GovHandbook

Stewart secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Stewart, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Stewart a secondary suite is allowed in the R1, R2 and FD zones, one per parcel. A detached suite (carriage house) is allowed in R1 and R2 only, one per parcel. Both must be rented for at least one month and need one parking space each.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedA secondary suite is a permitted use in the R1 and R2 zones and, since Bylaw 1023, 2024, in the FD (Future Development) zone. One per parcel.Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 5.1 (R1); Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 6.1 (R2); Zoning Amending Bylaw No. 1023, 2024, s. 3.54.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
The following uses and no others are permitted in the R1 zone:
Secondary suite; and
The following uses and no others are permitted in the R2 zone:
Secondary suite;
Only one secondary suite is permitted per parcel in those residential
ADDING to section 20.1 the following:
.3 Secondary suite
Coach house or garden suite allowedA detached suite (a dwelling in the rear yard or above a garage) is permitted as an accessory building in the R1 and R2 zones only; maximum one per parcel.Zoning Amending Bylaw No. 1023, 2024, s. 3.53.1 to 3.53.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A detached Suite is permitted as an accessory building in the R1 and R2
There shall be a maximum of one detached Suite per parcel in the R1
LimitsSecondary suite: must not alter the exterior character of the house; meet the BC Building Code; not be subdivided or strata titled; residential use only, rented for at least one month. Detached suite: max height 7.5 m, floor area less than the principal building, at least 3.0 m from the principal building, rear setback 1.5 m, interior side 1.2 m, exterior side 2.0 m, 2 m unobstructed street access, not subdivided or strata titled, rented at least one month.Zoning Amending Bylaw No. 1023, 2024, s. 3.54; Zoning Amending Bylaw No. 1023, 2024, s. 3.53 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A secondary suite shall not alter the exterior character of the principal
The secondary suite must meet current BC BuildingCode regulations
Secondary suites shall not be subdivided or strata titled.
be rented for periods of not less than one month.
The maximum height of a building containing a detached suite is 7.5 m.
Detached suites shall be located at least 3.0 m away from any principal
ParkingOne off-street parking space per suite.Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, Table 21.1; Zoning Amending Bylaw No. 1023, 2024, Amendment j · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Secondary suite, garden suite
1 per suite
Secondary suite, detached suite
PermitsThe Building Permit Application Form has check boxes for 'Adding Suite' and 'Single Family Dwelling with Suite', so a building permit application covers suites.Building Permit Application Form, Bylaw No. 926, 2018, Schedule A application form · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Adding Suite
Single Family Dwelling with Suite
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, as amended by Zoning Amending Bylaw No. 1023, 2024Zoning Amending Bylaw No. 1023, 2024, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
ZONING AMENDING BYLAW No. 1023, 2024

How it works

Under the District's Zoning Bylaw No. 881, as amended by Bylaw No. 1023, 2024, a secondary suite is a permitted use in the R1 and R2 zones and in the FD (Future Development) zone, one per parcel. A detached suite, meaning a dwelling in the rear yard or above a garage, is permitted as an accessory building in the R1 and R2 zones only, with a maximum of one per parcel. Bylaw 1023 renamed the earlier "garden suite" a "detached suite".

Secondary suite limits: it must not alter the exterior character of the house, must meet the BC Building Code, cannot be subdivided or strata titled, and is for residential use only, rented for at least one month.

Detached suite limits: maximum height 7.5 m; floor area less than the principal building; at least 3.0 m from the principal building; rear setback 1.5 m; interior side 1.2 m; exterior side 2.0 m; 2 m of unobstructed street access; not subdivided or strata titled; rented for at least one month.

Steps

  1. Confirm your zone using the zoning-lookup answer.
  2. Plan for one off-street parking space per suite.
  3. Fill in the Building Permit Application Form. It has check boxes for "Adding Suite" and "Single Family Dwelling with Suite".
  4. Submit it as described in the building-permit answer.

Good to know

  • No separate suite registration was found.
  • Because suites must be rented for at least one month, they cannot be used as nightly short-term rentals.
  • Confirm the current rules with the District, since the posted 2014 zoning text does not include the amendments.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Hazelton · New Hazelton · Terrace · Prince Rupert · Port Edward · Smithers

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Amending Bylaw No. 1023, 2024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Building Permit Application Form, Bylaw No. 926, 2018 (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.