---
title: Quesnel secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?"
place: Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/quesnel
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Quesnel
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Quesnel secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** In Quesnel a secondary suite must be inside a principal ground-oriented dwelling, in a zone that allows it (A-1, RR-1, CR-1, RS-1, RS-2 and SR-1). You need a building permit and one extra off-street parking space. Detached carriage houses and secondary dwellings are allowed in some zones.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Quesnel, https://www.quesnel.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees by construction value; see the building-permit-fees answer. The City's page says fees were waived for secondary suites only until the end of 2022, so that waiver is over.  
**How long:** The City does not state a processing time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services, 250-992-2111
- Email: Development Services (zoning, legal status), developmentservices@quesnel.ca
- Email: Building Department (pre-inspection), buildinginspection@quesnel.ca
- Email: Bylaw Department (accommodation business licence), bylaw@quesnel.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** A secondary suite must be inside a principal ground-oriented dwelling. It is an accessory use in the A-1, RR-1, CR-1, RS-1, RS-2 and SR-1 zones, and 'accessory dwelling unit' is an accessory use in C-2A and C-3. It cannot share a dwelling with a bed and breakfast.
  - Source: [City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.20, 5.6.2 parking, zone sections), ss. 4.20.3, 10.2](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/)
  - Official wording: "secondary suite dwellings must be located within a principal ground- oriented dwelling." … "a secondary suite dwelling is not permitted in the same dwelling as a bed and breakfast use." … "(g) secondary suite dwelling." … "secondary suite dwellings must be located within a principal ground-" … "The following uses and no others are permitted as accessory uses in the C-3 Zone:" … "(b) accessory dwelling unit."
  - Source: [Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page](https://www.quesnel.ca/building-development/housing-initiatives/add-residential-units/secondary-suites)
  - Official wording: "As well, your property must be zoned to allow a secondary suite."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Carriage houses (up to 90 m²) and secondary dwellings (up to 130 m²) are accessory uses in A-1, CR-1, RS-1 and RS-2, and in RR-1 if fully serviced. Both must connect to municipal water and sewer. In CR-1, RS-1 and RS-2, lots with no community sewer or over 4,050 m² are limited to one house and a suite.
  - Source: [City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.20, 5.6.2 parking, zone sections), ss. 4.20.2, 4.20.4, 8.2](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/)
  - Official wording: "a maximum gross floor area of 130 sq. m (1,400 sq. ft.)" … "up to a maximum gross floor area of 90 sq. m (969 sq. ft.)." … "(g) secondary dwelling (if property is fully serviced by community systems)." … "(h) carriage house dwelling (if property is fully serviced by community systems)." … "must be connected to municipal services (water and sewer)." … "Single-detached dwelling and secondary"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Each accessory unit counts as one dwelling unit for density and cannot be strata titled. Secondary dwelling up to 130 m², carriage house up to 90 m². The bylaw sets no size limit for a secondary suite. The City says the owner need not live on site.
  - Source: [City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.20, 5.6.2 parking, zone sections), s. 4.20.1](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/)
  - Official wording: "accessory dwellings cannot be strata titled" … "for the purposes of calculating density an accessory dwelling unit would be considered 1 dwelling unit."
  - Source: [Getting Started - Accessory Dwellings, FAQ](https://www.quesnel.ca/building-development/housing-initiatives/add-residential-units/getting-started-accessory-dwellings)
  - Official wording: "No - The owner is not required to live in either the secondary suite or the principal residence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** One extra off-street space per secondary suite, carriage house or secondary dwelling, in addition to the spaces for the main dwelling.
  - Source: [City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.20, 5.6.2 parking, zone sections), s. 5.6.2, Table 5.1](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suite dwelling 1 per suite in addition to spaces required for the principal dwelling unit" … "Carriage house dwelling 1 per carriage dwelling unit in addition to spaces required for the principal dwelling unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit is required to create a legal secondary suite, and the property must be zoned for it. If you rent out both units, or rent two units and do not live in one, an Accommodation Business Licence is also required.
  - Source: [Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page](https://www.quesnel.ca/building-development/housing-initiatives/add-residential-units/secondary-suites)
  - Official wording: "To create a legal secondary suite, you must obtain a Building Permit." … "If you own a rental property with two units and you do not live in one of the units OR if you own a rental property with more than two units, you must obtain an Accommodation Business License."
  - Source: [Getting Started - Accessory Dwellings](https://www.quesnel.ca/building-development/housing-initiatives/add-residential-units/getting-started-accessory-dwellings)
  - Official wording: "All constructed ADUs will have to obtain a building permit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1980 (ss. 4.20, 5.6.2 and zone sections); Building Bylaw Number 1550, 2003.
  - Source: [City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.20, 5.6.2 parking, zone sections), s. 4.20](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/)
  - Official wording: "4.20 Accessory Dwelling Units"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1550, 2003, consolidated September 2011, s. 2.1](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/consolidated-building-bylaw-sept-2011)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw Num ber 1550, 2003"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In the City of Quesnel a secondary suite must be inside a principal ground-oriented dwelling. Under [Zoning Bylaw 1980](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/) it is an accessory use in the A-1, RR-1, CR-1, RS-1, RS-2 and SR-1 zones, and an "accessory dwelling unit" is an accessory use in C-2A and C-3. A suite cannot share a dwelling with a bed and breakfast. Other zones (RS-3, multi-unit, some commercial) also mention suites or accessory dwellings, so check your zone and Q-City Maps.

Carriage houses (up to 90 m2) and secondary dwellings (up to 130 m2) are accessory uses in A-1, CR-1, RS-1 and RS-2, and in RR-1 if fully serviced. A secondary dwelling is a separate detached house.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone allows a suite, carriage house or secondary dwelling.
2. Read the City's suite guide, then talk to Development Services.
3. Apply for a building permit. The suite needs its own address and an outside door.
4. Provide one extra off-street parking space per suite, carriage house or secondary dwelling, in addition to the main dwelling's spaces. The City says it must not be in tandem with the main parking or rely on a laneway.
5. If you rent both the house and the suite, or rent two units and live in neither, get an Accommodation Business Licence (bylaw@quesnel.ca).

## Good to know

- Each accessory unit counts as one dwelling unit for density and cannot be strata titled.
- The bylaw sets no size limit for a secondary suite. The City says the owner need not live on site.
- Carriage houses and secondary dwellings must connect to municipal water and sewer, be reachable from the frontage road without relying on a lane, sit in the rear or side yard, and be 3 m from the house. Carriage houses are not allowed in hazardous areas without a geotechnical evaluation.
- In CR-1, RS-1 and RS-2, lots with no community sewer or over 4,050 m2 are limited to one house and a suite.
- Lots in the Hillside Hazard development permit area may need a development permit and geotechnical report.

## Official forms and pages

- [Creating or Legalizing a Secondary Suite Information Guide (PDF)](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/creating-or-legalizing-secondary-suitemar2026pdf)
- [Secondary Suites (City of Quesnel)](https://www.quesnel.ca/building-development/housing-initiatives/add-residential-units/secondary-suites)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (PDF)](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/)

## Related questions

- [Quesnel building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/building-permit.md)
- [Quesnel zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Quesnel short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/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)
- [Williams Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/secondary-suite.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/secondary-suite.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/secondary-suite.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/secondary-suite.md)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/secondary-suite.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Secondary Suites, City of Quesnel](https://www.quesnel.ca/building-development/housing-initiatives/add-residential-units/secondary-suites) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Getting Started - Accessory Dwellings, City of Quesnel](https://www.quesnel.ca/building-development/housing-initiatives/add-residential-units/getting-started-accessory-dwellings) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Carriage House, City of Quesnel](https://www.quesnel.ca/building-development/housing-initiatives/add-residential-units/carriage-house) (read 2026-11-05)
- [City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.20, 5.6.2 parking, zone sections) (PDF)](https://quesnel.civicweb.net/document/164372/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw 1550, 2003, consolidated September 2011 (PDF)](https://www.quesnel.ca/media/file/consolidated-building-bylaw-sept-2011) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Quesnel. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/secondary-suite/_