{"title":"Armstrong secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/armstrong","name":"Armstrong","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Armstrong","url":"https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Armstrong, a new secondary suite needs a building permit, and the zoning must allow it. Zoning Bylaw 1921, 2024 lists no separate suite use; a suite counts as a dwelling unit under the unit limits for each zone (3 or 4 per lot in R.1 and R.2). Confirm with Planning.","aliases":["basement suite armstrong bc","legalize suite armstrong","carriage house armstrong","secondary dwelling armstrong"],"cost":"Building permit fees apply (see the building permit fees answer). The Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw lists a sewer user fee for a secondary suite at 50% of the residential rate.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"email","label":"Manager of Planning Services","value":"planner@cityofarmstrong.bc.ca"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Official","value":"inspector@cityofarmstrong.bc.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall","value":"250-546-3023"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Secondary Suite Info Sheet and Checklist (updated Jan 11, 2021) (PDF)","url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165856"},{"title":"RDNO pre-approved secondary dwelling designs","url":"https://www.rdno.ca/purchaseplans"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw 1921, 2024 (PDF)","url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Armstrong building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Armstrong zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Armstrong building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/building-permit-fees/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/spallumcheen","name":"Spallumcheen","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/enderby","name":"Enderby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vernon","name":"Vernon","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coldstream","name":"Coldstream","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lumby","name":"Lumby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-country","name":"Lake Country","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/secondary-suite/"}],"topic":{"title":"Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite/"},"facts":{"suite_allowed":{"label":"Secondary suite allowed","value":"No zone lists 'secondary suite' as its own use; it is defined as a dwelling unit inside another dwelling unit. R.1 and R.2 allow Dwelling Units: 3 per lot under 280 m², 4 above. CR.1 allows 2, and under 1 ha without City sewer 1 principal plus 1 suite. Confirm with the City.","short":"No zone lists it; up to 3-4 dwelling units in R.1, R.2","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 9.1.2, 9.1.3(c), 2","quotes":["SECONDARY SUITE means a self-contained, dwelling unit located within, and subordinate to,","Dwelling Units, maximum per lot 3 units on parcels under 280m2.","4 units for parcels greater than 280m2.","Dwelling Units, maximum per lot","2 (1 principal and 1","secondary suite within the"]},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165856","title":"Secondary Suite Info Sheet and Checklist (updated Jan 11, 2021), City of Armstrong","section":"Info sheet (Jan 2021)","quotes":["Confirm the zoning of your","property allows for secondary"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Zoning Bylaw 1921 has no coach house or garden suite use. R.1 and R.2 allow 3 or 4 dwelling units per lot and up to 2 accessory buildings, and an accessory building may be a dwelling only if it is a permitted Dwelling Unit. Confirm with Planning.","short":"No coach house or garden suite use; confirm with Planning","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 9.1.3(c), (e)","quotes":["Dwelling Units, maximum per lot 3 units on parcels under 280m2.","Accessory buildings and structures, maximum per lot 2","An accessory building or structure shall not be used as a dwelling, unless","it is a permitted Dwelling Unit.","Accessory buildings and structures, maximum per lot"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Zoning: R.1 and R.2 allow 3 dwelling units per lot under 280 m² and 4 above; CR.1 allows 2. A suite counts as a dwelling unit. No suite size or owner-occupancy rule found. The older 2021 info sheet says 1 suite per dwelling, no strata subdivision.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165856","title":"Secondary Suite Info Sheet and Checklist (updated Jan 11, 2021), City of Armstrong","section":"Info sheet (Jan 2021)","quotes":["Not more than 1 secondary suite","is within the dwelling","The building with the secondary","suite will not be subdivided","pursuant to the Strata Properties"]},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 9.1.3(c)","quotes":["Dwelling Units, maximum per lot 3 units on parcels under 280m2.","4 units for parcels greater than 280m2.","Dwelling Units, maximum per lot","4 units for parcels greater","Dwelling Unit, maximum per lot                               2 units"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The info sheet (Jan 2021, before the 2024 zoning bylaw) says one suite per dwelling; Zoning Bylaw 1921 allows 3 or 4 dwelling units per lot in R.1. Zoning bylaw followed for density."},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"Zoning Table 6.1: 1 space per 1-bedroom dwelling unit, 1.5 per 2-bedroom, 2 per unit with 3 or more bedrooms; fractions in the total are rounded up. The 2021 info sheet says 1 off-street space for a 1-bedroom suite and 2 for 2 or more bedrooms.","short":"1 space (1 bedroom); 2 spaces for 2 or more bedrooms","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","section":"Table 6.1; s. 6.3.3(b)","quotes":["1 per 1-bedroom dwelling unit","1.5 per 2-bedroom dwelling unit","2 per 3-or-more bedroom dwelling unit","the required number of spaces shall be the next highest whole number","number, the required number of spaces shall be the next highest whole"]},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165856","title":"Secondary Suite Info Sheet and Checklist (updated Jan 11, 2021), City of Armstrong","section":"Info sheet (Jan 2021)","quotes":["with 1 bedroom requires 1 off-","more bedrooms requires 2 off-"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is required to construct a new secondary or accessory suite. The 2021 info sheet adds an inspection by the Building Inspector (fee applies), a yearly business licence with an owner declaration, and higher utility fees.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 7.1(q)","quotes":["constructing a new secondary or accessory suite;"]},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165856","title":"Secondary Suite Info Sheet and Checklist (updated Jan 11, 2021), City of Armstrong","section":"Info sheet (Jan 2021)","quotes":["An inspection fee will apply.","A business license with a","reduced fee is required if your","The sewer fixed fee, water fixed"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024; Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 1.1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw shall be referred to as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024”."]},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as “City of Armstrong Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022”."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder [Zoning Bylaw 1921, 2024](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358), no zone lists \"secondary suite\" as its own use. A suite is a dwelling unit inside another dwelling unit, so it counts toward the limit on dwelling units per lot. R.1 and R.2 allow 3 dwelling units on a lot under 280 m² and 4 on a larger lot. CR.1 allows 2, and a lot under 1 ha without City sewer may have 1 principal dwelling plus 1 suite.\n\nThe bylaw has no coach house or garden suite use. An accessory building may be a dwelling only if it is a permitted dwelling unit. A new secondary or accessory suite needs a building permit under [Building Bylaw 1903](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102).\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Ask Planning whether your zone and lot allow the suite or carriage house, and whether a development permit is needed.\n2. Contact the Building Official about Building Code requirements.\n3. Apply for a building permit (see the building permit answer).\n4. Arrange the required inspections.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Parking: Zoning Table 6.1 requires 1 space per 1-bedroom dwelling unit, 1.5 per 2-bedroom unit and 2 per unit with 3 or more bedrooms. Fractions in the total are rounded up. The bylaw does not say whether suite spaces are in addition to the main house's.\n- The City's 2021 suite info sheet and 2023 building guide predate the 2024 zoning bylaw. The info sheet says one suite per dwelling, no strata subdivision, 1 space for a 1-bedroom suite and 2 for larger suites, plus an inspection (fee applies), a yearly business licence with an owner declaration and higher utility fees. Zoning Bylaw 1921 is followed here; confirm with the City.\n- No suite size or owner-occupancy rule was found.\n- The Regional District of North Okanagan offers pre-approved secondary dwelling designs.","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165856","title":"Secondary Suite Info Sheet and Checklist (updated Jan 11, 2021), City of Armstrong","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/172744","title":"Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1916, 2023 (PDF, consolidated), City of Armstrong","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdno.ca/purchaseplans","title":"Housing Catalogues, Regional District of North Okanagan","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/secondary-suite.json"}}