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Secondary Suites

The purpose of this page is to provide information about secondary suites in the RDN. This information is intended to assist property owners wishing to construct a secondary suite and provide direction and assistance to property owners who have an unrecognized secondary suite.

Secondary suites are allowed in the following zones:

• Bylaw 500 - AG1, RS1, RS1.1, RS2, and RU1 - RU10 (inclusive)
• Bylaw 1285 - A-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4

Secondary Suites are not permitted in all other zones, unless specifically listed as a permitted use in that zone.

Is your property within the Provincial Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR)?

Please note: the policies of the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) also apply to residential uses on lands located within the ALR. Please contact the ALC for further information, at 1 (604) 660 7000 or consult their website.

Our mapping tool, RDNMap, can be used to determine if a property may be located within the reserve, please see below. This should be confirmed with the ALC.

• Secondary Suites

  • 	Filename	File Size (mb)	Modified

  • Bylaw 500 Secondary Suites Regulations (except Area F)

    0.13 MB

    Nov 9, 2018

  • Bylaw 1285 Secondary Suite Regulations (Area F only)

    0.12 MB

    Nov 9, 2018

  • Secondary Suites Policy

    0.32 MB

    Nov 9, 2018

  • Secondary Suites Brochure

    4.62 MB

    Nov 9, 2018

Don't Know which bylaw applies to you? Look up your address in the RDN WebMap:

Have a question? Need more information?

Please contact Community Planning
Phone: 250-390-6510 (Nanaimo area) or toll free in BC 1-877-607-4111
Fax: 250-390-7511 Email: [email protected]