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

# Tahsis secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Tahsis, https://villageoftahsis.com)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Strathcona Regional District building inspection, 250-830-6713
- In person: Municipal Office, 977 South Maquinna Dr., Tahsis, BC V0P 1X0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone 250-934-6344.)

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024, s. 1.1 (definitions)](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A secondary suite means an accessory dwelling unit that is located in and forms part of a primary dwelling unit."
  - Source: [Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024, ss. 1.2-1.5](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024, ss. 1.2-1.5](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024, ss. 1.2-1.5](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** Not confirmed. The Zoning Bylaw parking table has no entry for a secondary suite.
- **Permits:** A building permit: the Village-hosted guide lists "adding a secondary suite to an existing home" among projects that need one.
  - Source: [When do I need a building permit?, Village-hosted SRD guide](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/permit.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A BUILDING PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR NEW BUILDINGS" … "ADDING A SECONDARY SUITE TO AN EXISTING HOME"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020, as amended by Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024
  - Source: [Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024, s. 1](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "Village of Tahsis Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024""
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020, s. 1.1](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bylaw-630.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW No. 630, 2020"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

[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.

## Steps

1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Check the limits below.
3. 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).

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The parking table in the Zoning Bylaw has no entry for a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024 (PDF)](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020 (PDF)](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bylaw-630.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Tahsis building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/building-permit.md)
- [Tahsis zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Tahsis permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/secondary-suite.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/secondary-suite.md)
- [Port McNeill](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/secondary-suite.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/secondary-suite.md)
- [Port Hardy](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/secondary-suite.md)
- [Tofino](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 667, 2024 (PDF), Village of Tahsis](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Zoning-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-667-2024.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 630, 2020 (PDF), Village of Tahsis](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bylaw-630.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [When do I need a building permit? (PDF), Village of Tahsis](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/permit.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Tahsis. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/secondary-suite/_