{"title":"Kamloops secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/kamloops","name":"Kamloops","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":"City of Kamloops","url":"https://www.kamloops.ca"},"short_answer":"Often yes. The City of Kamloops allows one residential suite (secondary, garden or carriage) on lots zoned R5 to R8, CR1 to CR3 and A1, and several units on R1 to R4 lots. You need a building permit, and a garden or carriage suite also needs a development permit first. Servicing limits may apply.","aliases":["basement suite kamloops","carriage house kamloops","garden suite kamloops","legal suite kamloops","secondary suite permit kamloops"],"cost":"Standard building permit fees apply: a $175 application fee plus a permit fee based on construction value. Suite-specific fees are not stated on the City page.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Planning (zoning)","value":"250-828-3561"},{"type":"email","label":"Planning","value":"planning@kamloops.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Building Section","value":"250-828-3554"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Section","value":"building@kamloops.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Residential Suites (City of Kamloops)","url":"https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/planning-development/additional-development-applications/residential-suites"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 55 (PDF)","url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/138849"},{"title":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw 9-60 (PDF)","url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/filepro/document/204252/Business%20Licence%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No.%209-60.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Kamloops zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Kamloops building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Kamloops building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/building-permit-fees/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sun-peaks","name":"Sun Peaks","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/barriere","name":"Barriere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/logan-lake","name":"Logan Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ashcroft","name":"Ashcroft","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cache-creek","name":"Cache Creek","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cache-creek/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/merritt","name":"Merritt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/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":"Yes. One residential suite (secondary, garden or carriage) is allowed on lots zoned R5, R6, R7, R8, CR1, CR2, CR3 or A1 (not in a duplex or in the Rayleigh Waterworks District). Multiple units, which may include suites, are allowed on R1 to R4 lots. A residential suite is also an accessory use in RM1. Not allowed in the Silt Bluff Red Zone or Foreset Area.","short":"Yes, in R5 to R8, CR1 to CR3 and A1 zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/planning-development/additional-development-applications/residential-suites","title":"Residential Suites, City of Kamloops","section":"Residential Suites","quotes":["One Residential Suite (Carriage Suite, Garden Suite, or Secondary Suite,) is now permitted on lots zoned R5, R6, R7, R8, CR1, CR2, CR3 or A1","Multiple dwelling units, which may include Residential Suites, are permitted on lots zoned R1, R2, R3, or R4"]},{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/138849","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 55 (PDF), City of Kamloops","section":"s. 3.4.2","quotes":["A Residential Suite shall not be permitted on any land within the area designated in","the Silt Bluff Hazard Development Permit Area as being in the Red Zone or Foreset","Residential Suite, subject to Division 3, Section 3.4"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Yes, garden suites (one storey) and carriage suites (two storeys) are allowed on the same lots as suites: one per lot in R5 to R8, CR1 to CR3 and A1, and within the unit count in R1 to R4. An Intensive Residential Development Permit is needed first.","short":"Yes, with Intensive Residential Development Permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/planning-development/additional-development-applications/residential-suites","title":"Residential Suites, City of Kamloops","section":"Residential Suites","quotes":["One Residential Suite (Carriage Suite, Garden Suite, or Secondary Suite,) is now permitted on lots zoned R5, R6, R7, R8, CR1, CR2, CR3 or A1","Carriage Suites and Garden Suites (but not Secondary Suites) may be strata-titled."]},{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/138849","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 55 (PDF), City of Kamloops","section":"ss. 3.4.5, 2.2","quotes":["An Intensive Residential Development Permit is required before the issuance of a","“Garden Suite” means a self-contained, One-Storey Dwelling Unit that is separate","“Carriage Suite” means a self-contained, Two-Storey Dwelling Unit that is separate"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Maximum 90 m² of living space per suite. Secondary suites cannot be strata subdivided. Garden and carriage suites in CR1 to CR3 and R5 to R8 count toward accessory building lot coverage. If the owner does not live on the lot, a business licence and Good Neighbour Agreement are required.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/138849","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 55 (PDF), City of Kamloops","section":"ss. 3.4.1, 3.4.3, 3.4.4","quotes":["The maximum residential living space per Residential Suite is 90 m2.","A Secondary Suite cannot be strata subdivided from the principal Dwelling.","a Garden Suite or Carriage Suite","shall be subject to the Lot Coverage regulations for Accessory Buildings"]},{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/filepro/document/204252/Business%20Licence%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No.%209-60.pdf","title":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 9-60 (PDF), City of Kamloops","section":"s. 523","quotes":["the registered owner does not occupy either the principal building or a residential suite located on","the registered owner shall be required to obtain a Business Licence and enter into a Good Neighbour"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"1 space per suite (dwelling unit). No spaces are required for up to one suite per lot on streets where homeowners are eligible for a Residential Parking Permit.","short":"1 space per suite (none on some permit streets)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/138849","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 55 (PDF), City of Kamloops","section":"s. 4 parking table (Residential)","quotes":["Carriage Suite, 1 space per Dwelling Unit n/a Garden Suite, or Secondary Suite or accessory Dwelling Unit","No spaces are required","for up to one suite per Lot."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is needed (creating a secondary suite is listed as a homeowner permit project). Garden and carriage suites also need an Intensive Residential Development Permit before the building permit. A suite built under a building permit is a legal suite.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/building-permits/apply-epermit","title":"Apply by ePermit, City of Kamloops","section":"Homeowners","quotes":["building a deck, adding a garage, finishing a basement, or creating a secondary suite"]},{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/138849","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 55 (PDF), City of Kamloops","section":"s. 3.4.5","quotes":["An Intensive Residential Development Permit is required before the issuance of a","building permit for a Garden Suite or Carriage Suite."]},{"url":"https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/planning-development/additional-development-applications/residential-suites","title":"Residential Suites, City of Kamloops","section":"Residential Suites","quotes":["Suites built to BC Building Code standards under a building permit help to protect"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 55, 2021 (s. 3.4 Residential Suites, and zone sections); Building Regulation Bylaw No. 11-84, 2025; Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 9-60, 2012 (s. 523, rentals where the owner does not live on site)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/138849","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 55 (PDF), City of Kamloops","section":"s. 1.1.1","quotes":["Zoning Bylaw No. 55, 2021"]},{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/138849","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 55 (PDF), City of Kamloops","section":"s. 3.4","quotes":["Residential Suites include Secondary Suites, Garden Suites, and Carriage Suites"]},{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/204248/","title":"Building Regulation Bylaw 11-84 (PDF), City of Kamloops","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["Building Regulation Bylaw No. 11-84, 2025"]},{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/filepro/document/204252/Business%20Licence%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No.%209-60.pdf","title":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 9-60 (PDF), City of Kamloops","section":"s. 523","quotes":["the registered owner does not occupy either the principal building or a residential suite located on"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe City of Kamloops [Zoning Bylaw](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/138849) allows one residential suite (secondary, garden or carriage) on lots zoned R5, R6, R7, R8, CR1, CR2, CR3 or A1, but not in a duplex or in the Rayleigh Waterworks District. Lots zoned R1 to R4 may have multiple units, which can include suites. A residential suite is also an accessory use in RM1. Suites are not allowed in the Silt Bluff Red Zone or Foreset Area. A secondary suite must be inside a single-detached building, a semi-detached unit, a townhouse or a rowhouse unit.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find your zone on the City's CityMap or Property Information Portal, or call Planning at 250-828-3561. Servicing limits may allow fewer units than zoning does.\n2. For a garden or carriage suite, get an Intensive Residential Development Permit first.\n3. Apply for a building permit through ePermit. A suite built under a building permit is a legal suite.\n4. Book inspections as the building permit explains.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Garden suites are one storey (5 m maximum height, 1.0 m side and rear setbacks). Carriage suites are two storeys (7 m maximum height, 1.5 m side and rear setbacks, 4.5 m rear on lots without a rear lane).\n- Maximum 90 m² of living space per suite.\n- Parking: 1 space per suite. No spaces are required for up to one suite per lot on streets where homeowners are eligible for a Residential Parking Permit.\n- Garden and carriage suites may be strata-titled; secondary suites cannot.\n- If the owner does not live on the lot, a business licence and Good Neighbour Agreement are required.\n- A suite built without a building permit is considered illegal and must be legalized or decommissioned.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/planning-development/additional-development-applications/residential-suites","title":"Residential Suites, City of Kamloops","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/138849","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 55 (PDF), City of Kamloops","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/204248/","title":"Building Regulation Bylaw 11-84 (PDF), City of Kamloops","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/filepro/document/204252/Business%20Licence%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No.%209-60.pdf","title":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 9-60 (PDF), City of Kamloops","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/building-permits/apply-epermit","title":"Apply by ePermit, City of Kamloops","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.kamloops.ca/business-development/planning-development/apply-epermit/zoning-information-request","title":"Zoning Information Request, City of Kamloops","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/204231/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 44-14 (PDF), City of Kamloops","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/kamloops/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/secondary-suite.json"}}