Fernie secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Fernie, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

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.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, s. 2 definitions; s. 4.2.1(2); Zoning · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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. are now consolidated and replaced with one
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.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, s. 2 definition of SSMUH; s. 4.2.1; Zoning · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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. 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.
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.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, s. 4.2.1(4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, Part 5 parking table; R-SS s. 5(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Building Permits and Inspections, Multiple Building Permit Requirements; Development Permits, When a Development Permit is required; Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025, s. 11.1(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Construction projects that include multiple buildings require a separate building permit application for each building. you must complete the appropriate Development Permit Application form before applying for a Building Permit. the owner must apply for and obtain a Development Permit if the building or structure is in
Bylaw	Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (R-SS zone, definitions, Part 5 parking) and Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, Title page; Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025, Title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording CONSOLIDATED ZONING BYLAW NO. 1750 Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526

How it works

In the R-SS zone of the Zoning Bylaw, 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

Find your property's zone (see the zoning lookup answer) and ask Planning if you are unsure.
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.
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

The same question in other places

Sparwood · Cranbrook · Elkford · Kimberley · Canal Flats · Creston

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

Sources

Zoning, City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF), City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Building Permits and Inspections, City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Development Permits, City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025 (PDF), City of Fernie (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.