{"title":"Port McNeill secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Port McNeill?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/port-mcneill","name":"Port McNeill","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":"Town of Port McNeill","url":"https://portmcneill.ca"},"short_answer":"In Port McNeill a secondary suite is allowed as an accessory use in the R-1, R-2, R-4 and CD-1 zones, one per parcel, up to 90 m², with at most two bedrooms. A separate cottage is allowed only in the CD-1 zone. No zone lists a carriage house.","aliases":["secondary suite port mcneill","basement suite port mcneill","carriage house port mcneill","garden suite port mcneill"],"cost":"Not stated for suites; see the building-permit-fees answer for building permit fees.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"1775 Furney Place, Port McNeill, BC (mail: Box 728, Port McNeill, BC V0N 2R0)","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed statutory holidays)"},{"type":"phone","label":"Town Office","value":"250-956-3111"},{"type":"email","label":"Town Office reception","value":"reception@portmcneill.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy)","url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Port McNeill building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Port McNeill zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Port McNeill short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/port-hardy","name":"Port Hardy","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/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":"A secondary suite is allowed as an accessory use in the R-1, R-2, R-4 and CD-1 zones. Only one secondary or caretaker suite is allowed per parcel.","short":"Yes, in R-1, R-2, R-4 and CD-1 zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 8.1.1 R-1 Zone","quotes":["Accessory uses: c) Bed and Breakfast d) Suite, Secondary 8.1.2 Lot Coverage: Buildings and structures shall not cover more than 35% of the site area."]},{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 8.2.1 R-2 Zone","quotes":["Accessory uses: a) Bed and Breakfast b) Suite, Secondary 8.2.2 Lot Coverage: Buildings and structures shall not cover more than 35% of the site area"]},{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 8.4.1 R-4 Zone","quotes":["c) Dwelling, Townhouse or Row house Accessory uses: a) Suite, Secondary b) Bed and Breakfast 8.4.2 Lot Coverage:"]},{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 8.9.1 CD-1 Zone","quotes":["Accessory uses: a) Bed and Breakfast b) Suite, Secondary 8.2.2 Lot Coverage: Buildings and structures shall not cover more than 35% of the site area"]},{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 5.13.1","quotes":["only one secondary or caretaker suite is permitted per parcel"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"A cottage (separate dwelling up to 70 m² and 5.0 m high) is allowed only in the CD-1 zone, as an accessory use; lot area entry for a single-family dwelling with a cottage is 2,000 m². It must connect to municipal water and sewer and be separately metered.","short":"Only cottage in CD-1 zone","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 8.9.1 CD-1 Zone","quotes":["c) Cottage","Dwelling, Single family with a cottage 2,000 m2","shall be separately metered and subject to utility billings"]},{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 8.9.4 Lot area","quotes":["Dwelling, Single family with a cottage 2,000 m2"]},{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 8.9.7 Conditions of use","quotes":["The total floor area of the cottage must not be more that 70.0 m2","The cottage must be separate from the principal dwelling.","shall be separately metered and subject to utility billings"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Secondary suite: at most 90 m² and under 40% of the main building's habitable floor space; at most two bedrooms; in a building with only one other dwelling unit; one suite per parcel.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 5.13.2","quotes":["a total floor area of not more than 90 m2 in area.","a floor area less than 40% of the habitable floor space of the principal building.","not more than two bedrooms.","located within a building of residential occupancy containing only one other dwelling unit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"3 off-street parking spaces for a single-family dwelling with a cottage or a secondary suite.","short":"3 spaces for a house with a suite","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 5.14.4 table","quotes":["Single-family dwelling with a cottage or a","3 parking spaces"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"The permits page and application form do not mention suites.","sources":[]},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Town of Port McNeill Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (s. 5.13 and the zone sections).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 1.1 Title","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Town of Port McNeill Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021”."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe Town of Port McNeill's [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf) allows a secondary suite as an accessory use in the R-1, R-2, R-4 and CD-1 zones. Only one secondary or caretaker suite is allowed per parcel. Check your zone with the Town (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n\nA cottage, meaning a separate dwelling up to 70 m² and 5.0 m high, is allowed only in the CD-1 zone, as an accessory use. It must connect to municipal water and sewer and be separately metered. The bylaw defines \"carriage house\" but does not list it as a permitted use in any zone.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Suite limits (section 5.13.2): at most 90 m² and under 40% of the main building's habitable floor space; at most two bedrooms; in a building with only one other dwelling unit.\n- Parking: 3 off-street spaces for a single-family dwelling with a cottage or a secondary suite.\n- No owner-occupancy requirement was found in the zoning bylaw.\n- The permits page and application form do not mention suites, and the zoning bylaw states no development permit for them. Ask the Town about building permit requirements: 250-956-3111 or reception@portmcneill.ca.","sources":[{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/town-hall/permits-inspections-variance/","title":"Permits, Inspections and Variance, Town of Port McNeill","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 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/secondary-suite.json"}}