{"title":"Osoyoos secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Osoyoos?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/osoyoos","name":"Osoyoos","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Osoyoos","url":"https://www.osoyoos.ca"},"short_answer":"In Osoyoos a secondary suite is allowed inside a single detached dwelling in the RS1 and Agriculture zones, and a separate accessory dwelling is allowed in RS1, AG and several other zones. The Zoning Bylaw names no separate suite permit; building work still needs a building permit.","aliases":["secondary suite osoyoos","basement suite osoyoos","carriage house osoyoos","accessory dwelling osoyoos"],"cost":"No suite-specific fee is stated. Building permit fees apply; see the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"The Town states no processing time for suites.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Planning and Development Services","value":"8711 Main Street, Osoyoos, BC","note":"Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning and Development Services","value":"250-495-6191"},{"type":"email","label":"Planning and Development Services","value":"plan@osoyoos.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (PDF)","url":"https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/"},{"title":"Building Code Administration Bylaw No. 1251, 2009 (PDF)","url":"https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/15319/"},{"title":"Building Permits, Town of Osoyoos","url":"https://www.osoyoos.ca/building-development/building-permits"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Osoyoos building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Osoyoos building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Osoyoos zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Osoyoos short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/short-term-rental/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Osoyoos permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/oliver","name":"Oliver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/keremeos","name":"Keremeos","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/penticton","name":"Penticton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/greenwood","name":"Greenwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/summerland","name":"Summerland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/grand-forks","name":"Grand Forks","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/secondary-suite/"}],"topic":{"title":"Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite/"},"facts":{"suite_allowed":{"label":"Secondary suite allowed","value":"Yes, inside a single detached dwelling, as an accessory use in the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Residential (RS1) zone and the Agriculture (AG) zone. In the RM1 zone only on listed site-specific lots.","short":"Yes, in RS1 and AG zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 11.1.1; 19.1.1; 4.0 definition","quotes":["h) secondary suite; And","secondary suite, subject to Section;","“secondary suite” means a second dwelling unit that is located entirely within a single detached","dwelling and that is clearly accessory to the principal dwelling unit, with direct access to the open","air without passage through any portion of the principal dwelling unit;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Yes: an \"accessory dwelling\" (a separate dwelling not inside the single detached house and not attached to a building with dwelling units) is allowed in RS1 and AG, and in the CS2, CT1, CT2, CT3, I1 and CD1 zones. RS1 allows one per parcel, maximum height 8.0 m.","short":"Yes, accessory dwelling in RS1, AG and other zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.0; 7.2; 11.1","quotes":["“accessory dwelling” means a dwelling unit which is permitted as an accessory use in","conjunction with a principal use and is not located within a single detached dwelling;","e) accessory dwelling, subject to Section 7.2;","An accessory dwelling shall not be attached to a principal building containing one or","c) one (1) accessory dwelling on the same parcel as one (1) single detached dwelling.","an accessory dwelling shall not exceed a height of 8.0"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"RS1: one secondary suite in a single detached dwelling (or two units in one building, or one accessory dwelling). Accessory dwelling: up to 125 m² unless stated otherwise; not on parcels under 1.0 ha unless connected to community sewer; cannot be strata-subdivided.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 7.2; 11.1.4","quotes":["b) one (1) secondary suite in a single detached dwelling; or","No accessory dwelling shall have a floor area greater than 125.0 m2, unless otherwise","An accessory dwelling shall not be permitted on parcels less than 1.0 ha in area unless","An accessory dwelling cannot be subdivided under the Strata Property Act."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"One parking space per secondary suite and one per accessory dwelling, in addition to the house. An accessory dwelling's space must not be in tandem with spaces for other uses on the parcel.","short":"1 space per suite, plus the house","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (PDF)","section":"Table 10.2.1; s. 7.2.5","quotes":["accessory dwelling 1 per dwelling unit","secondary suite 1 per dwelling unit","A parking space for an accessory dwelling shall not be provided in tandem with parking"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"The Zoning Bylaw names no separate suite permit. Building work needs a building permit (alteration or addition of a building), and in a development permit area the development permit must be issued first.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.osoyoos.ca/building-development/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Town of Osoyoos","section":"Building Permits page","quotes":["an alteration of any building, structural or non-structural","an addition to any building"]},{"url":"https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/15319/","title":"Building Code Administration Bylaw No. 1251, 2009 (PDF)","section":"s. 13.10","quotes":["A building permit may be issued for works within Development Permit Areas and Development Authorization Areas so designated by the Town of Osoyoos only upon prior issuance of a Development Permit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (ss. 7.2, 10.2, 11.1); Building Code Administration Bylaw No. 1251, 2009","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (PDF)","section":"cover","quotes":["BYLAW NO. 1395, 2024","Updated September 22, 2026"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/) allows a secondary suite inside a single detached dwelling as an accessory use in the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Residential (RS1) zone and the Agriculture (AG) zone. It is also allowed in the CD1 zone, and in the RM1 zone only on listed site-specific lots.\n\nA separate \"accessory dwelling\" (a dwelling not inside the house and not attached to a building with dwelling units) is allowed in RS1 and AG, and in the CS2, CT1, CT2, CT3, I1 and CD1 zones. The bylaw does not use the terms \"coach house\" or \"garden suite\". Commercial and industrial zones add conditions.\n\nIn RS1 you may have one secondary suite in a single detached dwelling, or two units in one building, or one accessory dwelling. An RS1 accessory dwelling is limited to one per parcel and 8.0 m high.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone with Planning and Development Services (250-495-6191).\n2. Check the limits below.\n3. Apply for a building permit for the alteration or addition. If you are in a development permit area, the development permit must be issued first.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- An accessory dwelling may be up to 125 m² unless stated otherwise. It is not allowed on parcels under 1.0 ha unless connected to community sewer, and cannot be strata-subdivided.\n- Parking: one space per secondary suite and one per accessory dwelling, in addition to the house. An accessory dwelling's space must not be in tandem with spaces for other uses.\n- No size limit for a secondary suite and no owner-occupancy rule were found in the zoning bylaw. Ask Planning.\n- Using an accessory dwelling contrary to the rules brings a $200 bylaw notice ($180 early, $210 late).\n- Renting a suite short term needs a Town business licence; see the short-term-rental answer.","sources":[{"url":"https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/15319/","title":"Building Code Administration Bylaw No. 1251, 2009 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.osoyoos.ca/building-development/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Town of Osoyoos","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/150460/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/secondary-suite.json"}}