Start by separating “is another unit allowed here?” from “can this design meet code?” The project needs both answers. Courtenay’s ADU guidance says an eligible lot needs zoning that permits an accessory dwelling, an existing primary dwelling and compliance with the city’s siting and size rules.
Select a B.C. property to check the parcel, available zoning and suite-planning data.
Start with the municipality and parcel area. The manual check stays open here, but the questions are split into 4 short steps so you do not have to scroll through everything at once.
Four short steps. Answer what you know and choose “Not sure” for anything you have not checked.
This is the simple build-direction summary. The exact property still has to meet its zoning, site, servicing and permit requirements.
Before you build: confirm the exact property, zoning and permit path with Courtenay.
Courtenay adopted Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 in 2026. Section 6.18.1 sets minimum floor areas for a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit of 30 m² (studio), 45 m² (one bedroom), 65 m² (two bedrooms) or 85 m² (three bedrooms). It generally limits an ADU to 6.5 m in height and requires at least 15 m² of private amenity space per dwelling unless another bylaw provision or zone specifies otherwise. The applicable zone, parking, development permits and building code still control a specific project.
Yes. A new secondary suite or detached dwelling needs the applicable Courtenay approvals and building permit before construction/occupancy. Existing work may require a legalization or existing-building review rather than simply a new-build permit.
A permitted suite or ADU can be used as a dwelling/rental subject to the City’s zoning and applicable provincial tenancy/short-term-rental rules.
No. Age or long-standing occupancy does not by itself prove municipal approval. Check Courtenay permit/property records and, where relevant, whether a lawful non-conforming status actually exists before describing a suite as “grandfathered.”
Potentially, but only where the applicable zone and total-unit permissions allow both forms. The general ADU section does not override a more restrictive zone.
Use these tools only after confirming the municipal path. Cost planning and contractor matching do not establish zoning, code compliance or permit approval.
Guide verification: Targeted official-source claim check (12 October 2026); not a comprehensive enacted-bylaw signoff. The identified claim is supported by or compared with the linked official source, subject to the verification limitations below.
Property confidence: Not assessed. City-wide guidance does not confirm permission for a particular parcel. Check official zoning, overlays and permits. How verification works →
Reviewed September 20, 2026. This is a planning summary, not a permit decision. Confirm the current zoning, registered title constraints, servicing and permit requirements for the specific property before design or construction.
Official-source claim check · 12 October 2026: City notice identifies the proposed replacement Bylaw 3203 and the proposed expansion of suite/ADU accessory uses; official zoning page is the decision route. Official municipal evidence ↗ Remaining verification: A proposed-notice alone does not prove adoption; the current consolidated signed 3203 and precise floor-space tables require a direct check.