{"title":"Fernie secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/fernie","name":"Fernie","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":"City of Fernie","url":"https://www.fernie.ca"},"short_answer":"Often yes. The City of Fernie's R-SS zone allows secondary suites and detached accessory dwelling units, up to 3 units on a parcel under 280 m² and 4 on a parcel of 280 m² or more. The RR zone also allows a secondary dwelling unit. A detached suite needs its own building permit.","aliases":["basement suite fernie","carriage house fernie","garden suite fernie","laneway house fernie","legal suite fernie","fourplex fernie"],"cost":"Building permit fees are in Appendix A of Bylaw 2526 (see the building permit fees answer). Other charges for a suite are not stated in the sources read.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"email","label":"Planning","value":"planning@fernie.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall","value":"250-423-6817","note":"Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m."},{"type":"online","label":"Cloudpermit","value":"https://ca.cloudpermit.com/gov/login"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning page, City of Fernie","url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/city/departments-services/planning-development-services/zoning.html"},{"title":"Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF)","url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505"}],"related":[{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Fernie zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Fernie building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/building-permit/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Fernie short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sparwood","name":"Sparwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/elkford","name":"Elkford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/creston","name":"Creston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/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":"Yes in the R-SS zone (single detached dwellings may include secondary suites) and, as a 'secondary dwelling unit' accessory use, in the Rural Residential (RR) zone. The City says the older residential zones were merged into R-SS in 2024. Not every zone was checked; Highway Commercial bars suites on certain parcels.","short":"Yes, in R-SS and RR zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505","title":"Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 2 definitions; s. 4.2.1(2)","quotes":["SECONDARY SUITE means:","an accessory dwelling unit that is located in and forms part of a principal dwelling unit.","Single detached dwellings may also include secondary suite(s).","2. Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, except Manufactured Home","Examples of small-scale multi-unit housing include, but are not limited to combinations of:","• secondary suites","1. home occupation; 2. uses, buildings and structures accessory to a permitted use; 3. secondary dwelling unit.","c) is secondary to a primary dwelling unit located on the same property."]},{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/city/departments-services/planning-development-services/zoning.html","title":"Zoning, City of Fernie","section":"Zoning","quotes":["are now consolidated and replaced with one"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Yes in R-SS: small-scale multi-unit housing includes detached accessory dwelling units, within 3 units per parcel (250 to under 280 m²) or 4 (280 m² or more). A 'secondary dwelling unit' is also an accessory use in the RR zone (up to 4 dwelling units per parcel). No separate coach house or garden suite rules found.","short":"Yes in R-SS, within 3 or 4 units per parcel","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505","title":"Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 2 definition of SSMUH; s. 4.2.1","quotes":["detached accessory dwelling units","Maximum Density 3 Dwelling Units per Parcel","4 Dwelling Units per","Four (4) dwelling units per parcel","1. home occupation; 2. uses, buildings and structures accessory to a permitted use; 3. secondary dwelling unit."]},{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/city/departments-services/planning-development-services/zoning.html","title":"Zoning, City of Fernie","section":"Zoning","quotes":["allow up to four (4) dwelling units on properties over 280 square metres in size, and three (3) dwelling units on lots with a minimum size of 250 square metres and a maximum size of 280 square metres."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"R-SS zone: at most 3 dwelling units per parcel (parcels under 280 m²) or 4 (280 m² or more), including suites. Parcel coverage runs from 35% for one unit up to 50%. Dwellings may be 10.0 m high, or 8.0 m within 6.0 m of the rear lot line.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505","title":"Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 4.2.1(4)","quotes":["Maximum Parcel Coverage 1 Dwelling Unit 35% 35% 2 Dwelling Units 40% 40% 3 Dwelling Units 50% 45% 4 Dwelling Units N/A 50%","Dwelling Unit(s) (for a building or portion thereof that is within 6.0 m. of the rear property line) 8.0 m. 8.0 m.","Maximum Density 3 Dwelling Units per Parcel"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"Parking table: 2 spaces for 2 small-scale multi-unit housing units, 3 for 3, 4 for 4 (totals); a single detached dwelling needs 2. It also lists 'secondary dwelling unit: 1 space per unit'. The bylaw does not say clearly whether a house with a suite needs 2 or 3, so confirm with Planning. A driveway counted as parking must be at least 5.8 m long.","short":"1 space per secondary unit (unclear; confirm)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505","title":"Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Part 5 parking table; R-SS s. 5(2)","quotes":["Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, 2 Dwelling Units 2 Spaces","Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, 3 3 Spaces","Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, 4 4 Spaces","secondary dwelling unit 1 space per unit","Where a driveway is utilized for off-street parking, the length of that driveway shall","be a minimum of 5.8 metres measured from the property line perpendicular to the","- single detached dwelling, modular or 2 spaces","-Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, 3 3 Spaces"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit (a detached suite needs its own application, separate from the main house). A development permit first if the property is in a Development Permit Area, such as watercourse, slope, avalanche or flood areas.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/building-permits-inspections.html","title":"Building Permits and Inspections, City of Fernie","section":"Multiple Building Permit Requirements","quotes":["Construction projects that include multiple buildings require a separate building permit application for each building."]},{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/city/departments-services/planning-development-services/development-permits.html","title":"Development Permits, City of Fernie","section":"When a Development Permit is required","quotes":["you must complete the appropriate Development Permit Application form before applying for a Building Permit."]},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/577","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 11.1(b)","quotes":["the owner must apply for and obtain a Development Permit if the building or structure is in"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (R-SS zone, definitions, Part 5 parking) and Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505","title":"Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Title page","quotes":["CONSOLIDATED ZONING BYLAW NO. 1750"]},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/577","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Title page","quotes":["Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nIn the R-SS zone of the [Zoning Bylaw](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505), single detached dwellings may include secondary suites, and small-scale multi-unit housing includes detached accessory dwelling units. A \"secondary dwelling unit\" is also an accessory use in the Rural Residential (RR) zone, which allows up to 4 dwelling units per parcel. The City says the older residential zones were merged into R-SS in 2024. Other zones have their own rules; look up your zoning first.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find your property's zone (see the zoning lookup answer) and ask Planning if you are unsure.\n2. Check whether the parcel is in a Development Permit Area (for example watercourse, slope, avalanche or flood areas). If so, get the development permit first.\n3. Apply for a building permit in Cloudpermit. A detached suite needs its own application, separate from the main house.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Unit limit in R-SS:** at most 3 dwelling units per parcel (parcels under 280 m², with a minimum of 250 m²) or 4 (280 m² or more), including suites.\n- **Size and height:** parcel coverage runs from 35% for one unit up to 50%. Dwellings may be 10.0 m high, or 8.0 m within 6.0 m of the rear lot line. The sources read set no maximum suite size and no owner-occupancy rule for R-SS.\n- **Parking:** the parking table lists 2 spaces for a single detached dwelling and \"1 space per unit\" for a secondary dwelling unit, with totals of 2, 3 and 4 for 2, 3 and 4 units. The bylaw does not say clearly whether a house with a suite needs 2 or 3, so confirm with Planning. A driveway counted as parking must be at least 5.8 m long.\n- **Short-term rental:** not permitted in a secondary suite, garage suite or garden suite.\n- **Business licence:** renting a suite monthly or longer does not need one, as long as the house and suite stay on one legal title.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/city/departments-services/planning-development-services/zoning.html","title":"Zoning, City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505","title":"Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF), City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/building-permits-inspections.html","title":"Building Permits and Inspections, City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/city/departments-services/planning-development-services/development-permits.html","title":"Development Permits, City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/577","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025 (PDF), City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/fernie/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/secondary-suite.json"}}