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Nakusp secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

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

Short answer

Yes. Nakusp's Zoning Bylaw allows a secondary suite inside the main home in R-1, R-2, R-3 and RU-1, and a detached suite or carriage home in several zones. Limits are one accessory dwelling per parcel and one parking space for it. Creating a suite needs an RDCK building permit.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedYes. An attached accessory dwelling (including a secondary suite) is allowed as an accessory use in R-1, R-2, R-3 and RU-1, and in other listed zones. It must be entirely inside the principal dwelling.Zoning Bylaw No. 729, 2023, s. 6.1.2(b), 6.2.2(b), 3.13.1; definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
i) Accessory Dwelling, Attached
A secondary suite shall be entirely contained within a principal dwelling.
including secondary suites and attached garage suites;
Coach house or garden suite allowedYes, in R-1 (parcels 534 m² or more), R-2, R-3 and RU-1 and some other zones, only where the principal use is a single detached dwelling. Garage suites, carriage homes and tiny homes are covered.Zoning Bylaw No. 729, 2023, s. 6.1.4(b)(ii), 6.1.8(a), 3.12.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
One Single Detached Dwelling and one attached or detached
Detached Accessory Dwellings shall only be permitted on Parcels where the
The following pertains to secondary suites, carriage homes, garage suites, and
LimitsOne accessory dwelling per parcel (R-1, R-2, RU-1). Secondary suite at least 33 m². Garage suite or carriage home: at most 90 m² or 75% of the main home's habitable area (attached garage suite 45%); carriage home 3 m from the main house. Tiny home 37.2 m². Cannot be subdivided. Septic capacity letter if on septic. Not allowed on a parcel with a caretaker dwelling.Zoning Bylaw No. 729, 2023, s. 3.12-3.16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Accessory Dwelling Units may not be subdivided by any means.
A secondary suite shall have a minimum floor area of 33 m2.
The maximum floor area of a detached garage suite shall be 90 m2 or 75%
A carriage home shall be separated a minimum distance of 3 m from the
A tiny home shall have a maximum floor area of 37.2 m2;
Accessory Dwelling Units are not permitted on Parcels that contain a
Maximum one attached or detached Accessory Dwelling per Parcel.
ParkingOne space per dwelling unit for an attached or detached accessory dwelling, in addition to the 2 spaces for a single detached dwelling.Zoning Bylaw No. 729, 2023, s. 4.4.1, Table 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Single Detached Dwelling and Duplex 2 per dwelling unit
Attached Accessory Dwelling, Detached Accessory 1 per dwelling unit
PermitsA building permit from the RDCK is needed to renovate a dwelling to create a secondary suite. No development permit is named in the residential zones; check the OCP development permit areas for the property.RDCK Building Brochure, March 2024, p. 3; Licences and Permits, Building Permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Renovate your dwelling to create a secondary suite
All building permits within the municipal boundary for Nakusp are submitted to the RDCK Building Inspector's office.
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 729, 2023 (consolidated November 2024), s. 3.12-3.16 and Section 6Zoning Bylaw No. 729, 2023, Title; Zoning Bylaw No. 729, 2023, s. 3.12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Zoning Bylaw No. 729, 2023
Consolidated November 2024
3.12 Accessory Dwelling Units
3.13 Secondary Suites

How it works

Under the Village's Zoning Bylaw No. 729, an attached accessory dwelling, including a secondary suite, is allowed in R-1, R-2, R-3, RU-1 and other listed zones, and must be entirely inside the principal dwelling. In R-1 an attached suite needs a parcel of at least 320 m²; with 534 m² or more, one attached or detached suite is allowed. A detached suite (garage suite, carriage home or tiny home) is allowed in R-1 (534 m² or more), R-2, R-3, RU-1 and some other zones, only where the principal use is a single detached dwelling.

Steps

  1. Check your zone and parcel size in the Zoning Bylaw.
  2. Confirm the limits below.
  3. Apply to the RDCK Building Inspector for a building permit to renovate for a suite.

Good to know

  • One accessory dwelling per parcel (R-1, R-2, RU-1).
  • A secondary suite must be at least 33 m². A garage suite or carriage home is at most 90 m² or 75% of the main home's habitable area (45% for an attached garage suite); a carriage home must be 3 m from the main house. A tiny home is 37.2 m².
  • It cannot be subdivided, and a septic capacity letter is needed if on septic. Not allowed on a parcel with a caretaker dwelling.
  • Parking: one space per accessory dwelling, in addition to the 2 for a single detached dwelling.
  • No development permit is named in the residential zones. Check the Official Community Plan development permit areas for your property.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

New Denver · Silverton · Slocan · Kaslo · Revelstoke · Lumby

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 729, 2023, Village of Nakusp (consolidated November 2024) (read 2026-11-08)
  2. RDCK Building Brochure, March 2024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Licences and Permits, Village of Nakusp (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.