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Hope secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

Hope, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedYes, 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 10.1.2; Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 9.1.2 (L-1), 9.4.2 (CR-1); Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 1 definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
Secondary suite, detached accessory dwelling unit, employee residence or mobile home.
SECONDARY SUITE means a residential use consisting of a self-contained dwelling unit wholly contained
Coach house or garden suite allowedYes, 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 8.9.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 1 definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
DETACHED ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT means a residential use consisting of a self-contained dwelling
LimitsOne 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 10.1.3; Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 10.1.5 table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
Three dwelling units for
Four dwelling units for parcels
Parking1 off-street space per dwelling unit or sleeping unit for accessory residential use, which includes a secondary suite or detached accessory dwelling unit.Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 6.19.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Accessory residential use
(boarding, bed and breakfast, detached accessory
1 per dwelling unit or sleeping unit
PermitsA 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.Building Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024, s. 12.01(e), 12.01(h), s. 10.13; Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 10.1.3.9; Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 8.9.1(i); Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1617, s. 19.5 Riparian Areas DPA · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
A secondary suite shall comply with the British Columbia Building Code
shall require a driveway
A Riparian Areas development permit must be
obtained on lands within 30 metres of rivers,
Construction of, or addition to, a building or
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012 (s. 8.9, s. 10.1; consolidated to March 20, 2025); Building Bylaw No. 972Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, Title page; Building Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024, Title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
ZONING BYLAW NO. 1324, 2012
(CONSOLIDATED TO MARCH 20, 2025)
BUILDING BYLAW NO. 972

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 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 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

The same question in other places

Kent · Harrison Hot Springs · Chilliwack · Princeton · Abbotsford · Mission

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

Sources

  1. Community Development - Hope, BC (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Building Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1617 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Short Term Rentals Guide, District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
  6. Fees & Charges Bylaw No. 1363, 2015, Schedule G, District of Hope (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. How answers are checked.