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Elkford secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

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

Short answer

In Elkford a secondary suite is allowed inside a single-unit dwelling in the R-1, R-2, R-5, R-MH, A-1 and LH zones, if it connects to community water and sewer. A detached coach house is allowed in R-1, R-5, R-MH and LH, but not if the main dwelling has a suite.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedAs an accessory use to a single-unit dwelling in zones R-1, R-2, R-5, R-MH, A-1 and LH. Must connect to community water and sewer, and not in a mobile home. Not listed in R-3, R-4, R-MP, UR-1 or the commercial, industrial and institutional zones.Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013, s. 4.4(b) R-1; 4.5(b) R-2; 4.17(b) A-1; 4.19(b) LH; Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013, s. 4.8(b) R-5; 4.9(b) R-MH; Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013, s. 2.19(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
The following Accessory Uses of Land, Buildings and Structures and no others shall be permitted: (i) Secondary Suite;
(i) Secondary Suite, accessory to a Single-Unit Dwelling;
Secondary Suites shall be connected to community water and sewer services;
Secondary Suites shall not be located in Single-Unit Dwellings that are Mobile
Coach house or garden suite allowedA detached Coach House (including a tiny home) is an accessory use in R-1, R-5, R-MH and LH, not in R-2 or A-1. It needs a clear path from the street (at least 90 cm wide, 2.1 m headroom, 45 m or less), a visible address, cannot be in the front yard, and is not allowed if the main dwelling has a suite.Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013, definitions; Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013, s. 4.4(b) R-1; Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013, s. 2.19(b)-(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Coach House means an Accessory Building used for the purpose of accommodating a Secondary Suite
permitted: (i) Secondary Suite; (ii) Coach House; (iii) Home Occupation, including bed and breakfast; (iv) Boarding;
a continuous unobstructed pathway of not more than 45 m in length
be prohibited where the principal Dwelling contains a Secondary Suite;
not be sited in the Front Yard.
LimitsOne suite per single-unit dwelling, at most 90 m² or 40% of the dwelling's gross floor area, whichever is less. It must form a single real estate entity with the house. A coach house may not exceed 10% of the parcel coverage requirement and counts toward parcel coverage.Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013, s. 2.19(a)(iv)-(v); Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013, s. 2.19(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
shall form a single real estate entity with the principal Single-Unit Dwelling;
one such Use per Single-Unit Dwelling,
a maximum of 90 m2 or 40% of the Gross Floor Area of the Dwelling, whichever is less;
not exceed 10% of the Parcel Coverage requirements for the Parcel on which it is located;
Parking1.0 space for each dwelling unit (the table line for Secondary Suite, Coach House).Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013, s. 3.1 parking table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Secondary Suite, Coach House 1.0 for each Dwelling Unit
PermitsA building permit applies to finishing a basement or changing the use of a space. A development permit is needed only if the property is in a Development Permit Area.Building Permits and Inspections, When Do I Need a Building Permit?; Official Community Plan, Development Permit Areas · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Finishing a basement
Changing the occupancy or use of any structure or space
If you are interested in developing a property within a Development Permit Area, you will require a development permit before development can move forward
BylawDistrict of Elkford Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013, s. 2.19; Building Bylaw No. 748, 2013Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013, s. 2.19; Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
2.19 Secondary Suite and Coach House Regulations
This Bylaw may be cited as the “District of Elkford Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013”.

How it works

Elkford's Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013 allows a secondary suite as an accessory use to a single-unit dwelling in the R-1, R-2, R-5, R-MH, A-1 and LH zones. It must connect to community water and sewer, and cannot be in a mobile home. Suites are not listed in R-3, R-4, R-MP, UR-1 or the commercial, industrial and institutional zones.

A detached coach house (including a tiny home) is an accessory use in R-1, R-5, R-MH and LH, not in R-2 or A-1. It needs a clear path from the street (at least 90 cm wide, 2.1 m headroom, 45 m or less), a visible address, cannot be in the front yard, and is not allowed if the main dwelling has a suite.

Good to know

  • One suite per single-unit dwelling, at most 90 m² or 40% of the dwelling's gross floor area, whichever is less. It must form a single real estate entity with the house.
  • A coach house may not exceed 10% of the parcel coverage requirement and counts toward parcel coverage.
  • Parking: 1.0 space per suite or coach house, in addition to the 2.0 spaces for the single-unit dwelling.
  • Finishing a basement or changing a space's use needs a building permit. A development permit is needed only if the property is in a Development Permit Area. The change of occupancy or use fee is $150.
  • Call 250-865-4000 or email planning@elkford.ca before you start. No page describes a suite-specific permit.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Sparwood · Canal Flats · Fernie · Cranbrook · Kimberley · Invermere

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 737, 2013 (PDF), District of Elkford (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Permits and Inspections, District of Elkford (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Official Community Plan, District of Elkford (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 838, 2021, Schedule G (PDF), District of Elkford (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.