{"title":"Tahsis secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Tahsis?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/tahsis","name":"Tahsis","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Village of Tahsis","url":"https://villageoftahsis.com"},"short_answer":"Yes. Since Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667 (2024), Tahsis allows secondary suites and detached accessory dwelling units as accessory uses in the R-1, R-2 and RM-1 zones, and in RU-1 with conditions. A building permit is needed for a suite.","aliases":["secondary suite tahsis","basement suite tahsis","carriage house tahsis","accessory dwelling unit tahsis"],"cost":"See the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Strathcona Regional District building inspection","value":"250-830-6713"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Office","value":"977 South Maquinna Dr., Tahsis, BC V0P 1X0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone 250-934-6344."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024 (PDF)","url":"https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020 (PDF)","url":"https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bylaw-630.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Tahsis building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Tahsis zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Tahsis permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/gold-river","name":"Gold River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sayward","name":"Sayward","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-mcneill","name":"Port McNeill","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-hardy","name":"Port Hardy","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tofino","name":"Tofino","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/secondary-suite/"}],"topic":{"title":"Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite/"},"facts":{"suite_allowed":{"label":"Secondary suite allowed","value":"Yes, since Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024: a secondary suite is an accessory use in R-1; in R-2 and RM-1 if the principal use is a single-family dwelling or duplex; and in RU-1 if the principal use is one single-family dwelling.","short":"Yes, in R-1, R-2, RM-1 and RU-1 zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf","title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024 (PDF), Village of Tahsis","section":"s. 1.1 (definitions)","quotes":["A secondary suite means an accessory dwelling unit that is located in and forms part of a primary dwelling unit."]},{"url":"https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf","title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024 (PDF), Village of Tahsis","section":"ss. 1.2-1.5","quotes":["Secondary suite or detached accessory dwelling units (ADD)","Secondarysuite or detachedaccessorydwelling units (ADU) ifprincipal uses are","Secondary suite or detached accessory dwelling units (ADU) if principal use is"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Yes, the same zones as suites (\"detached accessory dwelling units\"), with limits below. In RU-1 a detached unit is allowed only where the home is on community services.","short":"Yes, in same zones as suites","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf","title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024 (PDF), Village of Tahsis","section":"ss. 1.2-1.5","quotes":["Secondary suite or detached accessory dwelling units (ADD)","a) Allow for Principal building and either a secondary suite or ADD if single","b) Allow for Principal building and a secondary suite if single residential or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"A detached accessory dwelling unit may be at most 8 m high. Total lot coverage rises to 40% in R-1, R-2, RM-1 and RU-1. New detached units: R-1 and R-2 rear setback 1.5 m, side 1.2 m, front the same as the main building.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf","title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024 (PDF), Village of Tahsis","section":"ss. 1.2-1.5","quotes":["Detached accessory dwelling units (ADU) 8 metres","Maximum Lot Coverage All buildin s and structures 40","Where new detached accessory . Front - Same as principal use"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"The Zoning Bylaw parking table has no entry for a secondary suite.","sources":[]},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit: the Village-hosted guide lists \"adding a secondary suite to an existing home\" among projects that need one.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/permit.pdf","title":"When do I need a building permit? (PDF), Village of Tahsis","section":"Village-hosted SRD guide","quotes":["A BUILDING PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR NEW BUILDINGS","ADDING A SECONDARY SUITE TO AN EXISTING HOME"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020, as amended by Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf","title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024 (PDF), Village of Tahsis","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the \"Village of Tahsis Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024\""]},{"url":"https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bylaw-630.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020 (PDF), Village of Tahsis","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["ZONING BYLAW No. 630, 2020"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\n[Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf) changed the [Zoning Bylaw No. 630](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bylaw-630.pdf) so that a secondary suite is an accessory use in R-1. It is also allowed in R-2 and RM-1 if the main use is a single-family dwelling or duplex, and in RU-1 if the main use is one single-family dwelling. The same zones allow \"detached accessory dwelling units\". A suite must be located in and form part of the main dwelling.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Check the limits below.\n3. Apply for a building permit. The Village-hosted guide lists \"adding a secondary suite to an existing home\" among projects that need one. Call the SRD building office (250-830-6713).\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A detached unit may be at most 8 m high. Total lot coverage rises to 40% in R-1, R-2, RM-1 and RU-1.\n- New detached units in R-1 and R-2: rear setback 1.5 m, side 1.2 m, front the same as the main building. In RM-1: rear 8 m, side 3 m. In RU-1: rear 5 m, side 3 m.\n- In RU-1, a suite is allowed where the home is not on community services; a suite or detached unit is allowed where it is.\n- The parking table in the Zoning Bylaw has no entry for a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit.","sources":[{"url":"https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf","title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024 (PDF), Village of Tahsis","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bylaw-630.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020 (PDF), Village of Tahsis","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/permit.pdf","title":"When do I need a building permit? (PDF), Village of Tahsis","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/secondary-suite.json"}}