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

# Taylor secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In Taylor the Zoning Bylaw allows one secondary suite inside a single detached dwelling, and a detached accessory dwelling unit, in the A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2 and R-4 zones. Neither is allowed in R-3, and neither can be used for short-term rental.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Taylor, https://districtoftaylor.com)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees apply. See the building-permit-fees answer. No separate suite fee found.  
**How long:** Not stated by the District.  
**Where:**
- In person: District Office, 10007 100A Street, Taylor, BC V0C 2K0 (mail: P.O. Box 300) (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed statutory holidays)
- Phone: District Office, 250-789-3392

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Yes: one secondary suite inside a single detached dwelling, as a secondary use in the A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2 and R-4 zones. It is not listed for R-3 or the commercial, industrial or public zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version, ss. 2.1.4, 4.9.1; zone tables 9.2, 10.2, 11.2, 12.2, 14.2](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)
  - Official wording: "Uses not listed in respect of a particular zone are prohibited." … "A maximum of one secondary suite shall be permitted only as an accessory use to a single detached dwelling on any parcel." … ".vii Home-based business .viii Secondary suite"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Yes, as an accessory dwelling unit (a detached dwelling on the same parcel as a single detached dwelling) in A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2 and R-4. Not allowed in R-3. No basement, no strata or subdivision, no short-term rental.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version, s. 4.8; definitions](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)
  - Official wording: "ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT means a dwelling unit that is detached and ancillary to the use of the principal building" … "Basements are not permitted in accessory dwelling units." … "An accessory dwelling unit cannot be strata titled or subdivided." … "An accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted only as an accessory use to a single detached dwelling on any parcel."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** One secondary suite per single detached dwelling. It must be self-contained, inside the house, with its own cooking, sleeping and bathing facilities and direct outside access. It cannot be used for short-term rental (under 30 consecutive days).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version, ss. 4.9, definitions](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)
  - Official wording: "SECONDARY SUITE means a self-contained dwelling unit located within and forms part of a single detached dwelling." … "A secondary suite shall not be used for short-term rental accommodation."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** 1 space for the suite, plus the spaces required for the main dwelling (2 for a single detached dwelling).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version, s. 7.5 Table 4](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suite, Accessory dwelling unit" … "1 plus parking requirements for the principal" … "Single detached dwelling, manufactured home 2 per dwelling unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** A building permit from the Building Inspector is needed to construct a building or structure or part of one (Building Bylaw s. 2.2); accessory dwelling units go through the District's building permit and inspection process. No separate zoning or development permit for a suite was found.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version, s. 4.8.11](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)
  - Official wording: "Accessory dwelling units must meet all relevant building, plumbing and development codes and will be regulated by the District of Taylor’s building permit and inspection process."
  - Source: [District of Taylor Building Bylaw No. 391, 1991, s. 2.2](https://districtoftaylor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/391-1991-District-of-Taylor-Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall construct or authorize the construction of any building or structure or part thereof unless a permit for the work has first been issued by the Building Inspector."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025 (ss. 4.8 and 4.9); Building Bylaw No. 391, 1991
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version, ss. 4.8, 4.9](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)
  - Official wording: "District of Taylor – Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025 ([Second Reading Version](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)) allows, in the District of Taylor, one secondary suite in a single detached dwelling as a secondary use in A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2 and R-4 zones. It is not listed for R-3 or the commercial, industrial or public zones.

A suite must be self-contained and inside the house, with its own cooking, sleeping and bathing facilities and direct outside access.

A detached accessory dwelling unit (a separate dwelling on the same parcel as a single detached dwelling) is allowed in the same zones, not in R-3. It cannot have a basement, be strata-titled or subdivided.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Plan one parking space for the suite, plus the main dwelling's spaces (2 for a single detached dwelling).
3. Apply for a building permit; accessory dwelling units go through the District's building permit and inspection process (see the building-permit answer).

## Good to know

- A suite or accessory dwelling unit cannot be used for short-term rental (under 30 consecutive days).
- No separate zoning or development permit for a suite was found.
- The Zoning Bylaw text we could read is an unsigned draft version. Confirm with the District Office at 250-789-3392.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version (PDF)](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/)
- [District of Taylor Building Bylaw No. 391, 1991 (PDF)](https://districtoftaylor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/391-1991-District-of-Taylor-Building-Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Taylor building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/building-permit.md)
- [Taylor zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Taylor short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/short-term-rental.md)
- [Taylor permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/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)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/secondary-suite.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/secondary-suite.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/secondary-suite.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/secondary-suite.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/secondary-suite.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 898, 2025, Second Reading Version (PDF), District of Taylor document centre](https://taylor.civicweb.net/document/121760/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [District of Taylor Building Bylaw No. 391, 1991 (PDF)](https://districtoftaylor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/391-1991-District-of-Taylor-Building-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, District of Taylor](https://districtoftaylor.com/contact/) (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 District of Taylor. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/secondary-suite/_