---
title: Lillooet secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Lillooet?"
place: Lillooet, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/lillooet
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Lillooet
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Lillooet secondary suite and carriage house rules

**Question:** Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Lillooet?

**Short answer:** In Lillooet a secondary suite inside a house is a listed accessory use in the ALR, AG, RR, SR, R-1 and R-2 zones. A detached Accessory Dwelling is allowed in more zones, with size limits. You need a building permit to add a suite. Parking is one space per suite.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Lillooet, https://www.lillooet.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees apply. The Fees Bylaw value rate for a secondary suite is $1,345/m². See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** About 2-4 weeks for a building permit once the application is complete.  
**Where:**
- Email: Planning Technician, planning@lillooet.ca
- Email: Building Official, building@lillooet.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 615 Main Street, Lillooet, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed statutory holidays.)
- Phone: District office, 250-256-4289

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Secondary Suite is a listed accessory use in the ALR, AG, RR, SR, R-1 and R-2 zones; one is also permitted in the MHP zone with a single detached dwelling. A secondary suite is a second dwelling unit entirely within a single detached dwelling, with its own exterior door.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2025-026, ss. 10.3.10, 11.3.10, 12.3.9, 13.3.6, 14.3.5, 15.3.5](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/94551/)
  - Official wording: "ALR AGRICULTURAL LAND RESERVE ZONE 10.3.10 Secondary Suite. 10.4 Minimum Lot Area for Subdivision: 10.4.1 8.0 hectares." … "11.3.8 Farm Product Processing; 11.3.9 Farm Product Retail Sales; 11.3.10 Secondary Suite; 11.3.11 Short-Term Rental. Page 54 of 122" … "12.3.7 Home Occupation; 12.3.8 Home Industry; 12.3.9 Secondary Suite; 12.3.10 Short-Term Rental. Page 57 of 122" … "13.3.4 Home Occupation; 13.3.5 Home Industry; 13.3.6 Secondary Suite; 13.3.7 Short-Term Rental. 13.4 Minimum Lot Area for Subdivision:" … "14.3.3 Accessory Dwelling; 14.3.4 Home Occupation; 14.3.5 Secondary Suite; 14.3.6 Short-Term Rental. 14.4 Minimum Lot Area for Subdivision:" … "15.3.3 Accessory Dwelling; 15.3.4 Home Occupation; 15.3.5 Secondary Suite; 15.3.6 Short-Term Rental. 15.4 Minimum Lot Area for Subdivision:"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2025-026, s. 17.7.2](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/94551/)
  - Official wording: "One (1) Secondary Suite is permitted (which is secondary to the Single Detached Dwelling);"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2025-026, s. 30 Definitions](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/94551/)
  - Official wording: "means a second Dwelling Unit that is located entirely within a Single Detached Dwelling"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** An Accessory Dwelling (detached) is an accessory use in the ALR, AG, RR, SR, R-1, R-2, RM and MC zones. One per parcel unless the zone says otherwise; it cannot contain a suite. Max 125 m² and no larger than the main dwelling, except ALR (90 m² under 40 ha) and AG (250 m² or 50% of the house). Needs municipal sewer and water, or a lot over 2,000 m² (municipal water, septic) or over 10,000 m² (own water and septic).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2025-026, s. 6.2](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/94551/)
  - Official wording: "Unless specifically permitted, only one (1) Accessory Dwelling is permitted per Parcel." … "Accessory Dwellings shall not contain Secondary Suites." … "No Accessory Dwelling shall have a Floor Area greater than 125 m2, except in the ALR Zone or unless otherwise specified in this Bylaw." … "On any sized Parcel where allowed in this Bylaw if connected to a municipal sewer system and municipal water;" … "On parcels more than 2000 m2 if connected to municipal water and onsite sewage; or" … "On parcels more than 10,000 m2 (1 hectare) in area if connected to an on-site sewage and on-site water system." … "One (1) Accessory Dwelling, or Secondary Suite per Lot, and the total Gross Floor Area of a Secondary Suite or Accessory Dwelling shall not exceed:" … "50% of the Gross Floor Area of the Single Detached Dwelling."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2025-026, s. 14.3.3](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/94551/)
  - Official wording: "14.3.1 Agriculture, Urban; 14.3.2 Accessory Building or Accessory Structure; 14.3.3 Accessory Dwelling; 14.3.4 Home Occupation; 14.3.5 Secondary Suite;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** Depends on the zone. ALR, AG and R-1: one suite or one accessory dwelling, not both (R-1 may have a duplex instead). SR: one suite (plus an accessory dwelling on lots of 2,000 m² or more). RR: two suites. R-2: a house with one suite and one accessory dwelling, or a duplex with a suite per unit. A suite must share an uninterrupted foundation and roof with the house. AG: max 250 m² or 50% of the house.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2025-026, ss. 6.9.2, 12.6.1.2, 14.6.1.1, 15.6.1.1, 11.6.1.2](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/94551/)
  - Official wording: "A Secondary Suite must share a common uninterrupted foundation and roof with the Principal Dwelling Unit in the Permitted Dwelling" … "Two (2) Secondary Suites per Lot." … "One (1) Accessory Dwelling, or Secondary Suite; or" … "One (1) Single Detached Dwelling, One (1) Secondary Suite, and One (1) Accessory Dwelling;" … "250 m2; or" … "50% of the Gross Floor Area of the Single Detached Dwelling." … "One (1) Accessory Dwelling, or Secondary Suite per Lot, and the total Gross Floor Area of a Secondary Suite or Accessory Dwelling shall not exceed:" … "One (1) Duplex Dwelling (two units) and One (1) Secondary Suite per unit;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** One space per suite (1 per dwelling unit), and it cannot be in a tandem arrangement with other spaces. An accessory dwelling also needs 1 space per dwelling unit.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2025-026, Table 8.1; s. 6.9.1](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/94551/)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suite 1 per Dwelling unit" … "Accessory Dwelling 1 per Dwelling unit" … "A Parking Space for a Secondary Suite shall not be provided in a Tandem Parking arrangement"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** A building permit is needed to add a suite. A separate suite or development permit requirement is not stated; check the Development Permit Areas Map for the property.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Examples of Projects That Require a Building Permit](https://www.lillooet.ca/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "### Examples of Projects That Require a Building Permit - Additions - Adding a suite - Finishing basements - New deck/porch/stairs or replacements"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2021-003, current to April 22, 2026, Schedule 4, s. 3.0](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/102362/)
  - Official wording: "$1,076.00 (heated) Sundeck (no roof) $430.00 Roof Only $323.00 Unenclosed Structure or Carport $377.00 Secondary Suite $1,345.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Lillooet Zoning Bylaw 2025-026 (ss. 6.2, 6.9, Part 8 and the zone sections); Building Bylaw 2021-006.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2025-026, s. 1.1.1](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/94551/)
  - Official wording: "District of Lillooet Zoning Bylaw 2025-026."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 2021-006, consolidated to June 4, 2025, s. 1.1.1](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/97828/)
  - Official wording: "District of Lillooet Building Bylaw 2021-006"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the [Zoning Bylaw 2025-026](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/94551/), a secondary suite is a second dwelling unit entirely within a single detached dwelling, with its own exterior door. It is a listed accessory use in the ALR, AG, RR, SR, R-1 and R-2 zones. One is also permitted in the MHP zone with a single detached dwelling. It is not listed in the RM zone. A suite must share an uninterrupted foundation and roof with the house, but the roof may be interrupted when the suite is built over an attached garage or carport.

A detached Accessory Dwelling is an accessory use in the ALR, AG, RR, SR, R-1, R-2, RM and MC zones. It is one per parcel unless the zone says otherwise, and it cannot contain a suite. It is limited to 125 m² and no larger than the main dwelling, with exceptions for ALR (90 m² under 40 ha) and AG (250 m² or 50% of the house). It needs municipal sewer and water, or a lot over 2,000 m² (municipal water, septic) or over 10,000 m² (own water and septic).

## Steps

1. Find your zone and check its limits (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Ask the Planning Technician (planning@lillooet.ca) whether a development permit area applies to your lot.
3. Apply for a building permit by email to building@lillooet.ca.

## Good to know

- Limits depend on the zone. ALR, AG and R-1: one suite or one accessory dwelling, not both (R-1 may have a duplex instead). SR: one suite, plus an accessory dwelling on lots of 2,000 m² or more. RR: two suites. R-2: a house with one suite and one accessory dwelling, or a duplex with a suite per unit.
- Parking: one space per suite and one per accessory dwelling; a suite space cannot be in a tandem arrangement with other spaces.
- Density is also subject to the availability of municipal services.
- The Zoning Bylaw's owner-occupancy rules for suites were not found; ask the District to confirm.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2025-026](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/94551/)
- [Building Permits, District of Lillooet](https://www.lillooet.ca/building-permits)

## Related questions

- [Lillooet building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/building-permit.md)
- [Lillooet building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Lillooet zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/secondary-suite.md)
- [Cache Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cache-creek/secondary-suite.md)
- [Logan Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/secondary-suite.md)
- [Clinton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clinton/secondary-suite.md)
- [Lytton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lytton/secondary-suite.md)
- [Pemberton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pemberton/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2025-026, District of Lillooet](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/94551/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Bylaw 2021-006, consolidated to June 4, 2025, District of Lillooet](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/97828/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2021-003, current to April 22, 2026, District of Lillooet](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/102362/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permits, District of Lillooet](https://www.lillooet.ca/building-permits) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Lillooet. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/secondary-suite/_