---
title: Saanich secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a garden suite in Saanich?"
place: Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/saanich
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Saanich
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Saanich secondary suite and carriage house rules

**Question:** Can I add a secondary suite or a garden suite in Saanich?

**Short answer:** Yes. In Saanich a secondary suite is a permitted use in all RS, RD and A zones, inside a single family dwelling or houseplex. Detached garden suites are allowed on some lots. You need a building permit and then an occupancy permit before anyone moves in.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Saanich, https://www.saanich.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees apply; see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** A garden suite permit takes about six weeks from a complete application. For a secondary suite the District does not state a separate time.  
**Where:**
- Online: Secondary Suites, District of Saanich, https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/development-applications/secondary-suites.html
- Phone: Inspection Services, 250-475-5457
- Email: Inspection Services, inspections@saanich.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Yes. A secondary suite is a permitted accessory use in all RS, RD and A zones, inside a single family dwelling or houseplex.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, s. 5.24(b)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a secondary suite is a permitted accessory use in all RS, RD, and A zones" … "The secondary suite must be located within a single family dwelling or houseplex;"
  - Source: [Secondary Suites](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/development-applications/secondary-suites.html)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suites are a permitted accessory use in all RS, RD and A zones."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Garden suites (detached) are allowed on RS and RD lots in a zone listing Garden Suite as a use, inside the Sewer Service Area and/or Urban Containment Boundary, at least 400 m² and 12 m wide, with a single family dwelling. One per lot. Not for short-term rental, bed and breakfast or boarding.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, s. 5.35](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The lot must be within the Sewer Service Area and/or within the Urban Containment Boundary;" … "The lot must have a minimum area of 400 m2;" … "The lot must be a minimum of 12 m wide; and" … "No more than one garden suite is permitted on a lot." … "Short-term rental use is prohibited in a garden suite."
  - Source: [Garden Suites](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/development-applications/garden-suites.html)
  - Official wording: "Be in an RS or RD* zone" … "as of June 30, 2024 both a garden suite and a secondary suite will be permitted on RS and RD zoned properties"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** One secondary suite per real estate entity, inside the house or houseplex (not on a separate titled parcel); no boarding. On RS lots outside the Urban Containment Boundary: one secondary suite or one garden suite. No separate suite size limit found; the dwelling's total floor area follows its zone (e.g. RS-2: FSR 0.50 or 215 m²). No owner-occupancy rule found.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, s. 5.24(b)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No more than one secondary suite is permitted per real estate entity;" … "Boarding is not permitted within the secondary suite." … "c) Not more than one secondary suite or one garden suite on any RS zoned lot outside of the" … "(c) Shall not exceed a Floor Space Ratio (R) of 0.50 or"
  - Source: [Secondary Suites](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/development-applications/secondary-suites.html)
  - Official wording: "You must meet the conditions of the relevant zone or Schedule G (e.g. maximum floor area/floor space ratio)." … "may not be connected to the primary dwelling unit by a breezeway or enclosed hallway"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** One additional on-site parking space for the suite occupant, unless the regulations say otherwise. Tandem parking on the driveway is allowed. The space must have an energized EV outlet for Level 2 charging.
  - Source: [Secondary Suites](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/development-applications/secondary-suites.html)
  - Official wording: "Unless the applicable regulations say otherwise, you must provide one additional onsite parking space for the Secondary Suite occupant." … "We allow tandem parking on the driveway." … "The Secondary Suites parking space must also have an Energized EV Outlet for Level 2 electric vehicle charging."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, s. 5.24(b)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "one additional on-site parking space for the occupant of the suite must be installed"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit (Renovation or Addition application for an existing house; New Build for a new one), then an occupancy permit for the suite from Inspection Services, which is required before anyone occupies it. A garden suite needs a building permit and plumbing permit.
  - Source: [Secondary Suites](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/development-applications/secondary-suites.html)
  - Official wording: "Complete and submit a Renovation Application." … "You need an Occupancy Permit for the Secondary Suite from the Saanich Building Inspections Division" … "Same as above, except you would need to complete and submit a New Build Application."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, s. 5.24(b)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "unless an occupancy permit has been issued for the secondary"
  - Source: [Garden Suites, Garden Suites FAQ](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/development-applications/garden-suites.html)
  - Official wording: "You will need a Building Permit and Plumbing Permit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (ss. 5.24 and 5.35); Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529
  - Source: [https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf, Schedule 5](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW, 2003, NO. 8200"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, title](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW, 2019, NO. 9529"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf), s. 5.24, a secondary suite is a permitted accessory use in all RS, RD and A zones, inside a single family dwelling or houseplex.

- One secondary suite per real estate entity, inside the house or houseplex (not on a separate titled parcel). No boarding.
- On RS lots outside the Urban Containment Boundary, you may have one secondary suite or one garden suite.
- The zoning rules read set no separate size limit for the suite, and no rule that the owner must live there. The dwelling's total floor area follows its zone. Ask Planning to confirm for your lot.

A garden suite (detached) is allowed on RS and RD lots in a zone that lists Garden Suite as a use, inside the Sewer Service Area and/or Urban Containment Boundary, on a lot at least 400 m² and 12 m wide with a single family dwelling. One per lot. It cannot be used for short-term rental, bed and breakfast or boarding.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone allows a suite (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Apply for a building permit through MySaanich: Renovation or Addition for an existing house, New Build for a new one.
3. Provide one additional on-site parking space for the suite occupant, unless the regulations say otherwise. Tandem parking on the driveway is allowed. The space must have an energized EV outlet for Level 2 charging.
4. Get an occupancy permit for the suite from Inspection Services. It is required before anyone occupies the suite.

## Good to know

- A garden suite needs a building permit and a plumbing permit.
- Short-term rental of a suite is not allowed in Saanich; see the short-term-rental answer.

## Official forms and pages

- [Secondary Suites, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/development-applications/secondary-suites.html)
- [Garden Suites, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/development-applications/garden-suites.html)

## Related questions

- [Saanich building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/building-permit.md)
- [Saanich building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Saanich zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Saanich short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/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)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/secondary-suite.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/secondary-suite.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/secondary-suite.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/secondary-suite.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/secondary-suite.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Secondary Suites, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/development-applications/secondary-suites.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Garden Suites, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/development-applications/garden-suites.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 District of Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/secondary-suite/_