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

# Anmore secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in Anmore, in the zones that allow them. A secondary suite inside the house is allowed in RS-1, RS-1A, RCH-1, RCH-2, INF and RS-2 zones, and a coach house (detached suite) in RS-1, RS-1A, RCH-2, INF and some other zones. Both need a building permit, and the owner must live on the property.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Anmore, https://anmore.com)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees are based on the value of the work (see building-permit-fees). The Village's pages read do not state a separate fee for a suite.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Email: Building inquiries, building@anmore.com
- Phone: Village Hall, 604-469-9877 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Online: Cloudpermit (building permit applications), https://anmore.com/building-development/building-renovating/building-guide/cloudpermit/

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** A secondary suite inside the house is a permitted secondary use in the RS-1, RS-1A, RCH-1, RCH-2, INF and RS-2 zones, and some comprehensive development zones. It must be wholly within an integral part of the one-family dwelling and not connected to the main unit by a connector or enclosed hallway.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 735-2026), s. 9.1.2, 9.2.2, 9.3.2, 6.3.1, 6.3.2](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Bylaw-568-2017-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2026-10-22-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suite shall be subject to the requirements of section 6.3." … "Secondary suite and coach house shall be subject to the requirements of section 6.3." … "One-Family Dwelling Secondary Suite 750 m2" … "Secondary Suite One-Family Dwelling 1,349 m2 Coach House" … "Secondary Suite 223 m2" … "Shall be wholly contained within an integral part of the One Family Dwelling." … "Shall not be connected to the primary dwelling unit by a connector or enclosed hallway."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** A coach house (detached suite) is allowed in RS-1, RS-1A, RCH-2, INF and some other zones, one per lot. Maximum floor area: 170 m² on lots of 3,966 m² or more, 130 m² on lots of 2,022 to 3,965 m², 100 m² on lots of 1,349 to 2,021 m². No basement; minimum 5 m from the main house; a 25 m² garage for the unit. (Sources differ: The Village's coach house page says 100 m² (lots under 4,047 m²) and 130 m² (4,047 m² or more) and that lots under 2,024 m² cannot have one; the Zoning Bylaw (consolidated to Amendment 735-2026) has a newer table. Value follows the bylaw.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 735-2026), s. 6.7](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Bylaw-568-2017-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2026-10-22-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "One Coach house is permitted per lot." … "≥ 3966 m2 170 m2" … "A Coach house shall have a minimum separation of 5m from the primary residence and" … "A basement is not permitted within a Coach House." … "A Coach House shall provide at a minimum a 25 m2 garage for the dwelling unit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** One secondary suite per principal residence. The owner must live in the main unit or the suite. The suite may not exceed 50% of the floor area of the principal building. It must meet the BC Building Code for suites. A coach house is one per lot and the owner must live in the house or the coach house.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 735-2026), s. 6.3.3-6.3.6, 6.7.1](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Bylaw-568-2017-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2026-10-22-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The registered owner(s) of the property shall occupy either the primary dwelling unit or the" … "One Secondary Suite is permitted per principal residence." … "A Secondary Suite shall not have a floor area that exceeds 50% of the floor area of the" … "The registered owner(s) of the property shall occupy either the primary dwelling unit or the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** RS-1 and RS-1A zones: 2 off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit on the same parcel. The Village's coach house page says a coach house needs 2 additional dedicated parking spaces.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 735-2026), s. 9.1.6, 9.2.7](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Bylaw-568-2017-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2026-10-22-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Off-street parking spaces shall be provided on the same parcel as the use being served in" … "(a) 2 spaces per dwelling unit;"
  - Source: [Coach House Requirements](https://anmore.com/building-development/building-renovating/coach-house-requirements/)
  - Official wording: "A coach house requires 2 additional dedicated parking spaces."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** A building permit is needed to add a suite or coach house (applied for through Cloudpermit), plus plumbing and other trade permits as needed. Suites must meet the BC Building Code. Most parcels also need tree, erosion and sediment control and driveway permits first, and some fall in a Development Permit Area under the Official Community Plan.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 583-2018, s. 11.2](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Bylaw-583-2018-Building-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "prior to carrying out any construction or demolition;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 735-2026), s. 6.3.4](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Bylaw-568-2017-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2026-10-22-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Shall meet all BC Building Code requirements for Secondary Suite within newly"
  - Source: [Do I Need a Building Permit? checklist, Checklist items 1-4, 31](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Do-I-Need-a-Building-Permit.pdf)
  - Official wording: "DPA – Development Permit Area: your property is in a known Development Permit Area." … "Tree Permit: approval of submitted tree management plan, arborist report onsite"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Anmore Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017, s. 6.3 (Secondary Suite) and s. 6.7 (Coach House); Anmore Building Bylaw No. 583-2018
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 735-2026), cover](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Bylaw-568-2017-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2026-10-22-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Anmore Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 583-2018, cover](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Bylaw-583-2018-Building-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ANMORE BUILDING BYLAW NO. 583-2018"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Village of Anmore allows a secondary suite as a permitted secondary use in the RS-1, RS-1A, RCH-1, RCH-2, INF and RS-2 zones and some comprehensive development zones, under [Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Bylaw-568-2017-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2026-10-22-1.pdf). The suite must be wholly within an integral part of the one-family dwelling and not joined to the main unit by a connector or enclosed hallway. A coach house (a detached suite) is allowed in RS-1, RS-1A, RCH-2, INF and some other zones, one per lot.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone allows a suite or coach house (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Check the limits. A suite: one per principal residence, no more than 50% of the floor area of the principal building, and the owner must live in the main unit or the suite. A coach house: the owner must live in the house or the coach house; no basement; at least 5 m from the main house; a 25 m² garage for the unit.
3. Apply for a building permit through Cloudpermit, with plumbing and other trade permits as needed. A suite must meet the BC Building Code for suites.
4. Most parcels also need tree, erosion and sediment control and driveway permits first, and some fall in a Development Permit Area under the Official Community Plan. Ask the building department.

## Good to know

- Maximum coach house floor area: 170 m² on lots of 3,966 m² or more, 130 m² on lots of 2,022 to 3,965 m², and 100 m² on lots of 1,349 to 2,021 m². The Village's coach house page gives different sizes; the bylaw is followed here, so confirm with the Village.
- Parking in RS-1 and RS-1A: 2 off-street spaces per dwelling unit on the same parcel. The Village's coach house page says a coach house needs 2 additional dedicated spaces.

## What you'll need

- Building permit application with drawings
- Tree, erosion and sediment control and driveway permits, where they apply

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF)](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Bylaw-568-2017-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2026-10-22-1.pdf)
- [Coach House Requirements, Village of Anmore](https://anmore.com/building-development/building-renovating/coach-house-requirements/)
- [Do I Need a Building Permit? checklist (PDF)](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Do-I-Need-a-Building-Permit.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Anmore building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/building-permit.md)
- [Anmore zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Anmore building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Anmore home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/home-based-business.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/secondary-suite.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/secondary-suite.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/secondary-suite.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/secondary-suite.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/secondary-suite.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 735-2026), Village of Anmore](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Bylaw-568-2017-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2026-10-22-1.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Coach House Requirements, Village of Anmore](https://anmore.com/building-development/building-renovating/coach-house-requirements/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Bylaw No. 583-2018 (PDF), Village of Anmore](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Bylaw-583-2018-Building-Bylaw-Consolidated-December-2019.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Do I Need a Building Permit? checklist (PDF), Village of Anmore](https://anmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Do-I-Need-a-Building-Permit.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 Village of Anmore. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/secondary-suite/_