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Kimberley secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

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

Short answer

Yes, in many Kimberley zones. Zoning Bylaw 1850 allows a secondary suite in RL, RS, RSMH, RSTA, DMU-2, M-2, CD-5 and CD-6, and an accessory dwelling unit (a detached suite) in most of those but not RL. The alpine resort has its own bylaw. A building permit is needed.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedYes. Bylaw 1850: RL, RS, RSMH, RSTA, DMU-2, M-2, CD-5 and CD-6; in RM-C only on a parcel with a duplex. Alpine Resort Bylaw 2016: RRS, RRSTA, RTA-3, RTA-4, RTA-7 and some lodging zones. Check your zone on the web map.Guide to Creating a Secondary Suite; Guide to Creating a Secondary Suite; Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 7.08A(4) (RM-C) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Specifically, Zoning Bylaw No. 1850 allows
secondary suites in the following zones: RL, RS, RSMH, RSTA, R-10, DMU-2, CD-5, and CD-6
Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016 allows secondary suites in the following zones:
RRS, RRSTA, RTA-3, RTA-4, and RTA-7 zones.
Secondary suite permissible only on a parcel with a duplex dwelling as
principal building;
(f) secondary suite, subject to Section (7)(d)
(c) No more than one (1) secondary suite is permitted per parcel, and is limited
Coach house or garden suite allowedBylaw 1850 has no 'coach house' or 'garden suite' use. An accessory dwelling unit (self-contained, on the same parcel as the principal dwelling) is a permitted accessory use in RS, RSMH, RSTA, RM-C (duplex parcels), DMU-2, M-2, CD-5 and CD-6; RL does not list it.Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 3.04; Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 7.04(3) (RS) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT means a self-contained dwelling unit, located on the
same parcel as the principal dwelling unit.
DWELLING, CARRIAGE HOUSE (Deleted, see Accessory Dwelling Unit - Bylaw 2764, Amnd 173)
(g) accessory dwelling unit, subject to Section (7)(d)
(d) An accessory dwelling unit must be located above the ground floor of a
(a) accessory dwelling unit;
Accessory dwelling units must not be sited or located on a separate parcel from
LimitsRS and similar zones: one secondary suite and one accessory dwelling unit per parcel; a suite cannot be stratified or separated. M-2: one suite, up to 75 m². DMU-2: one suite or accessory unit per parcel. Alpine zones RTA-3, RTA-4, RTA-7 have their own size caps. No owner-occupancy rule found.Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 7.04(5)(g); Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 3.04 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
A parcel containing a principal dwelling unit must not contain more than one
secondary suite and one accessory dwelling unit.
(c) No more than one (1) secondary suite is permitted per parcel, and is limited
(i) No more than one (1) secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit is
cannot be
stratified or otherwise legally separated from the other.
ParkingThe zoning bylaw requires 1 parking space per dwelling unit (Table s. 6.08(2)(a)); it has no separate rate for secondary suites. In CD-6, one extra space is required for a single unit dwelling with a suite.Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 6.08(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(a) Dwelling units
1 per unit
A single unit dwelling parcel with an accessory dwelling unit or a
secondary suite shall have one parking space in addition to the
PermitsA building permit for new dwelling units is required before creating a suite or making an unauthorized unit conforming. BC Housing registration may be needed if the home is under 10 years old (permit not issued until the form is submitted). Plumbing permit may be needed for a second kitchen or bathroom.Guide to Creating a Secondary Suite, Step 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
apply for a
building permit for New Dwelling Units. A building permit must be obtained prior to creating a secondary suite
A building permit cannot be issued until the
BC Housing Registration Form is submitted.
A plumbing permit may be required for the addition of a second
BylawCity of Kimberley Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (Amendment Bylaw 2764, 2024 added the RL, RS, RSMH, RSTA zones); Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016; Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018.Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) Amendments, SSMUH page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Bylaw No. 2764, Amendment No. 173, 2024 to City of Kimberley Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994
Bylaw No. 2765, Amendment No. 39, 2024 to Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016, 1999

How it works

A secondary suite is a complete living unit with its own kitchen, sleeping area and washroom inside another dwelling unit. Zoning Bylaw 1850 allows one in RL, RS, RSMH, RSTA, DMU-2, M-2, CD-5 and CD-6, and in RM-C only on a parcel with a duplex. The alpine resort area is under the Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw 2016, which allows suites in RRS, RRSTA, RTA-3, RTA-4, RTA-7 and some lodging zones. Check your zone on the City's web map.

Steps

  1. Confirm your zone, or ask Planning Services.
  2. Apply for a building permit for new dwelling units, with a title certificate. A permit is required before creating a suite, or to make an unauthorized unit conforming.
  3. If the home is under 10 years old, submit the BC Housing registration form. The permit is not issued until it is received.
  4. Add a plumbing permit if you are adding a second kitchen or bathroom.
  5. Get electrical and gas permits from Technical Safety BC.

Good to know

  • Detached suites: Bylaw 1850 has no "coach house" or "garden suite" use. An accessory dwelling unit (self-contained, on the same parcel as the main dwelling) is allowed in RS, RSMH, RSTA, RM-C (duplex parcels), DMU-2, M-2, CD-5 and CD-6, but not RL. In RS it may be in an accessory building up to 8 m high (6 m otherwise).
  • Limits: in RS and similar zones, one secondary suite and one accessory dwelling unit per parcel; a suite cannot be stratified or separated. M-2: one suite, up to 75 m². DMU-2: one suite or accessory unit per parcel. No owner-occupancy rule was found.
  • The City's suite guide lists a different set of zones (including R-10), written before the recent zoning changes. The bylaw is followed here; confirm your zone with Planning.
  • Parking: the bylaw requires 1 space per dwelling unit and has no separate rate for suites; the City's guide states no number. In CD-6, one extra space is required for a single unit dwelling with a suite. Confirm with Planning Services.
  • A development permit is not required for a dwelling unit accessory to a single unit or duplex dwelling (Zoning Bylaw s. 4.06(2)(b)).

What you'll need

  • Building Permit Application Form for New Dwelling Units
  • Title certificate dated within the last 30 days
  • BC Housing registration form, if the home is under 10 years old

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Cranbrook · Canal Flats · Fernie · Creston · Kaslo · Sparwood

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

Sources

  1. Guide to Creating a Secondary Suite (PDF), City of Kimberley (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) Amendments, City of Kimberley (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018 (PDF), City of Kimberley (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016, 1999 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley (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.