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Fort St. John secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Fort St. John, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Fort St. John allows one secondary suite per house, and up to two detached suites (carriage houses) in the R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-4 and R-4A zones, but only in zones whose use list includes them. Check your zone first. Suites must meet the BC Building Code and need a City business licence.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedWhere a zone's use list includes it: A-1, R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-4, R-4A, RM-1 and RM-2 (not R-3, RM-3 or RM-4), when a single-family dwelling or duplex is the principal dwelling. One suite per principal dwelling; not subdivided or strata-titled; not inside a detached suite.Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, s. 4.20 and 4.21), s. 4.20.1; Secondary and Detached Suites, Secondary and Detached Suites page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Secondary Suites are permitted in all residential zones when a single family dwelling or
b. no more than one Secondary Suite is permitted per principal dwelling;
e. Secondary Suites shall not be subdivided or strata-titled; and
f. Secondary suites are not permitted in detached suites.
suites are now permitted within most residential zones
Coach house or garden suite allowedWhere a zone's use list includes it (A-1, R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-4, R-4A, RM-1, RM-2), on a parcel with a principal dwelling, inside an accessory building. No more than two per parcel in R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-4 and R-4A. Must meet BC Building Code.Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, s. 4.20 and 4.21), s. 4.21.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
no more than two Detached Suites are permitted on a parcel in the R1, R-1A, R-2,
b. Detached Suites are only permitted on parcels which contain a principal dwelling;
c. a Detached Suite is permitted within an Accessory Building;
d. the Detached Suite must meet BC Building Code requirements.
LimitsSecondary suite floor area at most the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of the principal dwelling's habitable floor area. One secondary suite per dwelling. Up to two detached suites in R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-4 and R-4A. R-1 density is up to 4 dwelling units per parcel on municipal services.Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, s. 4.20 and 4.21), s. 4.20.1(c); Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, s. 4.20 and 4.21), R-1 Table 7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
c. the maximum floor area of a Secondary Suite must not exceed the lesser of 90 m 2 or
40% of the habitable floor area of the principal dwelling unit;
4 dwelling units on a parcel
connected to municipal services
Parking1 space per bedroom in the suite, in addition to the spaces required for the principal dwelling.Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, s. 4.20 and 4.21), s. 5.8 parking table; Secondary Suites brochure, Brochure · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Secondary or Detached Suite
1 space per bedroom in the suite in addition to
One parking space is provided on the parcel per
PermitsA building permit is needed to build or change a building's use (Building Bylaw s. 17), and the suite must meet the BC Building Code. A secondary suite also needs a City business licence ($75). A development permit is needed only in a designated Development Permit Area. A City inspection fee of $200 may apply.Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 17; Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021, s. 7.8; Development Applications, Development Permits; Secondary Suites brochure, Brochure · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
change the use or occupancy of any building or structure or plumbing system, including excavation or other work related to construction unless:
Secondary Suites shall be permitted in accordance with the Zoning Bylaw and all
homeowners with Secondary Suites must comply with the regulations in the Zoning
Secondary Suite $75.00
You need to apply for a Development Permit if:
You are located in a designated Development Permit Area.
who will verify the suite meets BC Building Code
($200 fee may apply)
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (s. 4.20 and 4.21); Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021 (s. 7.8); Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, s. 4.20 and 4.21); Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021, cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
c. must not exceed 40% of the principal buildings floor area or 90 m2, whichever is less. This 4.20 Secondary Suites section
City of Fort St. John - Zoning Bylaw
Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (Consolidated Version) This consolidated Version includes the following
BYLAW NO. 2563, 2021

How it works

Under Zoning Bylaw 2470, 2019 (s. 4.20 and 4.21), a secondary suite is allowed where a zone's use list includes it: A-1, R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-4, R-4A, RM-1 and RM-2, when a single-family dwelling or duplex is the principal dwelling. It is not allowed in R-3, RM-3 or RM-4. A detached suite goes inside an accessory building on a parcel with a principal dwelling, in the same zones.

Steps

  1. Contact Development Services to confirm your zone and what is allowed.
  2. A building permit is needed to build or change a building's use, and the suite must meet the BC Building Code. Apply with plans showing the suite.
  3. Provide parking: one space per bedroom in the suite, in addition to the spaces for the main dwelling.
  4. Get a City business licence for the suite ($75) and book inspections through Planning and Engineering (250-787-8150).

Good to know

  • Limits: a secondary suite is at most the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of the principal dwelling's habitable floor area. There is one per principal dwelling. It cannot be subdivided or strata-titled or sit inside a detached suite.
  • Up to two detached suites are allowed per parcel in R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-4 and R-4A. R-1 allows up to 4 dwelling units per parcel on municipal services.
  • A development permit is needed only in a designated Development Permit Area.
  • The Fees and Charges Bylaw lists a $200 suite inspection fee and a $400 charge on title.
  • The City's page says "most residential zones" while the bylaw lists the zones above. Check the zone list for your parcel.
  • The Zoning Bylaw does not state an owner-occupancy requirement. The City's brochure says there are no boarders or bed and breakfast being operated.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

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

Sources

  1. Secondary and Detached Suites, City of Fort St. John (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, s. 4.20 and 4.21) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Secondary Suites brochure (PDF), City of Fort St. John (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Development Applications, City of Fort St. John (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.