---
title: Grand Forks secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?"
place: Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/grand-forks
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Grand Forks
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Grand Forks secondary suite and carriage house rules

**Question:** Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

**Short answer:** Often yes. In the City of Grand Forks, a secondary suite is allowed on every parcel where a single-family dwelling is allowed, and the R-1 and R-2 zones also allow one detached garden suite (the bylaw's term for a carriage house). You need a building permit.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Grand Forks, https://www.grandforks.ca)  
**Cost:** No suite-specific fee is stated. The building permit is 1.0% of construction value for residential work; a change of occupancy is $100 plus 0.7% (Building Bylaw 2070, Appendix A). The bylaw does not say which applies to a suite.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Planner and Building Inspection, City of Grand Forks, 250-442-8266
- Email: City of Grand Forks, info@grandforks.ca
- In person: City Hall, 7217 4th Street, Grand Forks, BC V0H 1H0 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** A secondary suite is permitted on every parcel where a single-family dwelling is permitted, subject to s. 29. R-1 and R-2 zones expressly allow one single-family dwelling plus one secondary suite and one garden suite.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026), s. 29.1](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "29.1 Notwithstanding the regulations set out in Part VI of this bylaw, a secondary suite is" … "permitted on every parcel where a single-family dwelling is permitted, subject to the"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026), s. 36.4, 39.5](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "One single-family dwelling, plus one secondary suite and one garden suite; or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** A garden suite (detached) is allowed in R-1 and R-2 zones (with a single-family dwelling, or with a two-family dwelling), and as one accessory garden suite in NC and TC zones. It must be 12 to 90 m², on a permanent foundation, not strata titled, and cannot include a secondary suite.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026), s. 36.4, 39.5](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "One two-family dwelling, plus one garden suite."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026), s. 46.3, 49.7](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "One garden suite." … "49.7 One Garden Suite shall be permitted."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026), s. 22](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "22.1 A Garden Suite shall have a minimum floor area of 12 sq. m. and a maximum floor area of 90" … "22.5 A Garden Suite shall not be permitted to be strata titled." … "22.6 A Garden Suite shall not include a Secondary Suite."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Secondary suite: no more than 90 m² or 40% of the floor area of the principal single-family dwelling, whichever is less; only one suite per parcel. Garden suite: 12 to 90 m².
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026), s. 29.3-29.4](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "29.3 The secondary suite shall not exceed 90 square metres or 40% of the floor area of the" … "29.4 No more than one secondary suite shall be located on a parcel of land."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026), s. 22.1](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "22.1 A Garden Suite shall have a minimum floor area of 12 sq. m. and a maximum floor area of 90"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** Table 2 requires one space per dwelling unit of 90 m² or less and two spaces per unit over 90 m². It does not mention suites by name; a suite is capped at 90 m².
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026), s. 26.10, Table 2](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dwelling unit (greater than 90" … "Dwelling Unit (equal to or under" … "one space per every unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit is needed to build or alter a suite. The suite must meet all statutory and bylaw requirements, including approval from the agency responsible for sewage disposal.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2070, s. 7.1](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(a) constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure, including a. pool or"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026), s. 29.2](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "29.2 A secondary suite shall comply with all statutory and bylaw requirements, including" … "approval from the agency having the jurisdiction for the proposed means of sewage"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018 (s. 22, 29, Part VI zones) and Building Bylaw No. 2070
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026), title](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW NO. 2039, 2018" … "29 Secondary Suites"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2070, title](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW No. 2070"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Grand Forks [Zoning Bylaw 2039](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) allows a secondary suite on every parcel where a single-family dwelling is permitted (section 29.1). The R-1 and R-2 zones expressly allow one single-family dwelling plus one secondary suite and one garden suite. A garden suite is also allowed with a two-family dwelling in those zones, and as one accessory garden suite in NC and TC zones. R-1A, R-4 and R-4A list no garden suite.

## Steps

1. Confirm your lot's zone (see the zoning lookup answer).
2. Talk to the Planner (250-442-8266) before drawing plans.
3. Apply for a building permit. The suite must meet all statutory and bylaw requirements, including approval from the agency responsible for sewage disposal.

## Good to know

- Secondary suite: no more than 90 m² or 40% of the principal dwelling's floor area, whichever is less, and only one per parcel.
- Garden suite: 12 to 90 m², on a permanent foundation, not strata titled, and it cannot include a secondary suite.
- A garden suite or other accessory dwelling unit may be up to 7.6 m high. With no direct highway access, a garden suite needs a pathway 1 m wide.
- Parking: Table 2 requires one space per dwelling unit of 90 m² or less and two per unit over 90 m². It does not name suites; ask the Planner to confirm.
- R-1A zone: the bylaw's wording conflicts with section 29.1, so ask the Planner.
- The Zoning Bylaw requires no development permit for a suite in the zones read, but one may apply in an Official Community Plan development permit area.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, consolidated (PDF)](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2070 (PDF)](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Grand Forks zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Grand Forks building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/building-permit.md)
- [Grand Forks building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/building-permit-fees.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Greenwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/secondary-suite.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/secondary-suite.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/secondary-suite.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/secondary-suite.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/secondary-suite.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026) (PDF), City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2070 (PDF), City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Payment Options (PDF), City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/PAYMENT-OPTIONS.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Grand Forks. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/secondary-suite/_