Canal Flats secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Canal Flats?

Canal Flats, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowed	'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.Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), s. 5.4 R-1; s. 5.2 A-1; s. 2.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording 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
Coach house or garden suite allowed	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.Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), s. 2.6; s. 5.3 SH accessory uses; s. 6 definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording *See Section 2.5 and 2.6 for Regulations on Accessory Dwelling Units. The following regulations apply to Detached Accessory Dwelling Units where
Limits	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.Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), ss. 2.6-2.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording 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.
Parking	One additional off-street parking space per accessory dwelling unit (attached or detached), on top of the space required for the principal dwelling.Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), ss. 2.6(g), 2.7(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording 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
Permits	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.Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), s. 6 definitions; Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020, s. 7.1; s. 10.1(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording has been designed as a separate dwelling unit and has been established as a separate dwelling unit by permit 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
Bylaw	Village of Canal Flats Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (ss. 2.5 to 2.7); Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019 (consolidated), s. 1.1; Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as “Village of Canal Flats Zoning Bylaw No. 215, 2019”. This bylaw may be cited as “Village of Canal Flats Building Bylaw No. 230, 2020”.

How it works

The Zoning Bylaw No. 215 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.

Section 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.

Steps

Confirm your zone and whether an ADU is allowed (see zoning-lookup).
Call the Village office (250-349-5462) to confirm the rules for your lot.
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.

Good to know

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.
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.
One additional off-street parking space is required per ADU (attached or detached), on top of the principal dwelling's space.
The bylaw defines an ADU as "established as a separate dwelling unit by permit".