{"title":"Kaslo secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Kaslo?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/kaslo","name":"Kaslo","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":"Village of Kaslo","url":"https://www.kaslo.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. Kaslo's Zoning Bylaw allows a secondary suite (up to 90 m²) or a carriage house (up to 100 m²) in the R-1, RM-1, C-2 and C-3 zones. You need a building permit, and a development permit first if the lot is in a Development Permit Area.","aliases":["secondary suite kaslo","basement suite kaslo","carriage house kaslo","legal suite kaslo"],"cost":"RDCK building permit fees apply (see building-permit-fees). Development permit fee: $250.","how_long":"Not stated by the Village; the RDCK says turnaround for completed building permit applications is currently about 6 to 8 weeks.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Village Office","value":"413 Fourth Street, Kaslo, BC","note":"Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (as shown on the Village website; confirm by phone)"},{"type":"phone","label":"RDCK Inspection Line","value":"250-352-8155"},{"type":"email","label":"RDCK building department","value":"buildingdepartment@rdck.bc.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Building Permit Checklist 3, Secondary Suite (PDF), Village of Kaslo","url":"https://villageofkaslo2022.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files&currentFolder=%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=KASLO_Building-Permit_Checklist3-Secondary-Suite-REVISED%20March%2010%2C%202025.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1341, 2026 (PDF), Village of Kaslo","url":"https://kaslo.civicweb.net/document/15785/"},{"title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1280, 2022 (PDF), Village of Kaslo","url":"https://villageofkaslo2022.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files&currentFolder=%2FBylaws%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=1280%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20Bylaw%20No_%201280%2C%202022(1).pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Kaslo building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Kaslo building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Kaslo zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Kaslo short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/silverton","name":"Silverton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-denver","name":"New Denver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-denver/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/slocan","name":"Slocan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nelson","name":"Nelson","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nakusp","name":"Nakusp","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/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, as a secondary use in the R-1, RM-1, C-2 (Central Business District) and C-3 (Neighbourhood Commercial) zones.","short":"Yes, in R-1, RM-1, C-2 and C-3 zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kaslo.civicweb.net/document/15785/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1341, 2026 (PDF), Village of Kaslo","section":"ss. 8.1.2, 8.3.2, 8.6, 8.7","quotes":["Dwelling, Carriage House vi. Home Occupation, Minor vii. Secondary Suite","Home Occupation, Bed and Breakfast Accommodation viii. Home Occupation, Vacation Rental Accommodation ix. Secondary Suite"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Yes: a 'carriage house dwelling' is allowed in the R-1, RM-1, C-2 and C-3 zones.","short":"Yes, carriage house in R-1, RM-1, C-2, C-3","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kaslo.civicweb.net/document/15785/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1341, 2026 (PDF), Village of Kaslo","section":"ss. 8.1.2, 8.3.2, 5.6","quotes":["means a self-contained dwelling unit that is detached from and clearly secondary to a principal residential building on the same lot"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Suite: max 90 m², one per principal dwelling, integrated with the house (not joined by breezeway or carport), not strata-titled. Carriage house: max 100 m², 7.5 m high, one per lot, not in front of the house. On lots under 1.0 ha without municipal water and sewer, not both.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kaslo.civicweb.net/document/15785/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1341, 2026 (PDF), Village of Kaslo","section":"ss. 5.6, 5.10","quotes":["have a maximum floor area of 90.0 square metres","A maximum of one secondary suite shall be permitted per principal dwelling unit.","(a) Maximum Floor Area 100.0 m2","A maximum of one carriage house dwelling shall be permitted per lot.","shall not be subdivided from the principal dwelling unit under the Strata"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"1.0 space per dwelling unit for a secondary suite, and 1.0 space per dwelling unit for a carriage house.","short":"1.0 space per dwelling unit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kaslo.civicweb.net/document/15785/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1341, 2026 (PDF), Village of Kaslo","section":"Table 7.4.1","quotes":["Dwelling, Carriage House 1.0 space per dwelling unit","Secondary Suite 1.0 space per dwelling unit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit (the Village posts a Secondary Suite checklist; RDCK inspectors act as the Village's building official). A development permit is also needed first if the lot is in a Development Permit Area (lakefront, stream, wildfire or heritage core).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://villageofkaslo2022.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files&currentFolder=%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=KASLO_Building-Permit_Checklist3-Secondary-Suite-REVISED%20March%2010%2C%202025.pdf","title":"Building Permit Checklist 3, Secondary Suite (PDF), Village of Kaslo","section":"page 1","quotes":["Secondary Suites are self-contained dwelling units attached to a primary dwelling, containing cooking, living, sleeping, and sanitary facilities. They can not be strata titled."]},{"url":"https://www.kaslo.ca/p/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Village of Kaslo","section":"Building Permits","quotes":["RDCK inspectors act as the Village's Building and Plumbing Official."]},{"url":"https://villageofkaslo2022.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files&currentFolder=%2FBylaws%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=1280%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20Bylaw%20No_%201280%2C%202022(1).pdf","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1280, 2022 (PDF), Village of Kaslo","section":"s. 16.1","quotes":["all developments subject to a DPA, a building","permit shall not be issued until a development"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1341, 2026, ss. 5.6 and 5.10 and Part 8; Table 7.4.1","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kaslo.civicweb.net/document/15785/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1341, 2026 (PDF), Village of Kaslo","section":"s. 5.10","quotes":["5.10. SECONDARY SUITES","Zoning Bylaw No. 1341, 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\nThe [Zoning Bylaw No. 1341](https://kaslo.civicweb.net/document/15785/) allows a secondary suite as a secondary use, and a \"carriage house dwelling\", in the R-1, RM-1, C-2 (Central Business District) and C-3 (Neighbourhood Commercial) zones. No owner-occupancy requirement was found in the bylaw.\n\n- **Secondary suite:** up to 90 m²; one per principal dwelling; built into the house (not joined to it by a breezeway or carport); not strata-titled.\n- **Carriage house:** up to 100 m² and 7.5 m high; one per lot; not in front of the house.\n- **Lots under 1.0 ha without municipal water and sewer:** you may have one or the other, not both.\n- **Parking:** 1.0 space per dwelling unit for a secondary suite and 1.0 space per dwelling unit for a carriage house, on the same lot.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your lot's zone and whether it is in a Development Permit Area (lakefront, stream, wildfire or heritage core) with the Village Office, 250-353-2311.\n2. If it is, get a development permit first; the application fee is $250.\n3. Use the Village's Secondary Suite checklist from the [Building Permits page](https://www.kaslo.ca/p/building-permits) and apply for a building permit.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Payment in lieu of parking is possible under Bylaw 1228, according to the Village's Development page.\n- The Village's [OCP and Zoning Bylaw Update page](https://www.kaslo.ca/p/ocp-and-zoning-bylaw-update) says the Official Community Plan is being updated.","sources":[{"url":"https://kaslo.civicweb.net/document/15785/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1341, 2026 (PDF), Village of Kaslo","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://villageofkaslo2022.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files&currentFolder=%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=KASLO_Building-Permit_Checklist3-Secondary-Suite-REVISED%20March%2010%2C%202025.pdf","title":"Building Permit Checklist 3, Secondary Suite (PDF), Village of Kaslo","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://villageofkaslo2022.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files&currentFolder=%2FBylaws%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=1280%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20Bylaw%20No_%201280%2C%202022(1).pdf","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1280, 2022 (PDF), Village of Kaslo","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.kaslo.ca/p/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Village of Kaslo","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://kaslo.civicweb.net/document/16424/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1300 (PDF), Village of Kaslo","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.rdck.ca/development-community-sustainability-services/building/","title":"Building Department, Regional District of Central Kootenay","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.kaslo.ca/p/cityhall","title":"Village Office, Village of Kaslo","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/kaslo/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/secondary-suite.json"}}