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Lake Country secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Lake Country?

Lake Country, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In Lake Country a secondary suite is allowed in zones that list it as a use, including RU1, RU2, RU-6, RR1, RR2, RR3, RLP and A1. A detached "accessory suite" (such as a coach house) is allowed in certain zones. Either needs a building permit. Check your zone first.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedYes, in zones that list a secondary suite as a use, including RU1, RU2, RU-6, RR1, RR2, RR3, RLP and A1. It must be inside single detached housing or small-scale multiple housing, with its own outside entrance. Not allowed in duplex, apartment or boarding and lodging housing.Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 15.1 (RU1), definition; Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 12.1 (A1), s. 13.1 (RLP) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
bed and breakfast homes care centres, minor home occupations secondary suite utility services, minor impact
SECONDARY SUITES means a self-contained dwelling unit located within single detached housing or
small-scale multiple housing. It has direct access to the outside without passing through any part of
A secondary suite cannot be located within duplex housing, apartment
(i) one secondary suite
secondary or accessory suite
Coach house or garden suite allowedAn 'accessory suite' (in an accessory building, such as a coach house) is allowed in zones that list it, including RLP, RR1, RR2, RR3, RU1, RU2 and RU-6. A manufactured or mobile home can serve as an accessory suite in RLP and RR1. Not allowed without community sewer unless the lot is at least 1.0 ha with septic capacity.Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 10.8; Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 15.1 (RU1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Accessory suites, when permitted, are to be located only in an accessory building,
except in the RLP and RR1 zones, where a manufactured or mobile home may be
unless the lot is at least 1.0 ha and meets the requirements of the District for septic
accessory suite added by Bylaw 1246, 2024 Backyard Chickens
LimitsOne secondary suite per principal dwelling, at most the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of the principal building's floor area. An accessory suite is at most the lesser of 90 m² or 75% of the principal building. The suite and house must be one real estate entity, and no lodgers, B&B or group home alongside.Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 10.7; Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 10.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No more than one secondary suite shall be permitted per principal dwelling unit.
The maximum floor area of a secondary suite shall not exceed the lesser of 90 m² or
40% of the total floor area of the principal building.
A secondary suite and its principal dwelling unit shall be a single real estate entity.
A secondary suite is not permitted in conjunction with lodgers, bed and breakfast
of the accessory suite shall not exceed the lesser of 90 m² or 75% of the total floor area
Parking1 space per suite, in addition to the spaces required for the main dwelling.Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 9.1 parking table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
1 per suite, plus spaces required for the corresponding principal dwelling unit
PermitsA building permit: fill in the District's building permit application form and submit it to the Building Department at Municipal Hall. First check your zoning designation and the Zoning Bylaw to see if a legal suite is allowed.Adding a Legal Suite, Adding a Legal Suite page; Building Application Checklists, Building Application Checklists page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Search your property by address to see the zoning designation for your property and then review the
To apply for a legal suite, please fill out the District's building permit application form and submit to the Building Department at Municipal Hall.
Secondary or Accessory Suite Building Permit Application-Submission Checklist
BylawZoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (ss. 10.7 and 10.8, and the zone sections); Building Regulation Bylaw 1070, 2018Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 10.7, 10.8; Building Regulation Bylaw 1070, 2018 (consolidated), s. 29.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(xiii) Medical Marihuana Production. (xiv) Cannabis Production. 10.7. Secondary Suites deleted by Bylaw 1238, 2024 No more than one secondary suite shall be permitted per principal dwelling unit.
accommodation or a group home. 10.8. Accessory Suites Accessory suites, when permitted, are to be located only in an accessory building,
DISTRICT OF LAKE COUNTRY ZONING BYLAW 561, 2007 CONSOLIDATED VERSION
This bylaw may be cited as “Building Regulation Bylaw 1070, 2018”.

How it works

Under the District of Lake Country's Zoning Bylaw, a secondary suite is allowed in zones that list it as a use, including RU1, RU2, RU-6, RR1, RR2, RR3, RLP and A1. It must be inside single detached housing or small-scale multiple housing and have its own outside entrance. It is not allowed in duplex, apartment or boarding and lodging housing. In RU-6, suites are allowed only on lots where small-scale multiple housing is permitted.

An accessory suite is in an accessory building, such as a coach house. It is allowed in zones that list it, including RLP, RR1, RR2, RR3, RU1, RU2 and RU-6. A manufactured or mobile home can serve as one in RLP and RR1. It is not allowed without community sewer unless the lot is at least 1.0 ha with septic capacity.

Steps

  1. Find your zoning on the District's GIS map (see the zoning-lookup answer) and check the Zoning Bylaw for your zone.
  2. Check the limits below.
  3. Fill in the District's building permit application form and submit it to the Building Department at Municipal Hall.

Good to know

  • Size: a secondary suite is at most the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of the principal building's floor area. An accessory suite is at most the lesser of 90 m² or 75% of the principal building.
  • Number: one suite per principal dwelling. Per parcel, most zones allow one secondary or accessory suite; up to two where small-scale multiple housing is permitted (RR3, RU1, RU2, RU-6, with conditions).
  • Parking: 1 space per suite, in addition to the spaces for the main dwelling.
  • The suite and house must be one real estate entity, with no lodgers, bed and breakfast or group home alongside.
  • Zone-specific setbacks apply, for example 5 m between the house and an accessory building with a suite in RR3, and 3 m to other accessory buildings.
  • The District's Adding a Legal Suite page mentions the Province's 2024 grant program for secondary suites.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Kelowna · Vernon · Coldstream · West Kelowna · Lumby · Peachland

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Adding a Legal Suite, District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Building Application Checklists, District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Building Regulation Bylaw 1070, 2018 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)

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.