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Anmore secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

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

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.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedA 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.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 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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.
Coach house or garden suite allowedA 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 735-2026), s. 6.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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.
LimitsOne 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 735-2026), s. 6.3.3-6.3.6, 6.7.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
ParkingRS-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.Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 735-2026), s. 9.1.6, 9.2.7; Coach House Requirements · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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;
A coach house requires 2 additional dedicated parking spaces.
PermitsA 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.Building Bylaw No. 583-2018, s. 11.2; Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 735-2026), s. 6.3.4; Do I Need a Building Permit? checklist, Checklist items 1-4, 31 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
prior to carrying out any construction or demolition;
Shall meet all BC Building Code requirements for Secondary Suite within newly
DPA – Development Permit Area: your property is in a known Development Permit Area.
Tree Permit: approval of submitted tree management plan, arborist report onsite
BylawAnmore Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017, s. 6.3 (Secondary Suite) and s. 6.7 (Coach House); Anmore Building Bylaw No. 583-2018Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 735-2026), cover; Building Bylaw No. 583-2018, cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Anmore Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017
ANMORE BUILDING BYLAW NO. 583-2018

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. 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

The same question in other places

Port Moody · Belcarra · Coquitlam · Port Coquitlam · New Westminster · District of North Vancouver

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 568-2017 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 735-2026), Village of Anmore (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Coach House Requirements, Village of Anmore (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Building Bylaw No. 583-2018 (PDF), Village of Anmore (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Do I Need a Building Permit? checklist (PDF), Village of Anmore (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.