Port Clements secondary suite and carriage house rules
Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Port Clements?
Short answer
In Port Clements a secondary suite is permitted, one per parcel, in the R-1, R-2 and A-1 zones. It needs its own outside entrance and may be no more than 40% of the house's floor area. A detached accessory dwelling unit is allowed on municipal sewer in some zones.
Key facts
| Secondary suite allowed | Permitted (1 per parcel) in the Residential Urban (R-1), Rural Residential (R-2) and Agricultural (A-1) zones. A secondary suite is a self-contained unit within a single family dwelling.Zoning Bylaw No. 444, 2024, as reproduced in the February 17, 2026 council agenda package, s. 7.3.1 R-1, B; Zoning Bylaw No. 444, 2024, as reproduced in the February 17, 2026 council agenda package, s. 7.3.2 R-2, B; Zoning Bylaw No. 444, 2024, as reproduced in the February 17, 2026 council agenda package, s. 7.3.14 A-1, B; Zoning Bylaw No. 444, 2024, as reproduced in the February 17, 2026 council agenda package, s. 1.3 Definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording46.5 m2 and is not located within 5.0 m of any property line; (i) secondary suite (1); (j) short term rental (1); (i) secondary suite (1); secondary suite (1); and means a self -contained living unit that is contained within, and forms part of a single family dwelling; |
|---|---|
| Coach house or garden suite allowed | An accessory dwelling unit (1) is permitted in R-1, R-2, C-1 and C-2 on parcels serviced by the municipal sewer system. On parcels under one hectare not on municipal sewer, detached accessory dwelling units are not permitted.Zoning Bylaw No. 444, 2024, as reproduced in the February 17, 2026 council agenda package, s. 7.3.1 R-1, B; Zoning Bylaw No. 444, 2024, as reproduced in the February 17, 2026 council agenda package, s. 4.18(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingaccessory dwelling unit (1) on parcels serviced by the municipal sewer system; accessory dwelling units separate from the principal building are not. |
| Limits | A secondary suite must have a separate external entry and its gross floor area may not exceed 40% of the single family dwelling's gross floor area.Zoning Bylaw No. 444, 2024, as reproduced in the February 17, 2026 council agenda package, s. 4.18(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingSecondary suites shall have a separate external entry and the gross floor area shall not exceed 40 % of the gross floor area of the single family dwelling. |
| Parking | 1 off-street parking space per secondary suite.Zoning Bylaw No. 444, 2024, as reproduced in the February 17, 2026 council agenda package, s. 6.4 parking table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingSecondary suite 1 per secondary suite |
| Permits | Not confirmed. The Village's website does not state a building permit requirement for suites. |
| Bylaw | Village of Port Clements Zoning Bylaw No. 444, 2024 (adopted February 17, 2026), s. 4.18Zoning Bylaw No. 444, 2024, as reproduced in the February 17, 2026 council agenda package, Bylaw adoption · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingRECONSIDERED AND ADOPTED THIS 17TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026 |
How it works
Zoning Bylaw No. 444 permits one secondary suite per parcel in the Residential Urban (R-1), Rural Residential (R-2) and Agricultural (A-1) zones. A secondary suite is a self-contained unit within a single family dwelling. It is not listed in the RM-1 or MH-2 zones.
Steps
- Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).
- Plan for a separate external entry, a gross floor area of no more than 40% of the house, and 1 off-street parking space for the suite.
- Call the Village Office at 250-557-4295 to ask what permits apply.
Good to know
- Carriage house or detached unit: one accessory dwelling unit is permitted in R-1, R-2, C-1 and C-2 on parcels serviced by the municipal sewer system. On parcels under one hectare that are not on municipal sewer, detached units are not permitted.
- The website does not state a building permit requirement for suites.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Masset · Daajing Giids · Prince Rupert · Port Edward · Kitimat · Terrace
Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 444, 2024, as reproduced in the February 17, 2026 council agenda package (PDF), Village of Port Clements (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact Us, Village of Port Clements (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.