---
title: Hope secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Hope?"
place: Hope, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/hope
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Hope
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Hope secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Often yes in Hope, but not everywhere. Secondary suites and detached units are allowed in the RS-1 zone and rural zones L-1, AG-1, RU-1 and CR-1, except on RS-1 parcels shaded purple for limited water capacity. The Building Bylaw also bars new units that add density in mapped areas.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Hope, https://www.hope.ca)  
**Cost:** A building permit is needed; fees follow Schedule G (a $100 minimum plus a percentage of value). See building-permit-fees. Detached units may also need a driveway access permit.  
**How long:** The District does not state a processing time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Municipal Hall, Planning, 604-869-5671
- Email: Planning, planning@hope.ca
- Email: Building permits and inspections, dlepitre@hope.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 325 Wallace Street, Hope, BC V0X 1L0

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Yes, as an accessory use to a one-family or two-family residence in RS-1 and in rural zones L-1, AG-1, RU-1, CR-1, inside the same building. Not on RS-1 parcels shaded purple on the zone's Figures 1 and 2 (water capacity) unless permitted before March 2019.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 10.1.2](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a) Secondary suite;" … "The following shall be permitted as accessory uses to a one family residence:" … "every parcel shaded purple on Figure 1 and Figure" … "2 shall be restricted to a maximum of a one family residence, until such time as the community water"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 9.1.2 (L-1), 9.4.2 (CR-1)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suite, detached accessory dwelling unit, employee residence or mobile home."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 1 definition](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "SECONDARY SUITE means a residential use consisting of a self-contained dwelling unit wholly contained"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Yes, a detached accessory dwelling unit (coach house, garden cottage, granny flat) where a one-family residence exists, in RS-1 and rural zones: minimum lot 0.4 ha in rural zones; up to 70 m² outside rural and CD zones; not in the front yard; no subdivision. Not on purple-shaded RS-1 parcels; limited where water or sewer is missing.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 8.9.1](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A detached accessory dwelling unit is only permitted where a one family residence exists;" … "a minimum lot area of 0.4 hectares" … "shall have a maximum enclosed floor area of 70 square metres" … "shall not be subdivided from the parcel which it is an" … "shall not be located in the required front yard" … "The use of a parcel serviced by a community water system, but not a community sanitary"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 1 definition](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "DETACHED ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT means a residential use consisting of a self-contained dwelling"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** One secondary suite per one-family residence (one in each unit of a two-family residence); floor area no more than the principal unit's; no strata lot; BC Building Code applies. RS-1 table: 3 units on parcels of 280 m² or less, 4 if larger, but only with both community water and sewer. No owner-occupancy rule found.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 10.1.3](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A maximum of one secondary suite is permitted per one family residence and one secondary" … "The floor area of a secondary suite shall be lesser than or equal to the floor area of the" … "shall not" … "A secondary suite shall comply with the British Columbia Building Code" … "More than one dwelling unit applies in accordance with sections 10.1.3.2 and 10.1.3.3 only" … "to parcels serviced by both a community water system and a community sanitary sewer system."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 10.1.5 table](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Three dwelling units for" … "Four dwelling units for parcels"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** 1 off-street space per dwelling unit or sleeping unit for accessory residential use, which includes a secondary suite or detached accessory dwelling unit.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 6.19.1](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Accessory residential use" … "(boarding, bed and breakfast, detached accessory" … "1 per dwelling unit or sleeping unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit is needed (change of occupancy; work valued at $2,000 or more), and the suite must meet the BC Building Code. A development permit may also apply in riparian, flood or geotechnical permit areas. No permit for a new unit adding density in the Schedule A water-capacity areas until the water issue is resolved.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024, s. 12.01(e), 12.01(h), s. 10.13](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136109/Building%20Bylaw%20%28June%202024%29%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf)
  - Official wording: "any change in occupancy of a building or part thereof" … "no parcel in the subject areas shown on Schedule A will receive a building permit for a new residential unit that increases density"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 10.1.3.9](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A secondary suite shall comply with the British Columbia Building Code"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 8.9.1(i)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall require a driveway"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1617, s. 19.5 Riparian Areas DPA](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/146850/1617%20-%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20Bylaw%20%28website%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Riparian Areas development permit must be" … "obtained on lands within 30 metres of rivers," … "Construction of, or addition to, a building or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012 (s. 8.9, s. 10.1; consolidated to March 20, 2025); Building Bylaw No. 972
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, Title page](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW NO. 1324, 2012" … "(CONSOLIDATED TO MARCH 20, 2025)"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024, Title page](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136109/Building%20Bylaw%20%28June%202024%29%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 972"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Water capacity limits come first. Some RS-1 parcels are shaded purple on Figures 1 and 2 of the zone in the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324](<https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf>) and may hold only one family residence until the water system has capacity (unless a permit for more than one unit was applied for before March 2019). Separately, [Building Bylaw](<https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136109/Building%20Bylaw%20%28June%202024%29%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf>) s. 10.13 bars a building permit for a new unit that adds density in the areas on its Schedule A map. Neither map could be read, so ask Planning about your address first.

Where those limits do not apply, a secondary suite is allowed inside a one-family or two-family residence in RS-1 and in rural zones L-1, AG-1, RU-1 and CR-1. A detached accessory dwelling unit (coach house, garden cottage, granny flat) is allowed where a one-family residence exists.

## Steps

1. Ask Planning (planning@hope.ca, 604-869-5671) whether your parcel is in a water-capacity area and whether it has community water and sewer.
2. Check the limits below.
3. Apply for a building permit (change of occupancy, or work valued at $2,000 or more). The suite must meet the BC Building Code.
4. Ask whether a development permit applies, for example in riparian, flood or geotechnical areas.

## Good to know

- One secondary suite per one-family residence (one in each unit of a two-family residence), no larger in floor area than the principal unit, and no strata lot.
- Detached unit: up to 70 m² outside rural and comprehensive development zones, minimum lot 0.4 ha in rural zones, not in the front yard, no subdivision. In RS-1 it can be up to 6 m high.
- Without community water or without community sewer, a parcel is limited to two dwelling units.
- Parking: 1 off-street space per dwelling unit.
- Suites and accessory dwelling units cannot be short-term rentals.
- No owner-occupancy rule was found.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012 (PDF, consolidated to March 20, 2025)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf)
- [Building Bylaw No. 972 (PDF)](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136109/Building%20Bylaw%20%28June%202024%29%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Hope building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/building-permit.md)
- [Hope zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Hope short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Kent](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/secondary-suite.md)
- [Harrison Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/secondary-suite.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/secondary-suite.md)
- [Princeton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/secondary-suite.md)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/secondary-suite.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Community Development - Hope, BC](https://hope.ca/community-development) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024 (PDF), District of Hope](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/136109/Building%20Bylaw%20%28June%202024%29%20-%20Consolidated%20Version.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1617 (PDF), District of Hope](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/146850/1617%20-%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20Bylaw%20%28website%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Short Term Rentals Guide, District of Hope](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/148143/Short_Term_Rentals_Guide) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees & Charges Bylaw No. 1363, 2015, Schedule G, District of Hope](https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86974/Fees_Charges_Bylaw) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 District of Hope. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/secondary-suite/_