{"title":"Port Edward secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/port-edward","name":"Port Edward","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 Port Edward","url":"https://www.portedward.ca"},"short_answer":"In Port Edward a secondary suite is allowed in the A1, A2, R1 and R2 zones, but only inside a single family dwelling. The Zoning Bylaw lists no coach house or garden suite. You need a building permit, and 1 parking space for the suite.","aliases":["secondary suite port edward","basement suite port edward","carriage house port edward","legal suite port edward"],"cost":"See the building-permit-fees answer. No suite-specific fee is stated.","how_long":"No processing time is stated.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"District of Port Edward office","value":"250-628-3667"},{"type":"phone","label":"City of Prince Rupert (building permit services for the District)","value":"250-627-0946"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF)","url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf"},{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 716 (PDF)","url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws/716BuildingBylaw.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Port Edward building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Port Edward zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Port Edward building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/building-permit-fees/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/prince-rupert","name":"Prince Rupert","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kitimat","name":"Kitimat","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/masset","name":"Masset","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/masset/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-clements","name":"Port Clements","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-clements/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/daajing-giids","name":"Daajing Giids","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/daajing-giids/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":"A secondary suite is a permitted accessory use in the A1, A2, R1 and R2 zones, and only inside a single family dwelling. In A2, R1 and R2, a basement suite needs a separate entrance from ground level.","short":"Yes, in A1, A2, R1 and R2 zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"Part 3, Accessory Suites","quotes":["Accessory Suites shall be permitted only in Single Family Dwellings.","no Accessory Suite shall be permitted in any","Basement unless such suite is provided with a separate entrance from ground"]},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"Part 5, R1 Zone","quotes":["In the R1 Zone, the following Accessory Uses are permitted and all others","Secondary Suite."]},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"Table 2, Definitions (Secondary Suite)","quotes":["Means a Dwelling Unit added to and wholly contained within a"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"No coach house or garden suite is listed. An accessory building may not be used as a dwelling except as the Zoning Bylaw otherwise provides.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"Part 3, Accessory Buildings","quotes":["An Accessory Building or Structure shall not be used as a dwelling, except as","otherwise provided for in this Bylaw."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"A suite must be wholly contained within a single family dwelling.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"Table 2, Definitions (Secondary Suite)","quotes":["Means a Dwelling Unit added to and wholly contained within a","Single Family Dwelling, for Use as a complete, independent living"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"1 parking space per dwelling unit for an accessory suite or secondary suite. A single family dwelling needs 2 spaces.","short":"1 space per suite; house needs 2","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"Part 6, Table 6","quotes":["Accessory Suite 1 per Dwelling Unit","Single Family Dwelling 2 per Dwelling Unit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is needed to construct or alter. The OCP says secondary suites are permitted in single family homes subject to the BC Building Code. No suite-specific or development permit is stated.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws/716BuildingBylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 716 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"s. 9.1.1","quotes":["a building permit before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;"]},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/712_OCP_Final-2.pdf","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 712 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"OCP s. 7.5 (Residential Policies), item 6","quotes":["Secondary suites are permitted in single family homes subject to the provisions of the BC"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713, 2020 (Part 3 Accessory Suites; Part 6 Table 6); Building Bylaw No. 716","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"Title page","quotes":["Bylaw No. 713, 2020"]},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws/716BuildingBylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 716 (PDF), District of Port Edward","section":"Title page","quotes":["Building Bylaw No. 716"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nIn the District of Port Edward, the [Zoning Bylaw No. 713](https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf) permits a secondary suite as an accessory use in the A1, A2, R1 and R2 zones, and only inside a single family dwelling. The suite must be wholly contained within the dwelling. In A2, R1 and R2, a basement suite needs a separate entrance from ground level.\n\nThe bylaw lists no coach house, carriage house or garden suite. An accessory building may not be used as a dwelling except as the Zoning Bylaw otherwise provides.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone with the District office (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Apply for a building permit to construct or alter the space; the application must show parking. See the building-permit answer.\n3. Provide 1 parking space for the suite, in addition to the 2 a single family dwelling needs.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The Official Community Plan ([Bylaw 712](https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/712_OCP_Final-2.pdf)) says secondary suites are permitted in single family homes subject to the BC Building Code.\n- No suite-specific permit or development permit is stated.\n- The bylaw sets no size limit, cap on the number of suites, or owner-occupancy rule that we found. Ask the District office at 250-628-3667.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/713_Zoning_Consolidated_Bylaw_2023-2.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws/716BuildingBylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 716 (PDF), District of Port Edward","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/uploads/_bylaws_business_development/712_OCP_Final-2.pdf","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 712 (PDF), District of Port Edward","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.portedward.ca/","title":"District of Port Edward home page","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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/port-edward/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/secondary-suite.json"}}