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Golden secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

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

Short answer

In Golden a secondary suite is allowed as an accessory use in R1S, R1D, R2, R2A, R3, R5 and C5 zones, and a detached coach house or garden suite is allowed in most of them on a lot of at least 600 m². You need a building permit, and parking for three spaces in total.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedYes, as an accessory use in R1S (all former R1 lots since 2024), R1D, R2, R2A, R3, R5 and C5.Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1492, 2024, Bylaw 1492, 2024; Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, Schedule C (R1S); Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, Schedule F (R2A) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
to allow for
Residential zones by amending the zoning to RlS - Single
Secondary Residential Dwelling
Minimum Secondary Residential Dwelling 37 m2
Transition Commercial- C5
Secondary Residential Dwellings
Secondary Suite
Minimum Area of Secondary Suite 37 m2
Coach house or garden suite allowedYes in zones that list a Secondary Residential Dwelling (R1S, R1D, R2, R2A, R3, R5): a coach house (second storey over a garage or carport) or a garden suite (single storey), on a lot of at least 600 m². Also C5, but not on a lot with a commercial use.Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, s. 9.5(3); Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, Definitions; Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1378, 2017, Bylaw 1378, 2017, ss. 2.2 to 2.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
notbe on aLotless than 600 m'z
Coach Houset' means a Detached Seconda¡y Residential Dwelling built on the Second
Garden Suite, is a Detached Secondary Residential Dwelling, limited to a single Storey.
2.2 Thatthe accessory use of " Secondary Suite"be DELETED from sectionc) of Schedule F Twin
Residential Sensitive -R2A AND REPLACED with the accessory use of " Secondary Residential
2.4 Thatthe following be ADDED to section f Minimum Yard Setbacþs of Schedule F Twin Residential
LimitsOne secondary dwelling per lot; no subdivision or strata. A suite may have up to three bedrooms. Zone schedules still set a 37 m² minimum. Bylaw 1437 (2020) removed the owner-occupancy rule and the earlier maximum size and separate-entrance rules.Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, s. 9.5(1)-(2); Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1437, 2020, Bylaw 1437, 2020, s. 2 (h), (i) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
not exceed one Secondary Residential Dwellings per Lot;
be permitted on a Lot where a registered orwner is residing in the Principal
have a minimum Gross Floor Areaof 37 m2 and a maximum Gross Floor Area of
have a maximum of two bedrooms;
h) Section 9.5 “Secondary Residential Dwellings” by deleting section 9.5. l(c), 9.5.2(a), and (c)
have a maximum of three bedrooms; and
ParkingOne space for the suite plus two for the single detached dwelling (three in total).Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, Table 8.1; Secondary Suite Ready Dwellings bulletin · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Secondary Residential Dwelling I per Dwelling Unit
Single Detached Dwelling 2 per Dwelling Unit
3 parking spaces.2 for the single detached dwelling and a third for the proposed suite.
PermitsA building permit is needed to add a secondary suite or new kitchen. The suite must meet the BC Building Code (fire separation, sound separation, egress windows, separate heating controls) and zoning.Building and Demolition Permits, When you DO need a permit; Secondary Suite Ready Dwellings bulletin, Bulletin · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Adding a secondary suite or new kitchen
With these measures installed it is relatively simple to convert the space to a legal secondary suite subject to
zoning and a future building permit.
BylawTown of Golden Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, s. 9.5 and zone schedules, as amended by Zoning Amendment Bylaws 1378 (2017), 1437 (2020) and 1492 (2024); Building Regulation Bylaw No. 1299, 2012Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, s. 9.5; Building Regulation Bylaw No. 1299, 2012, s. 1; Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1437, 2020, Bylaw 1437, 2020 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
h. provide parking in accordance with Section I þarking and loadingregulationsl 9.5 SecondaryResidentialDwellings 1) Secondary Residential pwsllings, including both Secondary Suites and Secondary
THIS PAGE, INTENTIONALLY, HAS BEEN LEFT BLANK
Town of Golden ZoningBylaw No. 1294,2011 Table of Contents
Town of Golden Building Regulation Bylaw No. 1299,2012
h) Section 9.5 “Secondary Residential Dwellings” by deleting section 9.5. l(c), 9.5.2(a), and (c)

How it works

Golden's Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, as amended, allows a secondary suite as an accessory use in R1S (all former R1 lots since 2024), R1D, R2, R2A, R3, R5 and C5. A suite is inside a single detached dwelling.

A detached secondary dwelling is allowed in zones that list a Secondary Residential Dwelling (R1S, R1D, R2, R2A, R3, R5): a coach house (second storey over a garage or carport) or a garden suite (single storey), on a lot of at least 600 m². C5 also allows one, but not on a lot with a commercial use. A detached suite must reflect the principal building's form, be at least 4.0 m from it, and meet accessory building rules.

Steps

  1. Confirm your zone with Development Services (see the zoning-lookup answer).
  2. Check the limits below, including parking.
  3. Apply for a building permit to add the suite or new kitchen (see the building-permit answer).
  4. Build to the BC Building Code and have the work inspected.

Good to know

  • Limits: one secondary dwelling per lot; no subdivision or strata. A suite may have up to three bedrooms. Zone schedules still set a 37 m² minimum.
  • Bylaw 1437 (2020) removed the owner-occupancy rule and the earlier maximum size and separate-entrance rules.
  • Parking: one space for the suite plus two for the single detached dwelling, three in total.
  • The suite must meet the BC Building Code (fire separation, sound separation, egress windows, separate heating controls). The Town's Secondary Suite Ready Dwellings bulletin lists construction details.
  • The Town pages do not say whether a development permit is also needed. Ask Development Services.
  • The posted zoning bylaw does not merge later amendments, so confirm with the Town.

What you'll need

  • Building permit application and checklist

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Revelstoke · Radium Hot Springs · Invermere · Nakusp · New Denver · Sicamous

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1492, 2024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1437, 2020 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1378, 2017 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Secondary Suite Ready Dwellings bulletin (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  6. Building and Demolition Permits, Town of Golden (read 2026-11-08)
  7. Building Regulation Bylaw No. 1299, 2012 (PDF) (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.