Peachland secondary suite and carriage house rules
Can I add a secondary suite or a garden suite in Peachland?
Short answer
Yes. Peachland allows one secondary suite inside a house, and one detached garden suite, per principal dwelling in the A1, A2, RR1, RR2, R1 and RM2 zones. You need a building permit and must register the suite ($125, then a $56 annual licence).
Key facts
| Secondary suite allowed | Yes, as an accessory use in the A1, A2, RR1, RR2, R1 and RM2 zones (and some comprehensive development zones), inside a single detached dwelling or one half of a duplex. A maximum of one secondary suite per principal dwelling unit.Suites, Suites page; Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023, consolidated July 20, 2026, R1 zone s. 7.5.2.3; s. 5.39.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSecondary Suites and Garden Suites for residential use are now permitted in a most residential zones within the District of Peachland. Secondary Suite (only within single detached or duplex dwellings) A maximum of one secondary suite is permitted within each principal dwelling unit Secondary Suite (only in single detached or duplex dwellings) one accessory dwelling unit, either a secondary suite or a |
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| Coach house or garden suite allowed | Yes, a garden suite (detached accessory building) is allowed in the A1, A2, RR1, RR2, R1 and RM2 zones and some comprehensive zones. One per principal dwelling. Needs municipal water and sewer unless the lot is 1.0 ha or more with an approved septic system.Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023, consolidated July 20, 2026, R1 zone s. 7.5.2.4; s. 5.35.1, 5.35.9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingGarden Suite (only on a lot with single detached or duplex) Only one (1) garden suite per principal dwelling unit is permitted on any lot. Garden suites shall only be permitted on lots connected to the municipal water and sanitary sewer system unless the lot is 1.0 ha (2.47 ac) or greater in area |
| Limits | Secondary suite: 33 m² (355 sq ft) to 110 m² (1,184 sq ft) or 40% of the home's habitable floor space, whichever is less. Garden suite: 33 to 110 m². R1 lots: 4 dwelling units in total with municipal water and sewer, 2 without. No owner occupancy required.Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023, consolidated July 20, 2026, s. 5.39.3-5.39.4; Secondary Suite and Garden Suite Policy DEV-188, DEV-188 s. 7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA secondary suite shall have a minimum floor area of 33 m2 (355 ft2) and a maximum floor area of 110 m2 (1184 ft2) or 40% of the habitable floor space of the principal dwelling in which the secondary dwelling is located, whichever is less. A garden suite shall have a minimum floor area of 33 m2 (355 ft2) and a and sewer is four (4) dwelling units inclusive of secondary dwelling water and sewer is a total of two dwellings which may be comprised of The District of Peachland does not require that owners occupy the principal dwelling or suite. |
| Parking | One extra off-street parking space for the suite, in addition to the spaces required for the principal dwelling (the same for a garden suite).Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023, consolidated July 20, 2026, s. 5.39.6; s. 5.35.10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingIn addition to the off-street parking spaces required for the principal dwelling unit, one off- street parking space is required for the secondary suite. street parking space is required for a garden suite. |
| Permits | A building permit is required (registration of a new suite goes through the building permit process). Register the suite: $125 registration, then a $56 annual suite licence. A driveway permit may also be needed.Building Permit FAQs, FAQ: Garden & Secondary Suites; Suites, How to Register; Secondary Suite and Garden Suite Policy DEV-188, DEV-188 s. 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingConstructing a self-contained accessory dwelling within a home (secondary suite) Fill out and submit the Suite Registration Application Form and pay the $125 fee Submit a Building Permit Application and pay the required fees (variable based on project) Maintain an Annual Suite Licence of $56 payable at time of registration and then renew by the end of each calendar year Pay an additional 40% of base rate for water and/or sewer on the quarterly utility invoice Registration of a new suite must be done through the Building Permit process. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 (s. 5.39 secondary suites, s. 5.35 garden suites); Secondary Suite and Garden Suite Policy DEV-188; Building Bylaw No. 2273, 2020; Business Licence Bylaw No. 2274, 2020 (s. 5.32)Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023, consolidated July 20, 2026, ss. 5.35, 5.39; Secondary Suite and Garden Suite Policy DEV-188, Title; Business Licence Bylaw No. 2274, 2020, consolidated, s. 5.32 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording5.39 SECONDARY SUITES (SECONDARY DWELLING WITHIN A PRINCIPAL DWELLING) 5.35 GARDEN SUITE (SECONDARY DWELLING WITHIN A DETACHED ACCESSORY BUILDING) Secondary Suite and Garden Suite Policy Secondary Suite & Garden Suite |
How it works
The Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023 allows a secondary suite (s. 5.39) as an accessory use in the A1, A2, RR1, RR2, R1 and RM2 zones, and some comprehensive development zones. It must be inside a single detached dwelling or one half of a duplex. Only one is allowed per principal dwelling unit. A garden suite (s. 5.35) is a detached accessory building, allowed in the same zones, one per principal dwelling. It needs municipal water and sewer, unless the lot is 1.0 ha or more with an approved septic system. In the A1 zone a secondary suite and garden suite together are allowed only as the Agricultural Land Commission Act allows.
Size and limits:
- Secondary suite: 33 m² (355 sq ft) to 110 m² (1,184 sq ft) or 40% of the home's habitable floor space, whichever is less.
- Garden suite: 33 to 110 m²; at least 3.0 m from the rear lot line and from the principal dwelling.
- R1 lots: 4 dwelling units in total with municipal water and sewer, 2 without.
- Parking: one extra off-street space for each suite, in addition to the spaces for the principal dwelling.
- Owner occupancy is not required (policy DEV-188).
Steps
- Check your zone and, if you are on septic, whether a garden suite is possible.
- Apply for a building permit. Registration of a new suite goes through the building permit process. A development permit may be needed in a development permit area, and a driveway permit may be too.
- Register the suite ($125) and pay the $56 annual suite licence.
Good to know
- Suites built before January 1, 2017 with an electrical permit can register as existing suites.
- Suites must be registered to be legal.
- Short-term rental of a suite is prohibited unless authorized under a valid Bed and Breakfast licence. Garden suites cannot be used as short-term rentals. See short-term-rental.
- Only a Type I home-based business is allowed in a suite.
- The District's web pages cite older zoning section numbers (5.42, 5.38); the current bylaw uses 5.39 and 5.35.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
West Kelowna · Summerland · Kelowna · Penticton · Lake Country · Vernon
Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Suites, District of Peachland (read 2026-11-06)
- Secondary Suite and Garden Suite Policy DEV-188 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 2400, 2023, consolidated July 20, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Building Permit FAQs, District of Peachland (read 2026-11-06)
- Development Application & Licence Fees Bylaw No. 2277, 2020, consolidated (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Business Licence Bylaw No. 2274, 2020, consolidated (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
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.