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

# Northern Rockies secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In the Northern Rockies townsite one secondary suite, wholly inside a single detached dwelling, is allowed in the RS-1, RS-1A, RS-2, RS-3, RR-1, RR-2, RM-1, A-1 and A-2 zones. A detached accessory dwelling unit is also allowed in most of them. You need a building permit.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, https://www.northernrockies.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees apply; see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Not stated on the website or in the bylaws.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, Regional Development and Planning, 5319 - 50th Avenue South, Fort Nelson, BC V0C 1R0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Regional Development and Planning, 250-774-2541 option 8
- Email: Front counter, frontcounter@northernrockies.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Yes, one secondary suite wholly inside a single detached dwelling, in the RS-1, RS-1A, RS-2, RS-3, RR-1, RR-2, RM-1 (single detached only), A-1 and A-2 zones of the Townsite Zoning Bylaw. Not allowed in a mobile dwelling, duplex or multi-unit dwelling.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF, consolidated May 2026, information copy), s. 2 definition; s. 3.18.14](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/56280/)
  - Official wording: "wholly contained within a Single Detached RS-1; RS-1A; RS-2;" … "independent living facility with provision RR-1; RR-2; A-1;" … "within the Secondary Suite for cooking, eating, sanitation and sleeping. A-2;" … "A Secondary Suite is prohibited in a Mobile Dwelling, Duplex or any other Multi-Unit Dwelling." … "Secondary Suite (Single Detached Dwelling only, see Section 3.18);" … "c. Secondary Suite (see Section 3.18)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Yes, one detached accessory dwelling unit on a parcel with a single detached dwelling, in the RR-1, RR-2, RS-1, RS-1A, RS-2, RS-3, RM-1, A-1 and A-2 zones. It must sit behind the principal building (any yard in A-1 and A-2). A mobile dwelling is not allowed as one in RS-1, RS-1A, RS-3 or RM-1.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF, consolidated May 2026, information copy), s. 2 definition; s. 3.18](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/56280/)
  - Official wording: "means a detached Dwelling Unit, that is secondary to the Principal Use, and," … "RR-1; RR-2; RS-1;" … "RS-1A; RS2; RS3;" … "RM1; A-1;" … "An Accessory Dwelling Unit must be located behind the Principal Building, except in the A1 and A2" … "zones, where it can be located in any Yard." … "A Mobile Dwelling is not permitted as an Accessory Dwelling Unit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** Only one secondary suite or one accessory dwelling unit per parcel with a single detached dwelling. Accessory dwelling unit: 8.0 m high at most; if a single detached dwelling, no more than 75% of the main building's floor area or 115 m², whichever is less. Neither may be subdivided or strata titled.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF, consolidated May 2026, information copy), s. 3.18](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/56280/)
  - Official wording: "Only one (1) Secondary Suite or one (1) Accessory Dwelling Unit is permitted on a parcel containing" … "The maximum height of an Accessory Dwelling Unit is 8.0m." … "seventy five percent" … "(75%) of the Gross Floor Area of the Principal Building or 115sq.m, whichever is less." … "Secondary Suites shall not be subdivided or strata titled." … "Accessory Dwelling Units shall not be subdivided or strata titled." … "A Secondary Suite must have direct outside access without passing through the Principal Use."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** One off-street parking space per secondary suite, and one per accessory dwelling unit.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF, consolidated May 2026, information copy), s. 4.9 parking table](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/56280/)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suite 1 per Secondary Suite" … "Accessory Dwelling Unit 1 per Accessory Dwelling Unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** A building permit is needed to create a suite (altering a building, completing an unfinished area, or changing a building's occupancy). The suite must meet the BC Building Code and may not be used unless it complies with all zoning, health, fire and building bylaws.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 111, 2015 (PDF, consolidated June 2023, information copy), s. 9(1)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/44740/)
  - Official wording: "a building permit before constructing, repairing or altering a building"
  - Source: [When do I need a Building Permit?, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, When do I need a Building Permit? (municipal guide)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/157509/)
  - Official wording: "Complete an unfinished area in an existing building" … "Change the type of occupancy of a building"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF, consolidated May 2026, information copy), ss. 3.18.9, 3.18.11](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/56280/)
  - Official wording: "A Secondary Suite must meet BC Building Code requirements." … "all health, fire and Building Bylaws and regulations in force"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016 (Townsite), s. 3.18 (as replaced by Amendment Bylaw No. 230, 2024); Building Bylaw No. 111, 2015
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF, consolidated May 2026, information copy), Title and s. 3.18](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/56280/)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 230, 2024 (Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing)" … "Section 3.18 is Repealed and Replaced by Bylaw No. 230, 2024"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 111, 2015 (PDF, consolidated June 2023, information copy), Title](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/44740/)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw No. 111, 2015"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016 (Townsite)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/56280/) allows one secondary suite wholly inside a single detached dwelling in the RS-1, RS-1A, RS-2, RS-3, RR-1, RR-2, RM-1 (single detached only), A-1 and A-2 zones. A suite is not allowed in a mobile dwelling, duplex or multi-unit dwelling. For rural parcels, see the Rural Zoning Bylaw.

It also allows one detached accessory dwelling unit on a parcel with a single detached dwelling, in the RR-1, RR-2, RS-1, RS-1A, RS-2, RS-3, RM-1, A-1 and A-2 zones. It must sit behind the principal building (any yard in A-1 and A-2). A mobile dwelling is not allowed as one in RS-1, RS-1A, RS-3 or RM-1.

## Steps

1. Check your zone with Regional Development and Planning (250-774-2541 option 8).
2. Apply for a building permit. One is needed to alter a building, finish an unfinished area or change a building's use (see the building-permit answer).
3. Build to the BC Building Code. The suite may not be used unless it complies with all zoning, health, fire and building bylaws.

## Good to know

- Limit: one secondary suite or one accessory dwelling unit per parcel with a single detached dwelling. Neither may be subdivided or strata titled.
- An accessory dwelling unit may be 8.0 m high at most. If it is a single detached dwelling, it may be no more than 75% of the main building's floor area or 115 m², whichever is less.
- Parking: one off-street space per secondary suite and one per accessory dwelling unit, in addition to the main dwelling's parking.
- A detached unit's minimum parcel area is subject to Northern Health regulations and approvals.
- The bylaw search found no owner-occupancy rule.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/56280/)
- [Building Bylaw No. 111, 2015 (PDF)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/44740/)

## Related questions

- [Northern Rockies building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/building-permit.md)
- [Northern Rockies building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Northern Rockies zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Northern Rockies short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Stewart](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/secondary-suite.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/secondary-suite.md)
- [Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/secondary-suite.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/secondary-suite.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/secondary-suite.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 119, 2016, Townsite (PDF, consolidated May 2026, information copy)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/56280/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Bylaw No. 111, 2015 (PDF, consolidated June 2023, information copy)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/44740/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [When do I need a Building Permit? (PDF), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/157509/) (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 Northern Rockies Regional Municipality. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/secondary-suite/_