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Quesnel secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Quesnel, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedA 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.City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.20, 5.6.2 parking, zone sections), ss. 4.20.3, 10.2; Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
As well, your property must be zoned to allow a secondary suite.
Coach house or garden suite allowedCarriage 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.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 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
LimitsEach 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.City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.20, 5.6.2 parking, zone sections), s. 4.20.1; Getting Started - Accessory Dwellings, FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
accessory dwellings cannot be strata titled
for the purposes of calculating density an accessory dwelling unit would be considered 1 dwelling unit.
No - The owner is not required to live in either the secondary suite or the principal residence.
ParkingOne extra off-street space per secondary suite, carriage house or secondary dwelling, in addition to the spaces for the main dwelling.City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.20, 5.6.2 parking, zone sections), s. 5.6.2, Table 5.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
PermitsA 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.Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page; Getting Started - Accessory Dwellings · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
All constructed ADUs will have to obtain a building permit.
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 1980 (ss. 4.20, 5.6.2 and zone sections); Building Bylaw Number 1550, 2003.City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.20, 5.6.2 parking, zone sections), s. 4.20; Building Bylaw 1550, 2003, consolidated September 2011, s. 2.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
4.20 Accessory Dwelling Units
Building Bylaw Num ber 1550, 2003

How it works

In the City of Quesnel a secondary suite must be inside a principal ground-oriented dwelling. Under Zoning Bylaw 1980 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

The same question in other places

Williams Lake · Prince George · Vanderhoof · 100 Mile House · Fraser Lake · Fort St James

Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Secondary Suites, City of Quesnel (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Getting Started - Accessory Dwellings, City of Quesnel (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Carriage House, City of Quesnel (read 2026-11-05)
  4. City of Quesnel Zoning Bylaw 1980, 2025 (sections 4.20, 5.6.2 parking, zone sections) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Building Bylaw 1550, 2003, consolidated September 2011 (PDF) (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.