Fruitvale secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Fruitvale?

Fruitvale, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowed	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.Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated, ss. 10.3, 14.1.3, 14.2.3; Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated, s. 10.3.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording 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. A secondary suite is not permitted in conjunction with lodgers, bed and breakfast
Coach house or garden suite allowed	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.Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated, ss. 10.4, 14.1.3; Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated, s. 10.4.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording 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. An accessory suite may be permitted in the Rural Large Parcel (RLP 1) and Rural
Limits	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.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.Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated, ss. 10.4.5, 10.4.6; Accessory and Secondary Suites Guidelines, Village suites guidelines (March 2024) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording the maximum floor area of the accessory suite shall not exceed 90 m². Maximum floor area: lesser of 90 m² or For suites in accessory buildings: max
Parking	2 spaces per suite, in addition to the spaces required for the principal dwelling unit.Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated, Section 9 parking table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Secondary Suites or Accessory Suites 2 per suite, plus spaces required for the corresponding
Permits	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.Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003, s. 12.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording a building permit before constructing, repairing, moving, installing or
Bylaw	Village of Fruitvale Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013 (ss. 10.3, 10.4; zone sections 12 to 14); Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated, s. 10.3; Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording 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 This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the

How it works

The Village's Zoning Bylaw No. 846 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.

Accessory 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.

Steps

Confirm your zone with the Village Office (250-367-7551).
Check the size and parking limits below.
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).

Good to know

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.
Parking: 2 spaces per suite, in addition to those for the main dwelling.
Whether a separate suite or development permit is needed is not stated in the bylaws or guidelines. Ask the Village.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Montrose · Trail · Warfield · Rossland · Salmo · Castlegar

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

Sources

Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Accessory and Secondary Suites Guidelines (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Contact, Village of Fruitvale (read 2026-11-08)

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.