Kelowna secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

Kelowna, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-09

Short answer

Both secondary suites and carriage houses need building permits in Kelowna. Look up the property’s zone before deciding whether to convert space inside the house or build a detached dwelling.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowed	The applicable zone determines whether the property can have a suite.Carriage houses & Secondary suites · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording Carriage houses and secondary suites are two types of additional residential dwellings, and they are regulated differently. Where zoning permits carriage houses and secondary suites, a property can have either one secondary suite or one carriage house in addition to a single-family dwelling. Both carriage houses and secondary suites require building permits.
Coach house or garden suite allowed	Where zoning permits it, a single-family property may have a carriage house as an additional dwelling. Its size and height are limited relative to the main house. It cannot be subdivided or strata titled.Carriage houses & Secondary suites, Carriage houses and secondary suites, definitions and zoning · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording # Carriage houses & Secondary suites Carriage houses and secondary suites are two types of additional residential dwellings, and they are regulated differently. Where zoning permits carriage houses and secondary suites, a property can have either one secondary suite or one carriage house in addition to a single-family dwelling. Both carriage houses and secondary suites require building permits. ## Carriage House A carriage house is a smaller, secondary house that can be used for guests or family, or as a long-term rental. Carriage houses are restricted in size and height relative to the main dwelling and can’t be subdivided or stratified. ### What you need to know:
Limits	The secondary suite must be connected to the principal dwelling. Register the suite with the City and obtain the building inspector’s occupancy approval before anyone moves in.Carriage houses & Secondary suites, Secondary suite and registration requirements · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording Carriage houses and secondary suites are two types of additional residential dwellings, and they are regulated differently. Where zoning permits carriage houses and secondary suites, a property can have either one secondary suite or one carriage house in addition to a single-family dwelling. Both carriage houses and secondary suites require building permits. A secondary suite is a self-contained dwelling, located within a single-family dwelling, that has its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom and living area. It must be inter-connected to the primary dwelling and is restricted in size based on the size of the principal dwelling. ### What you need to know: All secondary suites must be registered with the City of Kelowna. Registration confirms that suites comply with the BC Building Code and Zoning Bylaw. Prior to allowing occupancy of a secondary suite, a building inspector will need to inspect the premise and grant occupancy.
Parking	Show the designated suite parking, pathway to the suite and pathway lighting on the site plan. The City also asks for detailed floor plans.Single family homes and carriage houses, permit applications, Secondary suites, application materials · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording Secondary suites Prepare the following materials: * Site plan (showing: Lights for Pathway; Pathway to Suite; Designated Suite Parking) * Detailed floor plans
Permits	Both secondary suites and carriage houses need building permits in Kelowna.Carriage houses & Secondary suites · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording Carriage houses and secondary suites are two types of additional residential dwellings, and they are regulated differently. Where zoning permits carriage houses and secondary suites, a property can have either one secondary suite or one carriage house in addition to a single-family dwelling. Both carriage houses and secondary suites require building permits.
Bylaw	The City checks registered secondary suites against its Zoning Bylaw and the B.C. Building Code.Carriage houses & Secondary suites, Secondary suites, registration and inspections · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording A secondary suite is a self-contained dwelling, located within a single-family dwelling, that has its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom and living area. It must be inter-connected to the primary dwelling and is restricted in size based on the size of the principal dwelling. ### What you need to know: All secondary suites must be registered with the City of Kelowna. Registration confirms that suites comply with the BC Building Code and Zoning Bylaw. Prior to allowing occupancy of a secondary suite, a building inspector will need to inspect the premise and grant occupancy.

How it works

First identify the kind of dwelling you want to add. A suite inside the main building and a separate dwelling in a backyard building can have different names and different permissions in the zoning bylaw. The secondary suite must be connected to the principal dwelling. Register the suite with the City and obtain the building inspector’s occupancy approval before anyone moves in.

Steps

Check the housing guidance in Carriage houses & Secondary suites. Find the parcel's zone and look up the dwelling type you intend to create. Describe whether the space is existing, new or part of a detached building.
Show the existing dwellings, proposed entrance and parking on a sketch. Ask planning about permitted use and the building office about the work needed for the space.

Good to know

Show the designated suite parking, pathway to the suite and pathway lighting on the site plan. The City also asks for detailed floor plans.
Where zoning permits it, a single-family property may have a carriage house as an additional dwelling. Its size and height are limited relative to the main house. It cannot be subdivided or strata titled.
The applicable zone determines whether the property can have a suite.
When discussing an existing unit, distinguish what a current zone permits from any approvals already on file for that particular unit.

What you'll need

Site plan showing suite parking, pathway and pathway lighting.
Detailed floor plans.

Official forms and pages

Single family homes and carriage houses, permit applications

The same question in other places

West Kelowna · Lake Country · Peachland · Coldstream · Vernon · Summerland

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

Sources

Carriage houses & Secondary suites (read 2026-11-09)
Zoning Bylaw (read 2026-11-09)
Kelowna municipal office contact information (read 2026-11-09)
Development Planning | City of Kelowna (read 2026-11-09)
Single family homes and carriage houses, permit applications (read 2026-11-09)

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.