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Burns Lake secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Burns Lake, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Burns Lake a secondary suite is allowed inside the main dwelling in the RR1, UR, R1, R2, R3, C1 and C2 zones, and in R5 with a duplex or semi-detached home. One suite per dwelling. The bylaw lists no coach house or garden suite.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedYes, as an accessory use in the RR1, UR (accessory to a single detached dwelling), R1, R2, R3, C1 and C2 zones, and in R5 accessory to a duplex or semi-detached dwelling. One suite per principal dwelling unit, inside the principal dwelling unit only.Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated to April 2026, ss. 6.1.3, 6.2.3, 7.1.3, 7.2.3, 7.3, 8.1.3, 4.3.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
(d) secondary suite, accessory to a single detached dwelling.
(d) secondary suite;
(e) secondary suite, accessory to a duplex or semi-detached dwelling.
permitted per principal dwelling unit and is
permitted within the principal dwelling unit only.
Coach house or garden suite allowedNo coach house or garden suite use is listed. Section 4.3.2 limits a secondary suite to inside the principal dwelling unit, and an accessory building cannot be used as a principal dwelling.Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated to April 2026, ss. 4.3.2, 3.11.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
permitted within the principal dwelling unit only.
An accessory building or structure must not be used as a principal dwelling.
LimitsOne suite per principal dwelling unit; it must not be strata titled; no structural alterations that change the single detached dwelling character of the area; it must meet Village bylaws and the BC Building Code.Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated to April 2026, s. 4.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
No more than one secondary suite will be permitted per principal dwelling unit and is
A secondary suite must not be strata titled.
A secondary suite must comply with all relevant Village Bylaws, and the B.C. Building
Code, as amended.
Parking1 space per suite (in addition to the 2 spaces per single detached dwelling).Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated to April 2026, Schedule 2 Table 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Secondary Suites 1 space per suite
2 per dwelling unit plus 1 per 7 dwellings for visitor parking for
PermitsA secondary suite must comply with all Village bylaws and the BC Building Code; the Building Bylaw requires a building permit before constructing a building or structure or changing the class of occupancy. Development permit need was not checked (OCP is a scan).Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated to April 2026, s. 4.3.3; Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), s. 9.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A secondary suite must comply with all relevant Village Bylaws, and the B.C. Building
changing the class of occupancy of any building or structure
BylawVillage of Burns Lake Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008 (consolidated up to April 2026), s. 4.3; Village of Burns Lake Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated to April 2026, Cover; Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
ZONING BYLAW NO. 880, 2008
This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "Village of Burns Lake Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013."

How it works

The Zoning Bylaw No. 880 allows a secondary suite as an accessory use in the RR1, UR (with a single detached dwelling), R1, R2, R3, C1 and C2 zones, and in R5 with a duplex or semi-detached dwelling. It must be inside the principal dwelling unit. No coach house or garden suite use is listed, and an accessory building cannot be used as a principal dwelling. The bylaw's definition of "secondary suite" mentions accessory buildings, which does not match this, so ask Village planning before you plan a detached suite.

Steps

  1. Find your zone with Village planning (250-692-7587 or planning@burnslake.ca).
  2. Check the limits below.
  3. Ask the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) building inspection (250-692-3195) about a building permit.

Good to know

  • One suite per principal dwelling unit. It must not be strata titled, and no structural alterations may change the single detached dwelling character of the area.
  • It must meet all Village bylaws and the BC Building Code. The Building Bylaw requires a permit before constructing a building or structure or changing its class of occupancy.
  • Parking: 1 space per suite, in addition to the 2 spaces per single detached dwelling.
  • R4, R6, R7, C3, C4 and other zones were not found to list suites.
  • We found no size cap or owner-occupancy rule. Whether a development permit is needed was not checked.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Fraser Lake · Houston · Granisle · Fort St James · Vanderhoof · Telkwa

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated to April 2026 (PDF), Village of Burns Lake (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), Village of Burns Lake (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Contact, Village of Burns Lake (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.