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Port Edward secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Port Edward, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedA 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 713, Part 3, Accessory Suites; Zoning Bylaw No. 713, Part 5, R1 Zone; Zoning Bylaw No. 713, Table 2, Definitions (Secondary Suite) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
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
In the R1 Zone, the following Accessory Uses are permitted and all others
Secondary Suite.
Means a Dwelling Unit added to and wholly contained within a
Coach house or garden suite allowedNo coach house or garden suite is listed. An accessory building may not be used as a dwelling except as the Zoning Bylaw otherwise provides.Zoning Bylaw No. 713, Part 3, Accessory Buildings · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
An Accessory Building or Structure shall not be used as a dwelling, except as
otherwise provided for in this Bylaw.
LimitsA suite must be wholly contained within a single family dwelling.Zoning Bylaw No. 713, Table 2, Definitions (Secondary Suite) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Means a Dwelling Unit added to and wholly contained within a
Single Family Dwelling, for Use as a complete, independent living
Parking1 parking space per dwelling unit for an accessory suite or secondary suite. A single family dwelling needs 2 spaces.Zoning Bylaw No. 713, Part 6, Table 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Accessory Suite 1 per Dwelling Unit
Single Family Dwelling 2 per Dwelling Unit
PermitsA 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.Building Bylaw No. 716, s. 9.1.1; Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 712, OCP s. 7.5 (Residential Policies), item 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
a building permit before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;
Secondary suites are permitted in single family homes subject to the provisions of the BC
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 713, 2020 (Part 3 Accessory Suites; Part 6 Table 6); Building Bylaw No. 716Zoning Bylaw No. 713, Title page; Building Bylaw No. 716, Title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Bylaw No. 713, 2020
Building Bylaw No. 716

How it works

In the District of Port Edward, the Zoning Bylaw No. 713 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.

The 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.

Steps

  1. Check your zone with the District office (see the zoning-lookup answer).
  2. Apply for a building permit to construct or alter the space; the application must show parking. See the building-permit answer.
  3. Provide 1 parking space for the suite, in addition to the 2 a single family dwelling needs.

Good to know

  • The Official Community Plan (Bylaw 712) says secondary suites are permitted in single family homes subject to the BC Building Code.
  • No suite-specific permit or development permit is stated.
  • 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.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Prince Rupert · Kitimat · Terrace · Masset · Port Clements · Daajing Giids

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 713 (PDF), District of Port Edward (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 716 (PDF), District of Port Edward (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 712 (PDF), District of Port Edward (read 2026-11-08)
  4. District of Port Edward home page (read 2026-11-08)

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.