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

# Sayward secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** In the Village of Sayward a secondary suite is allowed in some zones (R-1, R/C, R/I, RU-1 and RU-ALR) if it is inside a building that has only one other dwelling unit. A detached suite or carriage house is not allowed. You need a building permit.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Sayward, https://www.sayward.ca)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 652 H'Kusam Way, Sayward, BC (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed holidays))
- Phone: Village Office, 250-282-5512

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** A secondary suite is a permitted accessory use in R-1, R/C and R/I zones, and a permitted secondary use in RU-1 and RU-ALR (RU-ALR "as permitted by LRC policy").
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), s. 601(2)(e)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "c) Boarding; d) Buildings, accessory; e) Secondary suites. 3) LOT SIZE The minimum lot area for subdivision is 668m2 (7200 ft2)."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), s. 605(2)(b)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "b) Secondary suites (as permitted by LRC policy)"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), s. 604(2)(b)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "2. PERMITTED ACCESSORY USES a) Offices; b) Secondary suites; c) Buildings and structures accessory to the uses permitted. 3. LOT SIZE"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** No. A secondary suite must be within a building containing only one other dwelling unit (Zoning s. 305(1)(a)), and an accessory building cannot be used for human habitation (s. 302(1)(b)).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), ss. 302(1)(b), 305(1)(a)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The use of an accessory building or structure for human habitation;" … "The suite shall be located within a building of residential occupancy containing only one"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** Within a building containing only one other dwelling unit; floor space under 40% of the building's habitable floor space (attached garages and carports excluded); its own access and egress; cannot be strata-subdivided.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), s. 305(1)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The suite shall be located within a building of residential occupancy containing only one" … "The suite shall have a floor space less than 40% of the habitable floor space of the" … "The suite shall have it’s own access and egress;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** 1 space per suite (in addition to 2 spaces for a single family dwelling).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), s. 503(1)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suite 1 per suite" … "Single family dwelling, duplex 2 per dwelling unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** Must be built under a valid building permit, with Village approvals for sewer and potable water.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), s. 305(1)(e)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "All secondary suites must be constructed under a valid building permit and have the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000, s. 305
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), Title](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Village of Sayward Zoning Bylaw, 2000"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under section 305 of the Village of Sayward's [Zoning Bylaw No. 309](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf), a secondary suite is a permitted accessory use in the R-1, R/C and R/I zones, and a permitted secondary use in RU-1 and RU-ALR (in RU-ALR "as permitted by LRC policy"). Check your zone on the zoning map.

The suite must meet these limits:

- It is within a building containing only one other dwelling unit.
- Its floor space is under 40% of the building's habitable floor space (attached garages and carports are excluded).
- It has its own access and egress.
- It cannot be strata-subdivided.
- Parking: 1 space per suite, in addition to 2 spaces for a single family dwelling.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone with the Village Office at 250-282-5512.
2. Apply for a building permit (see the building-permit answer).
3. Get the Village's approvals for sewer and potable water.

## Good to know

- A detached suite, coach house or carriage house is not allowed: the suite must be inside a building with one other dwelling unit, and an accessory building cannot be used for human habitation (s. 302(1)(b)).
- The bylaw states no owner-occupancy rule.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 309 (PDF)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Sayward building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/building-permit.md)
- [Sayward building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Sayward zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Sayward short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/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)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/secondary-suite.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/secondary-suite.md)
- [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/secondary-suite.md)
- [Port McNeill](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/secondary-suite.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/secondary-suite.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2025-09/Bylaw%20309%20-%20Zoning%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Staff Directory, Village of Sayward](https://www.sayward.ca/contact/staff-directory) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Village of Sayward. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/secondary-suite/_