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Kamloops secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Kamloops, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedYes. 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.Residential Suites; Zoning Bylaw No. 55, s. 3.4.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
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
Coach house or garden suite allowedYes, 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.Residential Suites; Zoning Bylaw No. 55, ss. 3.4.5, 2.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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.
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
LimitsMaximum 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 55, ss. 3.4.1, 3.4.3, 3.4.4; Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 9-60, s. 523 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
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
Parking1 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 55, s. 4 parking table (Residential) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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.
PermitsA 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.Apply by ePermit, Homeowners; Zoning Bylaw No. 55, s. 3.4.5; Residential Suites · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
building a deck, adding a garage, finishing a basement, or creating a secondary suite
An Intensive Residential Development Permit is required before the issuance of a
building permit for a Garden Suite or Carriage Suite.
Suites built to BC Building Code standards under a building permit help to protect
BylawZoning 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)Zoning Bylaw No. 55, s. 1.1.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 55, s. 3.4; Building Regulation Bylaw 11-84, s. 1.1; Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 9-60, s. 523 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Zoning Bylaw No. 55, 2021
Residential Suites include Secondary Suites, Garden Suites, and Carriage Suites
Building Regulation Bylaw No. 11-84, 2025
the registered owner does not occupy either the principal building or a residential suite located on

How it works

The City of Kamloops Zoning Bylaw 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.

Steps

  1. 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.
  2. For a garden or carriage suite, get an Intensive Residential Development Permit first.
  3. Apply for a building permit through ePermit. A suite built under a building permit is a legal suite.
  4. Book inspections as the building permit explains.

Good to know

  • 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).
  • Maximum 90 m² of living space per suite.
  • 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.
  • Garden and carriage suites may be strata-titled; secondary suites cannot.
  • If the owner does not live on the lot, a business licence and Good Neighbour Agreement are required.
  • A suite built without a building permit is considered illegal and must be legalized or decommissioned.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Sun Peaks · Barriere · Logan Lake · Ashcroft · Cache Creek · Merritt

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

Sources

  1. Residential Suites, City of Kamloops (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Zoning Bylaw No. 55 (PDF), City of Kamloops (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Building Regulation Bylaw 11-84 (PDF), City of Kamloops (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 9-60 (PDF), City of Kamloops (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Apply by ePermit, City of Kamloops (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Zoning Information Request, City of Kamloops (read 2026-11-05)
  7. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 44-14 (PDF), City of Kamloops (read 2026-11-05)

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.