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

# Ucluelet secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in Ucluelet. Zones such as R-1, R-2 and R-4 allow one secondary suite in a single family dwelling, and many also allow one detached accessory residential dwelling unit (ADU). Both need a building permit and are limited to 2 bedrooms and 90 m².

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Ucluelet, https://ucluelet.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees apply (see the building-permit-fees answer). The District's suite amnesty, which waived permit fees, ended September 1, 2025.  
**How long:** Not stated. See the building-permit answer.  
**Where:**
- Email: Building Official, building@ucluelet.ca
- Phone: Municipal Office (Planning), 250-726-7744
- In person: Municipal Office, 200 Main Street, Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Yes, in zones that list Secondary Suite as a secondary use with a single family dwelling as the principal use, one suite within one single family dwelling per lot: R-1, R-1H, R-2, R-4, R-5, R-6, RU, VR-1 and some CD zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 403.1(1)](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "(1) Secondary Suites are only permitted:" … "within one single family dwelling per lot; and"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, R-1.1.1](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "R-1.1.1 The following uses are permitted, but secondary permitted uses are" … "(c) Secondary Suite"
  - Source: [Housing, Housing page](https://ucluelet.ca/business-development/planning-building/housing/)
  - Official wording: "While the District has proactively allowed these in all residential zones for years,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Yes. The bylaw's term is Accessory Residential Dwelling Unit (ADU): one detached accessory building used as a dwelling, in zones that list it as a secondary use with a single family dwelling (R-1, R-1H, R-2, R-4, R-6, RU, VR-1, some CD zones).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, Definitions](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "“Accessory Residential Dwelling Unit” (ADU) means one accessory building used"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 408.1(1)](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "(1) Accessory Residential Dwelling Units are only permitted in the Zones where" … "single family dwelling is listed as a principal permitted use and Accessory"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** Suite: at most 2 bedrooms; floor area at most the lesser of 90 m² or 35% of the house's habitable area; run by the full-time resident of a permanent residence; one per single family dwelling; not on a lot with a daycare or community care facility. ADU: at most 90 m² and 2 bedrooms.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 403.1](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "(2) A Secondary Suite must not have more than 2 bedrooms." … "(a) 90 m2 (969 ft2); or" … "(b) 35% of the habitable area of the single family dwelling in which it is" … "time and present resident;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 408.1](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "(5) An Accessory Residential Dwelling Unit must not have more than 2"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** Secondary suite: 1 space per suite. ADU: 1 space per dwelling unit. Single family dwelling alone: 2 spaces. A combined row for a single family dwelling plus suite and/or ADU says 1 space per dwelling unit; it is split across a page break, so confirm with Planning.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 505.1 table](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suite 1 space per suite" … "Accessory Residential Dwelling 1 space per dwelling unit," … "Single Family Dwelling 2 spaces for use of principal dwelling unit" … "Single-Family Dwelling plus 1 space per dwelling unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** A building permit is required to build a new secondary suite or legalize an existing one. An ADU also needs a s. 219 covenant registered on title. A development permit may also apply if the lot is in a development permit area.
  - Source: [Secondary Suite guide, Secondary Suite guide, Step 1](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72420/)
  - Official wording: "A building permit is required to build a new"
  - Source: [Building Permits & Inspection, Building Permits & Inspection page](https://ucluelet.ca/business-development/planning-building/building-permit-inspection/)
  - Official wording: "Legitimizing or building a secondary suite"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 408.1(8)](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "(8) An Accessory Residential Dwelling Unit is only permitted where the owner" … "of the lot has registered a covenant under section 219 of the Land Title Act"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Ucluelet Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, ss. 403, 408 and 505; Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, footer](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013 (unofficial consolidation up to Bylaw 1412, 2026)"
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026, s. 1](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84287/2001%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Building%20Regulation%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/), a secondary suite is allowed in zones that list it as a secondary use with a single family dwelling: R-1, R-1H, R-2, R-4, R-5, R-6, RU, VR-1 and some CD zones. It is one suite within one single family dwelling per lot. In R-6 a lot may have either a suite or an ADU. It is not allowed in a dwelling used as a Guest House.

Ucluelet's term for a carriage house or garden suite is an Accessory Residential Dwelling Unit (ADU): one detached accessory building used as a dwelling. Zones that allow it include R-1, R-1H, R-2, R-4, R-6, RU, VR-1 and some CD zones. R-5 allows a suite only.

## Steps

1. Check your zone in the Zoning Bylaw or on UkeeMap (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Apply for a building permit to build a new suite or legalize an existing one. A development permit may also apply if your lot is in a development permit area.
3. For an ADU, register a section 219 covenant on title.
4. Build to the BC Building Code and pass inspections.

## Good to know

- Suite limits: at most 2 bedrooms; floor area at most the lesser of 90 m² or 35% of the house's habitable area; run by the full-time resident of a permanent residence; not on a lot with a daycare or community care facility.
- ADU limits: at most 90 m² and 2 bedrooms, at least 4 m from the main dwelling, outdoor space equal to its floor area, a 1.0 m clear path to the front door, and a maximum height of 8.0 m.
- A suite may not contain a home occupation if the main dwelling has one.
- Parking: 1 space per suite, 1 space per ADU, and 2 spaces for a single family dwelling alone.
- Some individual lots have their own exceptions. Ask Planning.

## Official forms and pages

- [Housing, District of Ucluelet](https://ucluelet.ca/business-development/planning-building/housing/)
- [Building Permits & Inspection, District of Ucluelet](https://ucluelet.ca/business-development/planning-building/building-permit-inspection/)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)

## Related questions

- [Ucluelet building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/building-permit.md)
- [Ucluelet building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Ucluelet zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Ucluelet short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Tofino](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/secondary-suite.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/secondary-suite.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/secondary-suite.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/secondary-suite.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/secondary-suite.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, District of Ucluelet](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Housing, District of Ucluelet](https://ucluelet.ca/business-development/planning-building/housing/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permits & Inspection, District of Ucluelet](https://ucluelet.ca/business-development/planning-building/building-permit-inspection/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Secondary Suite guide, District of Ucluelet](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72420/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026 (PDF), District of Ucluelet](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84287/2001%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Building%20Regulation%20Bylaw.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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Ucluelet. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/secondary-suite/_