Port Alberni secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Port Alberni, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes, in some zones. Port Alberni's Zoning Bylaw 5105 allows a secondary suite in the A1, FD, RR, R and C9 zones, limited to 40% of the habitable floor space, with the main home permanently occupied and one extra parking space. Carriage houses and garden suites are allowed in RR and R zones.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowed	A secondary suite is a listed accessory use in the A1, FD, RR, R and C9 zones, inside a principal building. In C9 it is allowed only where a single detached dwelling is the principal use, not with a guest house or bed and breakfast.Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 5.7.1, 5.8.1, 5.9.1, 5.10.1, 5.23.3(d), 6.29 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Housing for farm labour Secondary suite Kennel Secondary suite Multi-residential dwellings Secondary Suite Aviary Multi-residential dwellings Secondary Suite Bed and Breakfast Secondary suites are only permitted on those lots where a single detached dwelling is the principal use. May be located within a principal building on the following conditions:
Coach house or garden suite allowed	Carriage houses and garden suites (accessory dwelling units) are listed as accessory uses in the RR and R zones. A garden suite must be in the rear yard; a carriage house cannot be in the front setback or in front of the house.Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 5.9.1, 5.10.1, 6.21 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Semi-detached dwelling Accessory Dwelling Unit Multi-residential dwellings Secondary Suite Is located in a rear yard; Is not located in the required front yard setback area or in front of the principal building;
Limits	Secondary suite: at most 40% of the habitable floor space of the principal building, fully inside the single principal residence, and the principal dwelling must be permanently occupied. Carriage house or garden suite: at most 90 m² and 8.5 m high.Sources differ: The City's Secondary Suites web page (March 2014 bylaw) adds a 90 m2 cap (whichever is less) and says the home must be owner-occupied; the current Bylaw 5105 s. 6.29 has no 90 m2 cap and says 'permanently occupied'. The bylaw is followed. Carriage house floor area excludes a first-storey garage.Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 6.29, 6.21 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording May not exceed 40% of the habitable floor space of the principal building; Must be fully contained within the principal residence which is a single real estate entity; The principal dwelling is permanently occupied. Does not exceed a maximum height of 8.5 m; Does not contain a gross floor area greater than 90 m2;
Parking	One extra space for a secondary suite, on top of the house's standard requirement. The parking table lists 1 space per unit for suites or accessory dwelling units, and 1 space per single detached dwelling.Sources differ: The City's old Secondary Suites web page says three spaces in total (two for the house plus one); under Bylaw 5105 the house needs 1 space, so the suite's extra space makes 2.Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 6.29(c), 7.9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Must be provided with a parking space additional to the standard parking space Suites or Accessory Dwelling Units 1 space per unit Single detached dwelling 1 space per unit
Permits	A building permit is needed, with the Secondary Suite Pre-Application Checklist (or the ADU checklist for a carriage house or garden suite). Building Services also lists a Secondary Suite Authorization Permit for existing suites.Standard Building and Plumbing Permits (Part 9 Buildings), Forms; Building Services, Building Services FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Secondary Suite Pre-Application Checklist (Must also be included with Building Permit Applications for secondary suites) Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Pre-Application Checklist (Must also be included with Building Permit Applications for ADU's) Authorize an existing Secondary Suite or build a new Secondary Suite
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (sections 5, 6.21, 6.29, 7.9) and Building Bylaw No. 5077Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 6.29; Standard Building and Plumbing Permits (Part 9 Buildings), Step One · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording applicable zone, or within 3 m of any lot line adjoining an R, RM, or MH zone. 6.29 Secondary Suites May be located within a principal building on the following conditions: Bylaw No. 5105 Bylaw No. 5105 Building Bylaw No. 5077, Zoning Bylaw No. 5105

How it works

Under Zoning Bylaw 5105, a secondary suite is a listed accessory use in the A1, FD, RR, R and C9 zones, inside the principal building. In C9 it is allowed only where a single detached dwelling is the principal use, not with a guest house or bed and breakfast. RM, MH and commercial zones list no secondary suite.

A suite may take at most 40% of the habitable floor space of the principal building, must be fully inside the single principal residence, and the principal dwelling must be permanently occupied. It needs one extra parking space on top of the house's requirement.

Carriage houses and garden suites (accessory dwelling units) are listed in the RR and R zones. They may be at most 90 m² and 8.5 m high. A garden suite must be in the rear yard; a carriage house cannot be in the front setback or in front of the house. Without direct street access, a path of at least 1.0 m is needed.

Steps

Confirm your zone with Development Services (see the zoning lookup answer).
Apply for a building permit with the Secondary Suite Pre-Application Checklist (or the ADU checklist for a carriage house or garden suite).
For an existing suite, Building Services also lists a Secondary Suite Authorization Permit.
Pass inspections before anyone occupies the suite.

Good to know

A development permit may also be needed if the lot is in a Development Permit Area; ask Development Services.
The City's older Secondary Suites web page, written for the 2014 bylaw, says the home must be owner-occupied, suites are not allowed in duplexes, and the suite is capped at 90 m2 or 40%, whichever is less, with three parking spaces in total. The current bylaw is followed here; confirm with the City.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Qualicum Beach · Parksville · Cumberland · Comox · Courtenay · Lantzville

Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Building Services, City of Port Alberni (read 2026-11-05)
Standard Building and Plumbing Permits (Part 9 Buildings), City of Port Alberni (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. How answers are checked.