{"title":"Fruitvale secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Fruitvale?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/fruitvale","name":"Fruitvale","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":"Village of Fruitvale","url":"https://fruitvale.ca"},"short_answer":"In Fruitvale a secondary suite inside a single detached house is allowed in the RLP 1, RR1, RU1 and RU2 zones, and a separate accessory suite may be allowed in RLP 1, RR1 and RU1. Each needs 2 extra parking spaces, and a building permit is required for the work.","aliases":["secondary suite fruitvale","basement suite fruitvale","carriage house fruitvale","accessory suite fruitvale"],"cost":"Building permit fees apply. See the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"Not stated by the Village.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Village Office","value":"1947 Beaver Street, Fruitvale, BC V0G 1L0","note":"Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"250-367-7551"},{"type":"email","label":"Village Office","value":"info@village.fruitvale.bc.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"RDKB Building Officials, Trail","value":"250-368-0222","note":"Office: 202 - 843 Rossland Ave, Trail, BC V1R 4S8."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF)","url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf"},{"title":"Accessory and Secondary Suites Guidelines, March 2024 (PDF)","url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Fruitvale-Accessory-Secondary-Suites-Guidelines.pdf"},{"title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003 (PDF)","url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/698-Building-Bylaw.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Fruitvale building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Fruitvale building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Fruitvale zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Fruitvale short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/montrose","name":"Montrose","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/trail","name":"Trail","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/warfield","name":"Warfield","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/rossland","name":"Rossland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/salmo","name":"Salmo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/castlegar","name":"Castlegar","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/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":"Secondary suites (inside a single detached house) are a secondary use in RLP 1, RR1, RU1 and RU2 zones. Only in a new or converted single detached house; one per principal dwelling; no strata titling; not with lodgers, a bed and breakfast or a group home. Not listed as a use in the multiple-housing, commercial or other zones read.","short":"Yes, in RLP 1, RR1, RU1 and RU2 zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF)","section":"ss. 10.3, 14.1.3, 14.2.3","quotes":["Secondary suites, when permitted, are to be located only in a new or converted single","d) secondary suite within single dwelling housing","No more than one secondary suite shall be permitted per principal dwelling unit."]},{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF)","section":"s. 10.3.6","quotes":["A secondary suite is not permitted in conjunction with lodgers, bed and breakfast"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Accessory suites (in a separate accessory building) may be allowed in RLP 1, RR1 and RU1 zones. One per lot; not with a bed and breakfast or secondary suite (except the 34 Davis Avenue exception in RU1). In RLP 1 and RR1 a manufactured or mobile home may be an accessory suite. In RLP 1 and RR1, a septic-served suite also needs an Interior Health certificate of increased septic capacity and the parcel must not border a street with a community sewer main.","short":"Maybe, in RLP 1, RR1, RU1 zones; one per lot","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF)","section":"ss. 10.4, 14.1.3","quotes":["Accessory suites, when permitted, are to be located only in an accessory building, except","e) accessory suite within an accessory building","No more than one accessory suite shall be permitted per lot."]},{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF)","section":"s. 10.4.4","quotes":["An accessory suite may be permitted in the Rural Large Parcel (RLP 1) and Rural"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Accessory suite in an accessory building: maximum 90 m² (manufactured or mobile home also 90 m²). Village guidelines add: secondary suite maximum is the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of the principal building's floor area; accessory suite the lesser of 90 m² or 75% of the principal building's area. One suite per principal dwelling or lot; no strata title.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF)","section":"ss. 10.4.5, 10.4.6","quotes":["the maximum floor area of","the accessory suite shall not exceed 90 m²."]},{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Fruitvale-Accessory-Secondary-Suites-Guidelines.pdf","title":"Accessory and Secondary Suites Guidelines (PDF)","section":"Village suites guidelines (March 2024)","quotes":["Maximum floor area: lesser of 90 m² or","For suites in accessory buildings: max"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"},"sources_differ":"The bylaw sets 90 m2 only for accessory suites; the 40% and 75% figures appear only in the guidelines (s. 10.3.3 of the zoning bylaw was deleted by Bylaw 944, 2022). The guidelines' 75% limit for accessory suites is not in the bylaw. Bylaw wins."},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"2 spaces per suite, in addition to the spaces required for the principal dwelling unit.","short":"2 spaces per suite, plus principal dwelling","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF)","section":"Section 9 parking table","quotes":["Secondary Suites or Accessory Suites","2 per suite, plus spaces required for the corresponding"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is required before constructing or altering a building or changing occupancy (Bylaw 698 s. 12.1.1). Whether a separate suite or development permit is needed is not stated; the Village's guidelines say nothing on permits.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/698-Building-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003 (PDF)","section":"s. 12.1.1","quotes":["a building permit before constructing, repairing, moving, installing or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Village of Fruitvale Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013 (ss. 10.3, 10.4; zone sections 12 to 14); Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF)","section":"s. 10.3","quotes":["of Zoning to C2 - Highway Commercial Zone. Text amendment to Section 10.3 Secondary Suites, 944 2022 PLD remove Clause 10.3.3.","Date of Revision: February 26, 2026 Bylaw No. 846, 2013 Village of Fruitvale","Date of Revision: February 26, 2026"]},{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/698-Building-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003 (PDF)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe Village's [Zoning Bylaw No. 846](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf) allows secondary suites (inside a single detached house) as a secondary use in the RLP 1, RR1, RU1 and RU2 zones. A suite must be in a new or converted single detached house, with one per principal dwelling and no strata titling. It cannot be combined with lodgers, a bed and breakfast or a group home. Multiple-housing, commercial and other zones read do not list a suite use.\n\nAccessory suites, in a separate accessory building, may be allowed in RLP 1, RR1 and RU1. Only one is allowed per lot, and not with a bed and breakfast or a secondary suite (the 34 Davis Avenue exception in RU1 aside). In RLP 1 and RR1 a manufactured or mobile home may be used. On septic in those zones, the suite also needs an Interior Health certificate of increased septic capacity, and the parcel must not border a street with a community sewer main. RU2 lists only a secondary suite.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone with the Village Office (250-367-7551).\n2. Check the size and parking limits below.\n3. Apply for a building permit before constructing or altering a building or changing its occupancy (Bylaw 698 s. 12.1.1). New residential also needs Homeowner Protection Act warranty proof (s. 17.2).\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Size: an accessory suite in an accessory building may be up to 90 m² in the bylaw. The Village's March 2024 guidelines add lower limits (the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of the principal building for a secondary suite; 75% for an accessory suite). Those are not in the bylaw, so confirm with the Village.\n- Parking: 2 spaces per suite, in addition to those for the main dwelling.\n- Whether a separate suite or development permit is needed is not stated in the bylaws or guidelines. Ask the Village.","sources":[{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Fruitvale-Accessory-Secondary-Suites-Guidelines.pdf","title":"Accessory and Secondary Suites Guidelines (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/698-Building-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://fruitvale.ca/contact/","title":"Contact, Village of Fruitvale","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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/fruitvale/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/secondary-suite.json"}}