m² minimum. The bylaw follows. No owner-occupancy rule found in s. 613 or RS-1.)
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw, 1994, No. 2000 (consolidated to July 29, 2026, PDF), s. 613(a), (b), (c), (e); s. 202.2](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/70161)
  - Official wording: "not more than one secondary suite shall be permitted within a single family dwelling or a duplex dwelling unit" … "a secondary suite shall be completely contained within the principal building" … "the minimum allowable floorspace of a secondary suite shall be 30 m" … "the keeping of boarders, lodgers, or roomers shall not be permitted within a principal dwelling unit containing a secondary suite" … "Secondary Suites 2 per lot" … "Amend Section 613 Secondary Suites regarding maximum allowable area to 90 m2"
  - Source: [Building Permit Submission Requirements, Submission Requirements, item 6](https://www.parksville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID42atID11779.pdf)
  - Official wording: "City of Parksville Zoning Bylaw regulates a maximum suite area of 90 m² (968 ft²) or 40% of the gross floor area of the principle dwelling whichever is less"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** One off-street parking space per suite.
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw, 1994, No. 2000 (consolidated to July 29, 2026, PDF), s. 613(d), s. 407](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/70161)
  - Official wording: "a minimum of one off-street parking space shall be provided for a secondary suite" … "Secondary Suites 1 per suite"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit is needed (the City lists secondary suite example plans and fire separation rules), and the suite rental needs a City business licence ($50 a year).
  - Source: [Building Permit Submission Requirements, Submission Requirements, item 6](https://www.parksville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID42atID11779.pdf)
  - Official wording: "In order to construct a secondary suite within an existing single-family dwelling (zoned RS-1, RS-2 or RS-3)" … "Also note that a City of Parksville Business License is required"
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw, 1994, No. 2000 (consolidated to July 29, 2026, PDF), s. 613(h)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/70161)
  - Official wording: "a secondary suite rental tenancy is subject to a valid City of Parksville Business License"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 1550 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/2815)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suite or Accessory Carriage House $50"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning and Development Bylaw, 1994, No. 2000 (s. 613, zone schedules, Division 400); Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387; Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 1550
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw, 1994, No. 2000 (consolidated to July 29, 2026, PDF), s. 613](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/70161)
  - Official wording: "Page 275 of 291 613 SECONDARY SUITES Where secondary suites are a permitted or accessory use within a zoning district they are" … "CITY OF PARKSVILLE ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT BYLAW, 1994, NO. 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS" … "(h) Must have a valid City of Parksville business licence where required pursuant to "Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 1550", and all amendments or successors thereto."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387 (consolidated, PDF), s. 1](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1098)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 1550 (consolidated, PDF), s. 1](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/2815)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 1550"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Parksville's [Zoning and Development Bylaw 2000](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/70161) allows a secondary suite as an accessory use inside a single family dwelling or duplex unit in zones that list it, including RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, SLR-1 and A-1. Each suite must meet s. 613: one suite per single family dwelling or duplex unit, completely inside the principal building, with no boarders or lodgers. RS-1 and SLR-1 allow up to 2 suites per lot.

A detached suite is a different matter. RS-1 and SLR-1 allow 2 principal dwelling units per lot, with single family buildings at least 3.0 m apart. The bylaw's "accessory carriage house" is named only for A-1 land in the Agricultural Land Reserve: one, up to 90 m², subject to Agricultural Land Commission rules. Check zoning with Planning before relying on this.

## Steps

1. Ask Community Planning (250 954-4697) to confirm your zone allows a suite.
2. Apply for a building permit; the City lists suite example plans and fire separation rules.
3. Provide one off-street parking space for the suite.
4. Get a City business licence for the suite rental ($50 a year).

## Good to know

- Suite size: s. 613(c) states only a 30 m² minimum, but the City's permit guide says a maximum of 90 m² or 40% of the dwelling, whichever is less. The two differ, so confirm with Planning.
- A suite cannot be in a cellar habitable room, except a recreation room or den (zoning s. 604(a)).

## What you'll need

- Building permit application and drawings showing the suite

## Official forms and pages

- [Building page (example plans: Secondary Suite)](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=42)
- [Building Permit Submission Requirements (PDF)](https://www.parksville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID42atID11779.pdf)
- [Zoning and Development Bylaw 2000, consolidated July 29, 2026 (PDF)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/70161)

## Related questions

- [Parksville building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/building-permit.md)
- [Parksville zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Parksville business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/business-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/secondary-suite.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/secondary-suite.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/secondary-suite.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/secondary-suite.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/secondary-suite.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning and Development Bylaw, 1994, No. 2000 (consolidated to July 29, 2026, PDF)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/70161) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permit Submission Requirements (PDF), City of Parksville](https://www.parksville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID42atID11779.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387 (consolidated, PDF)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1098) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 1550 (consolidated, PDF)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/2815) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building, City of Parksville](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=42) (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 Parksville. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/secondary-suite/_