Prince Rupert secondary suite and carriage house rules
Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?
Short answer
Yes. Prince Rupert's Zoning Bylaw allows a secondary suite or a detached garden suite as an accessory use to a small-scale residential dwelling, with one accessory unit per principal dwelling. You need a building permit, and the suite must meet the bylaw's size, parking and fire-safety rules.
Key facts
| Secondary suite allowed | Yes. A secondary suite is allowed as an accessory use to a small-scale residential dwelling. The R1 zone allows up to 4 dwelling units per lot, including principal and accessory units. The City says accessory dwelling units can be permitted in all residential zones if requirements are met.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), s. 3.4(a); s. 5.2.0 (R1); Development Procedures Guide, Fact Sheet 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA Secondary Suite is permitted as an accessory use to a small-scale residential dwelling as permitted in 4 units per lot, inclusive of principal and accessory dwelling units. ADUs can be permitted in all residential zones, assuming you can meet the requirements below. |
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| Coach house or garden suite allowed | Yes. A garden suite (detached) is allowed as an accessory use to a small-scale residential dwelling. It may not be in the front yard, except suites attached to garages.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), s. 3.4(c), 3.4.1(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA Garden Suite is permitted as an accessory use to a small-scale residential dwelling as permitted in Garden Suites shall not be located in the front yard, with an exemption for suites attached to garages. |
| Limits | One accessory dwelling unit per principal dwelling. Secondary suite: at most 90 m² or 40% of the building's habitable area, whichever is less. Garden suite: at most 90 m². Minimum suite size 22 m².Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), s. 3.4.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSecondary suites must have a floor area of no more than 90m2, or 40% of the buildings habitable area, Garden Suites must have a floor area of no more than 90m2. The minimum size for an accessory dwelling unit is 22 m2 There is only one accessory dwelling unit permitted for each principle dwelling. |
| Parking | Zoning Bylaw: 0.25 parking space per accessory dwelling unit city-wide for new buildings; in the Parking Specified Area (Schedule D), 1 space per accessory dwelling unit for new residential buildings. Fractions round to the nearest whole number. The City's guide says one off-street space per additional unit.Sources differ: Bylaw wins: the Zoning Bylaw's 0.25 space (outside the Parking Specified Area) differs from the Guide's one space. Whether 'per dwelling unit' in the 0.25 row means per accessory unit is not spelled out. Rule applies to new buildings, and to existing buildings as at Amendment No. 3504.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), s. 10.2.1, 10.2.2, 10.1.1(f); Development Procedures Guide, Fact Sheet 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAccessory Dwelling Unit 0.25 space per dwelling unit Accessory Dwelling Unit 1 space per accessory dwelling unit the required number of parking spaces shall be rounded to the nearest whole number One off-street parking space per additional unit |
| Permits | A building permit is required before work starts on the suite. A development permit is needed only if the property is in a Development Permit Area; an R1 small-scale project outside one may not need it. The City lists requirements such as a 45-minute fire separation and bedroom egress windows. Utility fees apply to each unit.Development Procedures Guide, Fact Sheet 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA Building Permit is required prior to commencing work on the suite. A fire separation having a fire resistance rating of not less than 45 minutes Minimum ceiling height is 6 foot 11 inches additional utility fees are applied to each unit on the property Applicants can apply for a variance for Council to consider varying regulations If your property is in a Development Permit Area, you need a Development Permit before you can: |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 3462, 2021 (s. 3.4, s. 5.2.0 R1, s. 10); Building Bylaw No. 3314, 2012Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), s. 3.4; Building Bylaw No. 3314, 2012, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording3.4.1 General Regulations for Secondary and Lock-Off Suites City of Prince Rupert Building Bylaw No. 3314, 2012 |
How it works
Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (s. 3.4) allows a secondary suite, or a detached garden suite, as an accessory use to a small-scale residential dwelling. Lock-off suites are allowed in multi-family housing. The R1 zone allows up to 4 dwelling units per lot, counting the principal and accessory units. The City says accessory dwelling units can be permitted in all residential zones if requirements are met. A garden suite may not be in the front yard, except suites attached to garages.
Steps
- Check your zone and any Development Permit Area in zoning-lookup.
- Confirm the size and parking rules below with Development Services.
- Apply for a building permit with drawings before work starts.
- Allow for the City's requirements, such as a 45-minute fire separation and egress windows in bedrooms.
Good to know
- Size: one accessory dwelling unit per principal dwelling. A secondary suite may be at most 90 m² or 40% of the building's habitable area, whichever is less. A garden suite may be at most 90 m². The minimum suite size is 22 m². Lock-off suites: 45 m² or 40%, whichever is less. The City's guide says an attached suite cannot exceed 40% of the living floor space or 970 square feet.
- Parking: the bylaw requires 0.25 parking space per accessory dwelling unit for new buildings, and 1 space per accessory unit in the Parking Specified Area (Schedule D). Fractions round to the nearest whole number. The City's guide says one off-street space per additional unit. The bylaw prevails, but confirm with Development Services.
- A development permit is needed only if the property is in a Development Permit Area. The guide says a small-scale R1 project outside one may not need it.
- No owner-occupancy requirement is stated in the bylaw or the guide.
- Utility fees apply to each unit.
- The City says it is updating its zoning, so these rules may change.
What you'll need
- Building permit application and drawings
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
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Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Development Procedures Guide (PDF), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw No. 3314, 2012 (PDF), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Building and Development Fees, City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Contact a City Department, City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Ticketing, Fine Payment and Disputes, City of Prince Rupert (City Hall hours) (read 2026-11-05)
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.