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Montrose secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

Montrose, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Montrose a secondary suite (a complete unit inside a single family dwelling) is allowed in all R1 and RD zones and as a permitted use in the RU zone, one per dwelling. Detached units such as garden suites, laneway homes and carriage houses are prohibited, except at 620-12th Avenue.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedSecondary suites (a complete unit with its own kitchen, sleeping area and washroom inside another dwelling) are permitted in all R1 and RD zones, and are a permitted use in the RU (Rural) zone. They are prohibited at 620-12th Avenue.Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 783, 2024, new s. 3.15; s. 4.9.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Secondary Suites are permitted in all Rl and RD zones provided
b) Secondary suites are prohibited at 620-12th Avenue.
Add 4.9.2 b) Secondary suites;
Coach house or garden suite allowedAccessory dwelling units (garden suite, laneway home, carriage house, garage suite) are prohibited in all R1 and RD zones, except 620-12th Avenue, which may have one.Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 783, 2024, new s. 3.15.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Accessory Dwelling Units are prohibited in all Rl and RD
a) 620-12th Avenue is permitted to have one (1)
LimitsOne secondary suite per single family dwelling.Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 783, 2024, new s. 3.15(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A maximum of one (1) secondary suite is permitted per single
ParkingOne parking space for a secondary suite (and one for an accessory dwelling unit), on top of the 2 spaces for the main dwelling.Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 783, 2024, s. 3.9; Zoning Bylaw No. 771, 2022, s. 3.9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Add - "Secondary Suite" 1 parking space
Add - "Accessory Dwelling Unit" 1 parking space
2 spaces per dwelling unit.
PermitsNot stated for suites. The Building Bylaw requires a building permit before constructing or altering a building or structure; the suite definition says building code standards apply.Building Bylaw (2005-1) No. 633, s. 8.1.1; Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 783, 2024, definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
building permit before constructing or altering a building or
Specific planning rules and building code standards exist for the development of secondary suites
BylawZoning Bylaw #771, 2022, as amended by Zoning Amendment Bylaw #783, 2024Zoning Bylaw No. 771, 2022, s. 1.1; Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 783, 2024, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Zoning Bylaw #771, 2022
ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW #783,2024

How it works

In the Village of Montrose, Zoning Bylaw 771 as amended by Zoning Amendment Bylaw 783 (2024) allows secondary suites. A secondary suite is a complete unit with its own kitchen, sleeping area and washroom inside another dwelling. Before 2024 only "in-law suites" for relatives of the owner were allowed.

  • Where: all R1 and RD zones, and as a permitted use in the RU (Rural) zone. They are prohibited at 620-12th Avenue.
  • How many: one secondary suite per single family dwelling.
  • Detached units: accessory dwelling units (garden suite, laneway home, carriage house, garage suite) are prohibited in all R1 and RD zones, except 620-12th Avenue, which may have one.
  • Parking: one parking space for the suite, on top of the 2 spaces for the main dwelling.

Good to know

  • A suite cannot be stratified or separated from the main house.
  • The new rules list no owner-occupancy requirement or size limit.
  • The suite definition says building code standards apply, and the Building Bylaw requires a building permit before constructing or altering a building. No separate suite permit is stated; the Village's website says the RDKB issues building permits, so confirm with the Village Office on 250-367-7234.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Fruitvale · Trail · Warfield · Rossland · Castlegar · Salmo

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 783, 2024 (PDF), Village of Montrose (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Zoning Bylaw No. 771, 2022 (PDF), Village of Montrose (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Building Bylaw (2005-1) No. 633 (PDF), Village of Montrose (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Permits and Licenses, Village of Montrose (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Contacts, Village of Montrose (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. How answers are checked.