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Ucluelet secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

Ucluelet, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedYes, 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 403.1(1); Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, R-1.1.1; Housing, Housing page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
(1) Secondary Suites are only permitted:
within one single family dwelling per lot; and
R-1.1.1 The following uses are permitted, but secondary permitted uses are
(c) Secondary Suite
While the District has proactively allowed these in all residential zones for years,
Coach house or garden suite allowedYes. 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).Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, Definitions; Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 408.1(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
“Accessory Residential Dwelling Unit” (ADU) means one accessory building used
(1) Accessory Residential Dwelling Units are only permitted in the Zones where
single family dwelling is listed as a principal permitted use and Accessory
LimitsSuite: 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 403.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 408.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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;
(5) An Accessory Residential Dwelling Unit must not have more than 2
ParkingSecondary 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 505.1 table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
PermitsA 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.Secondary Suite guide, Secondary Suite guide, Step 1; Building Permits & Inspection, Building Permits & Inspection page; Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 408.1(8) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A building permit is required to build a new
Legitimizing or building a secondary suite
(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
BylawDistrict of Ucluelet Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, ss. 403, 408 and 505; Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026.Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, footer; Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013 (unofficial consolidation up to Bylaw 1412, 2026)
Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026

How it works

Under the Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, 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

The same question in other places

Tofino · Port Alberni · Cumberland · Courtenay · Qualicum Beach · Comox

Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, District of Ucluelet (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Housing, District of Ucluelet (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Building Permits & Inspection, District of Ucluelet (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Secondary Suite guide, District of Ucluelet (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2001, 2026 (PDF), District of Ucluelet (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. How answers are checked.