---
title: Port McNeill secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Port McNeill?"
place: Port McNeill, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/port-mcneill
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Port McNeill
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Port McNeill secondary suite and carriage house rules

**Question:** Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Port McNeill?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Port McNeill, https://portmcneill.ca)  
**Cost:** Not stated for suites; see the building-permit-fees answer for building permit fees.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall, 1775 Furney Place, Port McNeill, BC (mail: Box 728, Port McNeill, BC V0N 2R0) (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed statutory holidays))
- Phone: Town Office, 250-956-3111
- Email: Town Office reception, reception@portmcneill.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 8.1.1 R-1 Zone](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 8.2.1 R-2 Zone](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 8.4.1 R-4 Zone](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "c) Dwelling, Townhouse or Row house Accessory uses: a) Suite, Secondary b) Bed and Breakfast 8.4.2 Lot Coverage:"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 8.9.1 CD-1 Zone](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 5.13.1](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "only one secondary or caretaker suite is permitted per parcel"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 8.9.1 CD-1 Zone](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "c) Cottage" … "Dwelling, Single family with a cottage 2,000 m2" … "shall be separately metered and subject to utility billings"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 8.9.4 Lot area](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dwelling, Single family with a cottage 2,000 m2"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 8.9.7 Conditions of use](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 5.13.2](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** 3 off-street parking spaces for a single-family dwelling with a cottage or a secondary suite.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 5.14.4 table](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Single-family dwelling with a cottage or a" … "3 parking spaces"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** Not confirmed. The permits page and application form do not mention suites.
- **Bylaw:** Town of Port McNeill Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (s. 5.13 and the zone sections).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 1.1 Title](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Town of Port McNeill Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The 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).

A 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.

## Good to know

- 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.
- Parking: 3 off-street spaces for a single-family dwelling with a cottage or a secondary suite.
- No owner-occupancy requirement was found in the zoning bylaw.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy)](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Port McNeill building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/building-permit.md)
- [Port McNeill zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Port McNeill short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Port Hardy](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/secondary-suite.md)
- [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/secondary-suite.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/secondary-suite.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/secondary-suite.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/secondary-suite.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Permits, Inspections and Variance, Town of Port McNeill](https://portmcneill.ca/town-hall/permits-inspections-variance/) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Port McNeill. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/secondary-suite/_