{"title":"Port Hardy secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Port Hardy?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/port-hardy","name":"Port Hardy","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 Hardy","url":"https://porthardy.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes, in some zones. Port Hardy's Zoning Bylaw allows a secondary suite in R-1, R-1s, R-2, RR-1 and GH-1 zones, and a carriage home in R-1, R-2, RR-1 and GH-1, but only one per parcel. It may not exceed 40% of the house's floor area or 90 m², and needs one parking space and a building permit.","aliases":["secondary suite port hardy","basement suite port hardy","carriage home port hardy","legal suite port hardy"],"cost":"Building permit fees are based on construction value; see the building-permit-fees answer. The 2026 fee schedule has an $83 inspection fee for closing a suite.","how_long":"About 21 days for a building permit, according to the District's guide.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Municipal Inspector (building permits and inspections)","value":"250-949-6665","note":"Monday to Friday during regular business hours."},{"type":"in_person","label":"District of Port Hardy Municipal Hall","value":"7360 Columbia St., Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding statutory holidays)"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf"},{"title":"Building Permit Guide, September 2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Building-Permit-Guide-Final-Sept-2026.pdf"},{"title":"Building Permits, District of Port Hardy","url":"https://porthardy.ca/community/bylaws/building-permits/"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Port Hardy building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Port Hardy zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Port Hardy building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Port Hardy home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/home-based-business/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/port-mcneill","name":"Port McNeill","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tahsis","name":"Tahsis","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sayward","name":"Sayward","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/gold-river","name":"Gold River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/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":"Yes, as an accessory use where the zone lists it: R-1, R-2, RR-1 and GH-1 (carriage home or secondary suite) and R-1s (secondary suite only). The suite must be completely enclosed within a single detached dwelling. Not listed in the R-3, RM-1 to RM-3 or commercial zones read.","short":"Yes, in R-1, R-2, RR-1, GH-1 and R-1s zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 6.1 R-1","quotes":["Carriage Home Dwelling or Secondary Suite Dwelling (see sections 3.10 and 3.11)"]},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 6.2 R-1s","quotes":["Secondary Suite Dwelling (see section 3.10)"]},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 3.10(c)(1)","quotes":["must be completely enclosed within a single detached dwelling;"]},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 3.10(a)","quotes":["Where permitted by the applicable zone, only one secondary suite dwelling is permitted per parcel."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Carriage homes (detached, completely enclosed within an accessory building) are allowed in R-1, R-2, RR-1 and GH-1, but not R-1s. Only one carriage home or one secondary suite per parcel, never both.","short":"Yes, carriage homes in R-1, R-2, RR-1, GH-1; not R-1s","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 3.11","quotes":["A carriage home dwelling is not permitted on a parcel on which a secondary suite dwelling is located.","must be completely enclosed within an accessory building;"]},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 6.1 R-1","quotes":["There shall be no more than one Secondary Suite Dwelling or one Carriage Home Dwelling per"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"One suite per parcel. A secondary suite or carriage home may not exceed 40% of the house's gross floor area or 90 m², whichever is less. A suite in a new house requires a covenant against strata conversion. No owner-occupancy rule found.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"ss. 3.10(c)(2)-(3), 3.11(c)(2)","quotes":["shall not exceed 40% of the gross floor area of the single detached dwelling or 90 square metres","prohibiting strata conversion of","only one secondary suite dwelling is permitted per parcel"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"One off-street parking space on the same parcel for the exclusive use of the suite or carriage home (Table 4.2: 1 per dwelling).","short":"1 space per suite","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"s. 3.10(c)(4)","quotes":["shall require that one off-street parking space be provided on the same parcel for the exclusive use","one off-street parking space be provided on the same parcel for the exclusive use of the carriage home"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is needed to alter a building or finish an area to add a suite. The District's building permit page tells applicants to consult Building Code Section 9.37. A development permit is needed only on lots in an OCP development permit area; ask the District.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/community/bylaws/building-permits/","title":"Building Permits, District of Port Hardy","section":"Building Permits page","quotes":["Secondary Suites Consult With Building Code Section 9.37","Building permits are necessary to erect, alter, add, move, demolish a building OR to install a new wood burning appliance"]},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Building-Permit-Guide-Final-Sept-2026.pdf","title":"Building Permit Guide, September 2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"p. 2","quotes":["complete a previously unfinished area in an existing","make alterations, renovations or repairs to an existing"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, ss. 3.10 (Secondary Suite Dwellings) and 3.11 (Carriage Home Dwellings), consolidated December 2025; Building Bylaw No. 11-2005.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","section":"ss. 3.10, 3.11","quotes":["SECONDARY SUITE DWELLINGS","CARRIAGE HOME DWELLINGS","District of Port Hardy Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013"]}],"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\nThe [Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf) allows a secondary suite in Port Hardy as an accessory use in the R-1, R-2, RR-1 and GH-1 zones, and in R-1s (secondary suite only). The suite must be completely enclosed within a single detached dwelling (s. 3.10). A carriage home, which is detached and completely enclosed within an accessory building, is allowed in R-1, R-2, RR-1 and GH-1 but not R-1s (s. 3.11). The R-3, RM-1 to RM-3 and commercial zones read do not list either.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Plan within the limits: one suite or one carriage home per parcel, never both; no more than 40% of the house's gross floor area or 90 m², whichever is less; and one off-street parking space on the parcel for its exclusive use.\n3. For a suite in a new house, expect a covenant against strata conversion.\n4. Get a building permit to alter the building or finish an area. The District's [Building Permits page](https://porthardy.ca/community/bylaws/building-permits/) tells applicants to consult Building Code Section 9.37. Call the Municipal Inspector at 250-949-6665.\n5. Ask the District whether your lot is in an Official Community Plan development permit area, which may require a development permit.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The bylaw read has no owner-occupancy rule for suites.\n- The 2026 fee schedule has an $83 inspection fee for closing a suite.\n- The District's site links a 2014 Guide to Secondary Suites, but its text could not be read, so it is not relied on here.","sources":[{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1010-2013-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2025.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1010-2013, consolidated December 2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/community/bylaws/building-permits/","title":"Building Permits, District of Port Hardy","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Building-Permit-Guide-Final-Sept-2026.pdf","title":"Building Permit Guide, September 2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1183-2025-OCP-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1183-2025 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf","title":"User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01-2010_mti_consolidated_august_2014.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014 (PDF), District of Port Hardy","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-hardy/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/secondary-suite.json"}}