Terrace secondary suite and carriage house rules
Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?
Short answer
Often yes. Terrace's Zoning Bylaw permits a secondary suite in a single detached or semi-detached house in the AR1, AR2, RS1 and R1 zones, with one extra off-street parking space. A detached carriage house is an accessory dwelling unit, allowed in AR1, AR2, R1 and RS1. Confirm your lot with Development Services.
Key facts
| Secondary suite allowed | A secondary suite is permitted in a single detached or semi-detached dwelling in the AR1, AR2, RS1 and R1 zones (s. 7.3.1). The RB1 zone use list also names secondary suite, though s. 7.3.1 does not. In RS1 it may also be in an accessory building on a parcel with only a single detached dwelling.Sources differ: The 2020 City fact sheet DS-03 also lists R2 and R1-A and describes suites in accessory buildings (coach houses) on parcels over 1,000 m²; Zoning Bylaw amendment 2305-2024 changed the definitions and zones, and the bylaw prevails. R2 now has "no regulations"; R1-A does not appear as a zone in the consolidated bylaw.Zoning Consolidated Bylaw No. 2069-2014 (PDF, to Bylaw 2345-2026), s. 7.3.1, RS1 s. 11.8.4.c; Fact Sheet DS-03 Secondary Suites, Where are Secondary Suites allowed? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA secondary suite is permitted in a single detached dwelling and semi-detached dwelling in the AR1, AR2, RS1, and R1 zones. A secondary suite must only be permitted in a single detached dwelling, or in an SECONDARY SUITE means a self-contained, dwelling unit located inside a principal residential Secondary Uses • Family Child Care • Home Occupation – Level 1 or 2 • Kitchen, Secondary • Secondary Suite accessory building/structure on a parcel with only a single detached dwelling. include the AR1, AR2, R1, R1-A, R2, and RS1 zones. |
|---|---|
| Coach house or garden suite allowed | Yes, as an "accessory dwelling unit" (a self-contained residence secondary to the primary use on the same property), a secondary use in AR1, AR2, R1 and RS1. Size and height are set per zone (AR1 and AR2: up to 90 m² and 9.0 m high; R1: 7.5 m high and at least 3 m from the principal building).Zoning Consolidated Bylaw No. 2069-2014 (PDF, to Bylaw 2345-2026), Definitions; AR1 s. 10.1; R1 s. 11.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT means a self-contained residence with cooking, sleeping and bathroom facilities that is secondary to a Primary Use located on the same property. d. accessory dwelling unit 9.0 m b. accessory dwelling unit 90 m2 Secondary • Accessory Dwelling • Accessory Dwelling • Accessory Dwelling buildings/structures 7.5 m 7.5 m 7.5 m with dwelling units |
| Limits | Not allowed with boarders, a bed and breakfast, or a Level 2 or 3 home occupation (unless the parcel is 650 m² or more); no strata titling. R1: at most 4 dwelling units. RS1: an accessory building with a dwelling unit is limited to 90 m² or 40% of the house floor area, whichever is less. No owner-occupancy rule found.Zoning Consolidated Bylaw No. 2069-2014 (PDF, to Bylaw 2345-2026), s. 7.3.2-7.3.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA secondary suite is not permitted in conjunction with the keeping of boarders or the operation of a bed and breakfast. A secondary suite is not permitted in conjunction with the operation of Level 2 or 3 home occupations, unless the minimum parcel size is 650 m2. A secondary suite must be located on a parcel which forms a single real estate entity. Strata titling of a secondary suite is not permitted. b. accessory building/structure with dwelling unit 90 m2 or 40% of the gross floor area of the principal building/structure, whichever is less |
| Parking | One off-street parking space must be provided for the secondary suite, in addition to what the main dwelling needs. An accessory dwelling unit needs 1 space per dwelling.Zoning Consolidated Bylaw No. 2069-2014 (PDF, to Bylaw 2345-2026), s. 7.3.4, Table 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingOne off-street parking space must be provided for the secondary suite. Secondary Suites 1 per dwelling unit Accessory Dwelling Unit 1 per dwelling |
| Permits | A building permit is needed (a suite is a change of use or occupancy or new construction). If the property is in an OCP development permit area, the development permit must be approved first. Apply through CloudPermit.Building Bylaw No. 2307-2024, s. 9.1.1, 10.1; CloudPermit, FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA development permit has been obtained if the building or structure is in an changing the use or occupancy of an existing building Please note that if a development permit is required for your project, it must be approved before a building permit can be issued. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 2069-2014 (s. 7.3 Secondary Suites; zone regulations) and Building Bylaw No. 2307-2024Zoning Consolidated Bylaw No. 2069-2014 (PDF, to Bylaw 2345-2026), s. 7.3; Building Bylaw No. 2307-2024, Title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCity of Terrace Zoning Bylaw No. 2069 - 2014 7.3 Secondary Suites CITY OF TERRACE BYLAW NO. 2307-2024 "A BYLAW FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE BUILDING CODE AND REGULATION |
How it works
Zoning Bylaw 2069 s. 7.3.1 permits a secondary suite in a single detached or semi-detached dwelling in the AR1, AR2, RS1 and R1 zones. In RS1 it may also be in an accessory building on a parcel with only a single detached dwelling.
A detached carriage house is an "accessory dwelling unit", a secondary use in AR1, AR2, R1 and RS1. In AR1 and AR2 it may be up to 90 m² and 9.0 m high. In R1 it may be up to 7.5 m high and at least 3 m from the main building; R1 also limits footprint (55 m² on parcels under 600 m², otherwise 65 m²), two per parcel, and 4 dwelling units in total.
Steps
- Find your zone on TerraMap.
- Confirm with Development Services (250-615-4022) that your lot qualifies.
- Apply for a building permit in CloudPermit. The bylaws do not say in words that a suite needs one; this follows the rule for a change of use or new construction. If your property is in a development permit area, that permit must be approved first.
Good to know
- One off-street parking space is required for the suite, in addition to the main dwelling's. An accessory dwelling unit needs 1 space per dwelling.
- A suite is not allowed with boarders, a bed and breakfast, or a Level 2 or 3 home occupation (unless the parcel is 650 m² or more). Strata titling is not allowed.
- In RS1, an accessory building with a dwelling unit is limited to 90 m² or 40% of the house floor area, whichever is less.
- The City's 2020 fact sheet differs from the current bylaw (it lists other zones and size limits). The bylaw wins, but confirm with Development Services.
- The bylaw sets no owner-occupancy rule that we found.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Kitimat · New Hazelton · Smithers · Telkwa · Hazelton · Port Edward
Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Consolidated Bylaw No. 2069-2014 (PDF, to Bylaw 2345-2026), City of Terrace (read 2026-11-05)
- Fact Sheet DS-03 Secondary Suites (PDF), City of Terrace (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw No. 2307-2024 (PDF), City of Terrace (read 2026-11-05)
- CloudPermit, City of Terrace (read 2026-11-05)
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.