Harrison Hot Springs secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a coach house in Harrison Hot Springs?

Harrison Hot Springs, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Harrison Hot Springs the zoning bylaw allows one suite per lot, up to 90 m² and under 40% of the detached dwelling. Coach houses are allowed in the R-2 zone only, with community sewer and water. A lot can have a suite or a coach house, not both. Confirm your lot with the Village.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowed	The zone table (s. 7.1.1) lists "Accessory Residential Suite or a Coach House, but not both" as an accessory use in the R-2 zone only. Section 4.3(a) says suites are permitted for all uses except in a duplex dwelling, townhouse, apartment or mobile home.Sources differ: The two sections read differently: the zone table marks only the R-2 column, while s. 4.3(a) is broader. The column was read from the position of the mark in extracted PDF text. Confirm with the Village (604-796-2171).Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 15, 2025), s. 7.1.1 and 4.3(a); Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 15, 2025), definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Accessory Residential Suites will be permitted for all uses, except in a Duplex or a Coach House, but not means a separate and self-contained Residential Dwelling Unit located within a Detached
Coach house or garden suite allowed	Coach houses are allowed in the R-2 (Duplex) zone only, at least 3.0 m from the main dwelling, and only where there is both community sewer and community water. A lot may have a coach house or a suite, not both.Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 15, 2025), s. 4.10 and 4.11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Coach Houses will be allowed in the following Residential Zone only: Residential 2 (Duplex) R2. either a Coach House or a Residential Accessory Suite is permitted but not both
Limits	Suite: one per lot; no more than 90 m² and less than 40% of the habitable area of the detached dwelling (garage not counted); cannot be strata-subdivided; lots without municipal sewer need written confirmation that the sewer system capacity is adequate. Coach house: all accessory buildings including it must not exceed 90 m². No owner-occupancy rule was found.Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 15, 2025), s. 4.3(b) to (e), 4.10(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording only one (1) Accessory Residential Suite is permitted per Lot; not more than habitable area of the The combined Gross Floor Area of all Accessory Building or Structures on the Lot,
Parking	One extra off-street parking space for a suite, in addition to the spaces required for the main use (s. 4.3(f)); the parking table also lists 1 per suite. A coach house needs 1 per dwelling unit.Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 15, 2025), s. 4.3(f) and 6.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording One off-street parking space in addition to those required for the Permitted Use must Accessory Residential Suites 1 per suite Coach Houses 1 per Dwelling Unit
Permits	A building permit from the FVRD is needed for a change in occupancy and for construction valued at $2,000 or more. The suite must meet the BC Building Code. Zoning ticket amounts for a prohibited suite are $500.Building Bylaw No. 1188, 2013 (PDF, consolidated), Fraser Valley Regional District, s. 5.2(e), (g); Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 15, 2025), definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording any change in occupancy, as defined in the current edition of the British Columbia all other construction of or to a structure if the value of construction is $2,000 or that meets the requirements of the BC Building Code
Bylaw	Village of Harrison Hot Springs Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017, s. 4.3, 4.10, 4.11 and 7.1.1.Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 15, 2025), title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording ZONING BYLAW NO. 1115, 2017

How it works

The Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 governs suites and coach houses in Harrison Hot Springs. A lot may have a coach house or a suite, not both.

Suite: one per lot; no more than 90 m² and less than 40% of the habitable area of the detached dwelling (garage not counted); it cannot be strata-subdivided. Lots without municipal sewer need written confirmation that the sewer system capacity is adequate. No owner-occupancy rule was found.

Coach house: allowed in the R-2 (Duplex) zone only, at least 3.0 m from the main dwelling, and only where there is both community sewer and community water. All accessory buildings including the coach house must not exceed 90 m².

Parking: one extra off-street space for a suite, on top of the spaces required for the main use. A coach house needs one per dwelling unit.

Steps

Ask the Village Office (604-796-2171) whether your lot and zone allow a suite or coach house.
Apply to the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) for a building permit. One is needed for a change in occupancy and for construction valued at $2,000 or more. The suite must meet the BC Building Code.
A zoning ticket for a prohibited suite is $500.

Good to know

The zone table lists suites as an accessory use in R-2 only, but section 4.3(a) says suites are permitted for all uses except a duplex, townhouse, apartment or mobile home. The two sections read differently, so confirm with the Village before you spend money.
No separate suite permit or development permit was found in the bylaws.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Kent · Chilliwack · Hope · Abbotsford · Mission · Maple Ridge

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

Sources

Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 15, 2025), Village of Harrison Hot Springs (read 2026-11-08)
Building Bylaw No. 1188, 2013 (PDF, consolidated), Fraser Valley Regional District (read 2026-11-08)
Contact Us, Village of Harrison Hot Springs (read 2026-11-08)

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