Greenwood secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Greenwood, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes. Greenwood's Zoning Bylaw permits a secondary suite in the R1 and R1A zones, only in single detached housing. A carriage house is also permitted in R1, but not on a lot that has a secondary suite. The bylaw sets size, parking and sewer rules.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowed	Yes, secondary suites are a permitted use in the R1 zone (and R1A, which allows all R1 uses), only in single detached housing.Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 402.2, 316-317.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 402A.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording (12) Secondary suites. A Secondary suite is to be located only in single detached housing. (1) All uses permitted in the Residential 1 Zone.
Coach house or garden suite allowed	Carriage houses (a secondary dwelling in an accessory building) are a permitted use in R1, only as an accessory to single detached housing, and not on a lot that has a secondary suite.Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 402.2, 315.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording (11) Carriage houses; shall only be considered an Accessory Use to the Single A Carriage House is not permitted on a Lot where a Secondary Suite is located.
Limits	Floor area at most the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of the principal building's floor area; the definition also limits the building to 90 m² total floor space and the suite to under 40% of its habitable space. Needs community sewer unless lot is 1,200 m² or more. 30 m² private open space. No B&B, boarding house or group home in a suite. No owner-occupancy rule found.Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 316 (317.2, 317.3, 317.6, 317.7) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The maximum floor area of a secondary suite shall not exceed the lesser of 90m2 or 40% of the total floor area of the principal building. unless the lot is at least 1,200m2 and meets the requirements of the City and the Medical permitted to operate within a secondary suite. a minimum area of 30 m2 of private open space located within a residential building that has a total floor space of no more than 90 m2 in
Parking	Two spaces per dwelling unit for single and two family dwellings, carriage houses and secondary suites; a maximum of two spaces may be in tandem. A lighted pathway is required from suite parking to the suite entrance.Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 308, 317.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Two spaces per dwelling unit may be in tandem A lighted pathway is required from the on-site secondary suite parking stall(s) to the
Permits	Secondary dwelling units must comply with all relevant City bylaws and the Building Code. The definition requires an Occupancy Permit.Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 317.5, 103 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Secondary dwelling units shall comply with all relevant City Bylaws, and the Building an additional dwelling unit that has been issued an Occupancy
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording ZONING BYLAW NO. 683, 1997

How it works

Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997 allows a secondary suite in the R1 zone, and in R1A, which allows all R1 uses. A suite is allowed only in single detached housing.

Size: at most the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of the principal building's floor area. The definition also limits the building to 90 m² of floor space and the suite to under 40% of its habitable space.
Sewer: community sewer is needed unless the lot is 1,200 m² or more.
Open space: 30 m² of private open space.
Parking: two spaces per dwelling unit, and at most two may be in tandem. A lighted pathway is required from suite parking to the suite entrance.
Not allowed in a suite: a bed and breakfast, boarding house or group home.
Carriage house: a secondary dwelling in an accessory building, permitted in R1 only with single detached housing and not on a lot that has a secondary suite.

Steps

Confirm your lot's zone with City Hall at 250-445-6644.
Call the RDKB at 250-442-2708 about building permits.

Good to know

A suite must comply with all relevant City bylaws and the Building Code. The bylaw's definition requires an Occupancy Permit.
No owner-occupancy rule was found in the bylaw.