{"title":"Canal Flats secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Canal Flats?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","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":"Village of Canal Flats","url":"https://www.canalflats.ca"},"short_answer":"In Canal Flats the Zoning Bylaw allows an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in some zones, including R-1, R-1A and SH, with one attached unit per single detached dwelling. Detached units have their own rules, but which zones allow them is unclear, so confirm with the Village office.","aliases":["secondary suite canal flats","carriage house canal flats","accessory dwelling unit canal flats","basement suite canal flats"],"cost":"Building permit fees are in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 300, 2026, Schedule C, based on construction value from a $75 minimum. See the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"Not stated by the Village.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Village Office (Columbia Discovery Centre)","value":"8866 Grainger Road, Canal Flats, BC V0B 1B0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00 to 1:00)"},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"250-349-5462"},{"type":"email","label":"Village Office","value":"village@canalflats.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019","url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/50072/"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Canal Flats building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Canal Flats building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Canal Flats zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Canal Flats short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/invermere","name":"Invermere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/radium-hot-springs","name":"Radium Hot Springs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/elkford","name":"Elkford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kaslo","name":"Kaslo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/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":"'Dwelling Unit, Accessory' is an accessory use in the R-1, R-1A and SH zones, and 'Dwelling, Accessory to a permitted use' in A-1 and C-1 (accessory) and C-2 (conditional). An attached unit must be in a principal single detached dwelling, one per dwelling.","short":"Yes, in R-1, R-1A and SH zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/50072/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), Village of Canal Flats","section":"s. 5.4 R-1; s. 5.2 A-1; s. 2.7","quotes":["Dwelling Unit, Accessory","Dwelling, Accessory to a permitted use","An Attached Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be located in one (1) Principal Single","No more than one (1) Attached Accessory Dwelling Unit is permitted in a principal Single","(b) Dwelling, Accessory to a permitted use"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Detached accessory dwelling units are regulated by s. 2.6 'where permitted as a use'. The SH zone's accessory use 'Dwelling Unit, Accessory' points to ss. 2.5 and 2.6, so detached units appear allowed there; the R-1 and R-1A lists do not say. Confirm with the Village.","short":"Appears allowed in SH zone; confirm with Village","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/50072/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), Village of Canal Flats","section":"s. 2.6; s. 5.3 SH accessory uses; s. 6 definitions","quotes":["*See Section 2.5 and 2.6 for Regulations on Accessory Dwelling Units.","The following regulations apply to Detached Accessory Dwelling Units where"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Attached ADU: at most one per single detached dwelling; floor area no more than the lesser of 75 m² (807 ft²) or 40% of the main-floor area; must connect to municipal sewer and water. Detached ADU, where permitted: 37 m² to 70 m² (400 to 753 ft²); 3.0 m from the principal dwelling; 6.0 m maximum height if on the second storey of an accessory building; principal dwelling must be owner occupied.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/50072/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), Village of Canal Flats","section":"ss. 2.6-2.7","quotes":["The minimum floor area of a Detached Accessory Dwelling Units shall be 37.0 m2 (400","The maximum floor area of a Detached Accessory Dwelling Units shall not exceed 70.0","The minimum separation between a principal Dwelling Unit and a Detached Accessory","unit(s) shall be owner occupied.","lesser of 75.0 m2 (807 ft2) or 40% of the Gross Floor Area of the main floor of the","shall be connected to the municipal sanitary sewer and water distribution system."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"One additional off-street parking space per accessory dwelling unit (attached or detached), on top of the space required for the principal dwelling.","short":"1 extra space per accessory dwelling unit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/50072/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), Village of Canal Flats","section":"ss. 2.6(g), 2.7(e)","quotes":["One (1) additional off-street parking space per Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit is","One (1) additional off-street parking space per Attached Accessory Dwelling Unit is"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"The Zoning Bylaw defines an accessory dwelling unit as 'established as a separate dwelling unit by permit'. A building permit is needed before constructing or altering a building (Building Bylaw s. 7.1), and a development permit first if the site is in a development permit area.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/50072/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), Village of Canal Flats","section":"s. 6 definitions","quotes":["has been designed as a separate dwelling unit and has been established as a separate dwelling unit by permit"]},{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/28968/","title":"Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020, Village of Canal Flats","section":"s. 7.1; s. 10.1(a)","quotes":["constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure, including a pool or retaining","the owner must apply for and obtain a development permit if the building or structure"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Village of Canal Flats Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (ss. 2.5 to 2.7); Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/50072/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), Village of Canal Flats","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as “Village of Canal Flats Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019”."]},{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/28968/","title":"Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020, Village of Canal Flats","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as “Village of Canal Flats Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020”."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Zoning Bylaw No. 215](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/50072/) calls a secondary suite an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). \"Dwelling Unit, Accessory\" is an accessory use in the R-1, R-1A and SH zones. \"Dwelling, Accessory to a permitted use\" is allowed in A-1 and C-1 (accessory) and C-2 (conditional). An attached unit must be in a principal single detached dwelling, one per dwelling.\n\nSection 2.6 sets rules for detached ADUs where a zone permits them. The SH zone points to those rules, so detached units appear allowed there. The R-1 and R-1A lists do not say. Confirm with the Village.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone and whether an ADU is allowed (see zoning-lookup).\n2. Call the Village office (250-349-5462) to confirm the rules for your lot.\n3. Apply for a building permit before constructing or altering the building. If the site is in a development permit area, you need a development permit first.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Attached ADU: floor area no more than the lesser of 75 m² (807 ft²) or 40% of the main-floor area, and connected to municipal sewer and water.\n- Detached ADU, where permitted: 37 m² to 70 m² (400 to 753 ft²); 3.0 m from the principal dwelling; 6.0 m maximum height if on the second storey of an accessory building; the principal dwelling must be owner occupied.\n- One additional off-street parking space is required per ADU (attached or detached), on top of the principal dwelling's space.\n- The bylaw defines an ADU as \"established as a separate dwelling unit by permit\".","sources":[{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/50072/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), Village of Canal Flats","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/28968/","title":"Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020, Village of Canal Flats","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/50057/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 300, 2026, Village of Canal Flats","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.canalflats.ca/contact-us/","title":"Contact Us, Village of Canal Flats","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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/canal-flats/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/secondary-suite.json"}}