{"title":"Invermere secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Invermere?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/invermere","name":"Invermere","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Invermere","url":"https://invermere.net"},"short_answer":"In Invermere a secondary suite is allowed in single-family, two-family and multi-family dwellings where the BC Building Code permits, but only in zones that list suites as a use. A suite may also be allowed in an accessory building. A building permit is required.","aliases":["secondary suite invermere","basement suite invermere","carriage house invermere","legal suite invermere"],"cost":"Building permit fees apply; Table 1 values a secondary suite at $153 per sq. ft. from Jan 1, 2026. See the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"The District does not state a review time.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Planning (Director of Development Services)","value":"250-342-9281 ext. 1235"},{"type":"email","label":"Planning","value":"planning@invermere.net"},{"type":"phone","label":"Building Official","value":"250-342-9281 ext. 1227"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Official","value":"building@invermere.net"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1686, 2026 (secondary suites) (PDF)","url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/61141/"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF)","url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/"},{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026 (PDF)","url":"https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Invermere building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Invermere building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Invermere zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Invermere short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/radium-hot-springs","name":"Radium Hot Springs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kaslo","name":"Kaslo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/elkford","name":"Elkford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/secondary-suite/"}],"topic":{"title":"Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite/"},"facts":{"suite_allowed":{"label":"Secondary suite allowed","value":"Under s. 3.14(a) (replaced February 24, 2026), suites are permitted in single-family, two-family and multi-family dwellings where the BC Building Code permits, but only in zones that list them as a use: R-1, R-1(A), R-2, R-2(A), R-2S and RM-2 in the posted zoning text.","short":"Yes, in R-1, R-2, R-2S, RM-2 and other listed zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/61141/","title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1686, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"Bylaw 1686, 2026, s. 2(b), new s. 3.14(a)","quotes":["(a) Secondary suites are permitted in single-family dwellings, two-family and","multi-family dwellings where the BC Building Code permits.","ADOPTED this 24th day of February 2026."]},{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"s. 5.3(2)(b) (R-1 zone)","quotes":["(b) Secondary Suites, Subject to Section 3.14 of this Bylaw.","(k) Secondary Suites, subject to section 5.6(a)4(c).","(c) Secondary suites are permitted within all single family dwellings in the RM-2"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"A secondary suite may be permitted in an accessory building if the parcel has a principal dwelling unit, has no bed and breakfast and no existing secondary suite, and the building and suite meet all zoning and BC Building Code rules.","short":"Yes, in accessory building, if conditions met","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/61141/","title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1686, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"Bylaw 1686, 2026, new s. 3.14(d)","quotes":["(d) Secondary suites may be permitted in an accessory building provided:","(i) the parcel contains a principal dwelling unit;","(ii) the parcel does not contain a bed and breakfast;","(iii) the parcel does not contain an existing secondary suite;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"One suite per parcel; none in a building with boarders, lodgers or a bed and breakfast; the suite cannot be subdivided or stratified (s. 3.14, 2026). In the R-2S zone the zone rules still cap a suite at 90 m² or 40% of the dwelling, set a 32 m² minimum, and require the owner to live there.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/61141/","title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1686, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"Bylaw 1686, 2026, new s. 3.14(c), (e), (f)","quotes":["(c) Only one secondary suite per parcel is permitted.","(e) A single-family residential building containing one or more boarders or","(f) No single-family residential building containing a secondary suite may be","subdivided, stratified or otherwise legally separated from the single-family"]},{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"R-2S zone, Other Regulations (c)","quotes":["(iii) a secondary suite shall not exceed 90 m or 40% of the residential floor","(v) the owner of a single-family building that contains a secondary suite shall be","a resident of either the secondary suite or the principal residential dwelling"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"1 off-street parking space per secondary suite (in addition to the dwelling's own requirement).","short":"1 space per suite, plus the dwelling's own","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"s. 4.5(4)(e)","quotes":["(e) Secondary Suite - 1 per dwelling unit","(a) Single family and two - 2 per dwelling unit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is required (alteration or change of use of a building needs a permit), and the suite must meet the BC Building Code. A development permit is also needed if the site is in an OCP development permit area.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/61141/","title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1686, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"new s. 3.14(b)","quotes":["(b) Secondary suites shall comply with all applicable requirements of the BC"]},{"url":"https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"ss. 4.1, 10.1(a)","quotes":["A person must not commence or continue any construction, alteration, excavation,","(a) the owner must apply for and obtain a development permit if the building or"]},{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/61142/","title":"Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 1687, 2026, Schedule G (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"Schedule G, Table 1","quotes":["Secondary Suite $150 $153 $156"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, s. 3.14 (replaced by Amendment Bylaw No. 1686, 2026); Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/61141/","title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1686, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"Bylaw 1686, 2026, s. 1","quotes":["Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, Amendment Bylaw No. 1686, 2026"]},{"url":"https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder s. 3.14 of the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1145](https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/), replaced by [Amendment Bylaw No. 1686](https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/61141/) on February 24, 2026, Invermere allows secondary suites in single-family, two-family and multi-family dwellings where the BC Building Code permits. A zone must list suites as a use: in the posted zoning text these are R-1, R-1(A), R-2, R-2(A), R-2S and RM-2. The zoning bylaw does not use the terms coach house, carriage house or garden suite.\n\nA secondary suite may be permitted in an accessory building if the parcel has a principal dwelling unit, no bed and breakfast and no existing secondary suite, and the building and suite meet all zoning and BC Building Code rules.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone lists suites (see the zoning-lookup answer) and call Planning (250-342-9281 ext. 1235).\n2. Apply for a building permit; altering or changing the use of a building needs one. If the site is in an Official Community Plan development permit area, a development permit is also needed.\n3. Provide 1 off-street parking space for the suite, in addition to the dwelling's own requirement.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- One suite per parcel. No suite in a building with boarders, lodgers or a bed and breakfast, and a suite cannot be subdivided or stratified.\n- A suite must be a self-contained unit with only one cooking facility.\n- In the R-2S zone the zone rules still cap a suite at 90 m² or 40% of the dwelling, set a 32 m² minimum, and require the owner to live there. The 2026 text for other zones states no size cap or owner-occupancy rule; the District has not said whether they were dropped, so confirm with Planning.","sources":[{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/61141/","title":"Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1686, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/20335/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1145, 2002, consolidated (PDF), District of Invermere","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://invermere.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bylaw-1677-building-bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1677, 2026 (PDF), District of Invermere","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://invermere.civicweb.net/document/61142/","title":"Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 1687, 2026, Schedule G (PDF), District of Invermere","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://invermere.net/operations/general/contact-information/","title":"Contact Information, District of Invermere","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/secondary-suite.json"}}