Enderby secondary suite and carriage house rules
Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?
Short answer
Yes, in some zones. The City of Enderby's Zoning Bylaw allows an attached secondary suite in R.1, R.1-A, R.2 and Country Residential zones, and a detached suite (carriage house) on lots of at least 560 m² or 650 m² in R.1, R.1-A and R.2. Both need a building permit.
Key facts
| Secondary suite allowed | Attached secondary suites are permitted uses in the R.1, R.1-A, R.2 and Country Residential (C.R.) zones, in a single family dwelling or two family dwelling, and must meet s. 317.a.Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, includes Bylaw 1793), s. 317.a, s. 601.1(e); Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, includes Bylaw 1793), s. 602.1(e); Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, includes Bylaw 1793), s. 701.1(l) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAttached Secondary Suites are to be located only in a single family dwelling or two family dwelling Attached Secondary Suites subject to the provisions of Section 317.a e. Attached Secondary Suites subject to the provisions of Section 317.a l. Attached Secondary Suites subject to the provisions of Section 317.a |
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| Coach house or garden suite allowed | Detached secondary suites are permitted uses in R.1, R.1-A, R.2 and Country Residential zones, and only with a principal single family dwelling, entirely to the rear of it. Lots need at least 560 m² (lane or second street frontage) or 650 m² (no lane access) in R.1, R.1-A and R.2.Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, includes Bylaw 1793), s. 317.b.1, s. 601.1(f); Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, includes Bylaw 1793), s. 701.1(m) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingonly be permitted to accompany a principal single family dwelling, with or without an Attached Secondary Suite be located entirely to the rear of a principal single family dwelling f. Detached Secondary Suites subject to the provisions of Section 317.b Detached Secondary Suites are only permitted on lots that have an area of not less than: a. 560 m2 if there is lane access or second street frontage; or b. 650 m2 if there is not lane access or second street frontage. m. Detached Secondary Suites subject to the provisions of Section 317.b |
| Limits | Attached: one per single family dwelling (one per half of a two family dwelling), 36 m² minimum, maximum the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of habitable floor area; no strata. Detached: max 90 m², no more than 75% of the principal dwelling's floor area, max height 4.5 m, no subdivision or strata.Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, includes Bylaw 1793), s. 317.a.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, includes Bylaw 1793), s. 317.b.1, Div. Two; Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, includes Bylaw 1793), s. 601.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo more than one Attached Secondary Suite shall be permitted within a single family dwelling The maximum floor area of an Attached Secondary Suite shall not exceed the lesser of 90 m2 or 40% of the habitable floor area of the single family dwelling shall not be less than 36m2 (387.5 square feet) No strata titling is permitted. Amending Division Three of Schedule “A” by deleting Section 317.b.1.viii. have a floor area not to exceed 75% of the floor area of the principal single family dwelling The maximum height of Detached Secondary Suites shall be 4.5 m have a floor area not to exceed 75% of the floor area of the principal single family dwelling at least one (1) of the registered owners of the property resides within the primary single family dwelling DETACHED SECONDARY SUITE means a dwelling unit with a maximum floor area of 90 square meters The maximum height of Detached Secondary Suites shall be 4.5 m |
| Parking | One off-street parking space for each attached secondary suite and one for each detached secondary suite.Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, includes Bylaw 1793), s. 317.a.1(iv), s. 317.b.2, Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingOne (1) off-street parking space must be provided for each Attached Secondary Suite one (1) off-street parking space must be provided for each detached secondary suite Detached Secondary Suite 1 per suite |
| Permits | A building permit is required to build or alter a building; a suite must meet the BC Building Code, and an attached suite must have an Occupancy Permit. The City's application form has a 'Secondary Suite' building type.Building Bylaw No. 1582, 2015 (consolidated), s. 301.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, includes Bylaw 1793), s. 317.a.1(v), Div. Two; Building Permit Application package, Application form · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall commence or continue any construction, alteration, reconstruction unless a Building Official has issued a permit for the work Attached Secondary Suites must comply with all relevant City Bylaws and the BC Building Code has an Occupancy Permit indicating compliance to the BC Building Code Type of Work: Type of Building: ☐ New ☐ Alteration ☐ Plumbing ☐ Single Family Dwelling ☐ Multi-Family ☐ Secondary Suite ☐ Addition ☐ Demolition ☐ Pool ☐ Agricultural ☐ Accessory ☐ Industrial |
| Bylaw | City of Enderby Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (s. 317.a, 317.b and zone sections) and Building Bylaw No. 1582, 2015.Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, includes Bylaw 1793), s. 1; Building Bylaw No. 1582, 2015 (consolidated), s. 101 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as “The Corporation of the City of Enderby Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014”. This Bylaw may be cited as “City of Enderby Building Bylaw No. 1582, 2015”. |
How it works
The Zoning Bylaw 1550 permits attached secondary suites in R.1, R.1-A, R.2 and Country Residential (C.R.) zones, in a single family or two family dwelling, if they meet s. 317.a. Detached suites are permitted in the same zones, only with a single family dwelling and entirely to the rear of it. No suite use was found in the commercial, industrial or R.3 zones.
Attached suite: one per single family dwelling (one per half of a two family dwelling), at least 36 m², up to the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of the habitable floor area. No strata.
Detached suite: up to 90 m², no more than 75% of the principal dwelling's floor area, up to 4.5 m high. It needs a lot connected to community water and sewer, solid fencing 1.5 m to 2 m high on sides not facing the main house, and a cleared pathway from parking. No subdivision or strata. In R.1, R.1-A and R.2 the lot must be at least 560 m² (lane or second street frontage) or 650 m² (no lane access).
Steps
- Confirm your zone and lot size with the Planner (250-838-7230).
- Plan one off-street parking space for each suite.
- Apply for a building permit. The suite must meet the BC Building Code, and an attached suite must have an Occupancy Permit. The City's application form has a "Secondary Suite" building type.
- Book inspections through RDNO (see building-permit).
Good to know
- No development permit area was found in the Official Community Plan or the Zoning Bylaw, so none is stated.
- The bylaw text we read states no owner-occupancy requirement. Older zone text had one, so confirm with the City.
- The City sells pre-approved RDNO secondary dwelling plans; ask City Hall.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Armstrong · Spallumcheen · Sicamous · Lumby · Vernon · Coldstream
Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1550, 2014 (consolidated, includes Bylaw 1793) (PDF), City of Enderby (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw No. 1582, 2015 (consolidated) (PDF), City of Enderby (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Permit Application package (PDF), City of Enderby (read 2026-11-05)
- RDNO Secondary Dwelling Building Plans Information (PDF), City of Enderby (read 2026-11-05)
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.