---
title: Fernie secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?"
place: Fernie, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/fernie
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Fernie
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Fernie secondary suite and carriage house rules

**Question:** Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Fernie, https://www.fernie.ca)  
**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.  
**Where:**
- Email: Planning, planning@fernie.ca
- Phone: City Hall, 250-423-6817 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Online: Cloudpermit, https://ca.cloudpermit.com/gov/login

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, s. 2 definitions; s. 4.2.1(2)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Zoning](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/city/departments-services/planning-development-services/zoning.html)
  - Official wording: "are now consolidated and replaced with one"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, s. 2 definition of SSMUH; s. 4.2.1](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Zoning](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/city/departments-services/planning-development-services/zoning.html)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, s. 4.2.1(4)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** 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.
  - Source: [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, Part 5 parking table; R-SS s. 5(2)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, Multiple Building Permit Requirements](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/building-permits-inspections.html)
  - Official wording: "Construction projects that include multiple buildings require a separate building permit application for each building."
  - Source: [Development Permits, When a Development Permit is required](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/city/departments-services/planning-development-services/development-permits.html)
  - Official wording: "you must complete the appropriate Development Permit Application form before applying for a Building Permit."
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025, s. 11.1(b)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/577)
  - Official wording: "the owner must apply for and obtain a Development Permit if the building or structure is in"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (R-SS zone, definitions, Part 5 parking) and Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025
  - Source: [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, Title page](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)
  - Official wording: "CONSOLIDATED ZONING BYLAW NO. 1750"
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025, Title page](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/577)
  - Official wording: "Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In 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.

## Steps

1. Find your property's zone (see the zoning lookup answer) and ask Planning if you are unsure.
2. 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.
3. Apply for a building permit in Cloudpermit. A detached suite needs its own application, separate from the main house.

## Good to know

- **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.
- **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.
- **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.
- **Short-term rental:** not permitted in a secondary suite, garage suite or garden suite.
- **Business licence:** renting a suite monthly or longer does not need one, as long as the house and suite stay on one legal title.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning page, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/city/departments-services/planning-development-services/zoning.html)
- [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505)

## Related questions

- [Fernie zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Fernie building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/building-permit.md)
- [Fernie short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Sparwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/secondary-suite.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/secondary-suite.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/secondary-suite.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/secondary-suite.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/secondary-suite.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/city/departments-services/planning-development-services/zoning.html) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF), City of Fernie](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/197505) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permits and Inspections, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/building-permits-inspections.html) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Development Permits, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/city/departments-services/planning-development-services/development-permits.html) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025 (PDF), City of Fernie](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/577) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Fernie. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/secondary-suite/_