---
title: Penticton secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?"
place: Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/penticton
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Penticton
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Penticton secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in some zones. The Zoning Bylaw allows a secondary suite in the FG, A, RC, R4-L, R4-S, RM1, RM2 and RM3 zones, and a carriage house in FG, A, RC, R4-L and R4-S. Both need City permits and an occupancy certificate before anyone moves in. The suite permit fee is $450.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Penticton, https://www.penticton.ca)  
**Cost:** Secondary suite permit $450 (2026), plus the building application fee ($229) and a fee based on construction value. See building-permit-fees.  
**How long:** No guaranteed timeline. Book a free pre-application meeting first.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building and Planning, 250-490-2501 (Some City pages list the Building Department as 250-490-2571.)
- Email: Building Department, buildinginfo@penticton.ca
- Email: Planning Department, planning@penticton.ca
- Email: Business Licensing, businesslicences@penticton.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** A secondary suite is a permitted use in the FG, A and RC rural zones and the R4-L, R4-S, RM1, RM2 and RM3 residential zones, subject to s. 8.1. It needs a community sewer connection unless the lot is at least 830 m² and meets the sewage system regulation. (Sources differ: The City page lists only FG, A, RC, R4-L and R4-S. The zoning bylaw (followed) also lists the secondary suite as a permitted use in RM1, RM2 and RM3. Check the property zone on the Property Viewer. ALR land also needs to meet Agricultural Land Commission rules.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (consolidated October 2026), ss. 8.1 and 8.2, ss. 9.1-9.3, 10.1-10.5, 8.1.2](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%202024-22%20%28Consolidated%20October%202026%29%20-%20new.pdf)
  - Official wording: "secondary suite (subject to accessory suites regulation 8.1)" … "RM1 – Bareland Strata Housing" … "RM2 – Low Density Multiple Housing" … "RM3 – Medium Density Multiple Housing" … "unless the lot area is at least 830 m² and meets the requirements of the"
  - Source: [Secondary Suites, Where are Secondary Suites Permitted?](https://www.penticton.ca/business-building/building-permits/residential/secondary-suites)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suites are permitted within a single detached dwelling in any of the following zones."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** A carriage house is permitted on lots with a single detached dwelling in the FG, A and RC rural zones and the R4-L and R4-S zones. In the rural zones only one carriage house per property and not together with a secondary suite.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (consolidated October 2026), ss. 8.1 and 8.2, ss. 8.2, 9.1-9.3, 10.1, 10.2](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%202024-22%20%28Consolidated%20October%202026%29%20-%20new.pdf)
  - Official wording: "carriage house (subject to accessory suites regulation 8.2)" … "In the A, FG, and RC zones only one (1) carriage house shall be permitted per" … "property and shall not be allowed in conjunction with a secondary suite in a"
  - Source: [Carriage Houses, Where are Carriage Houses Permitted?](https://www.penticton.ca/business-building/building-permits/residential/carriage-houses)
  - Official wording: "Carriage houses are permitted on lots that contain a single detached dwelling in any of the following zones:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** One secondary suite per dwelling unit; no separate title or strata lot; 5 m² of private outdoor amenity space. Carriage house: no separate title; floor area up to 135 m² in R4-L and R4-S (150 m² rural); in R4 zones 5.0 m and one storey where there is no lane (7.0 m and two storeys with lane access).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (consolidated October 2026), ss. 8.1 and 8.2, ss. 8.1, 8.2](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%202024-22%20%28Consolidated%20October%202026%29%20-%20new.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No more than one (1) secondary suite shall be permitted within a dwelling unit." … "may not be sited or located on a separate titled parcel from the principal residence or be created as a strata lot within the dwelling unit." … "A minimum of 5 m2 of amenity space, outdoor shall be provided individually for the" … "Maximum Carriage House Floor 135 m2" … "Maximum Carriage House Floor 150 m2" … "Where no lane exists, the maximum" … "height is 5.0 m and one storey."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** No parking space is required for a secondary suite or carriage house (the parking table lists 0 per accessory suite).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (consolidated October 2026), ss. 8.1 and 8.2, Table 6.6, s. 6.5](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%202024-22%20%28Consolidated%20October%202026%29%20-%20new.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suite or Carriage House" … "0 per accessory suite"
  - Source: [Planning and Land Use, Small-Scale, Multi-Unit Housing Initiative](https://www.penticton.ca/business-building/planning-land-use)
  - Official wording: "Remove parking requirements for carriage houses and secondary suites"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit and/or plumbing permit is needed before building a suite; an existing unpermitted suite is legalized through the building permit process with an inspection. Carriage houses also need BC Housing registration and an occupancy certificate. A business licence is needed to rent it short-term.
  - Source: [Secondary Suites, Next Steps: Permits](https://www.penticton.ca/business-building/building-permits/residential/secondary-suites)
  - Official wording: "Prior to constructing a secondary suite, a building permit and/or plumbing permit must be issued by the" … "Evidence must be provided through the building permit process that the suite generally conforms to the BC Building Code requirements for secondary suites."
  - Source: [Carriage Houses, Next Steps](https://www.penticton.ca/business-building/building-permits/residential/carriage-houses)
  - Official wording: "A building permit/plumbing permit must be applied for and issued prior to constructing a carriage house." … "An occupancy certificate is required prior to anyone occupying the new space."
  - Source: [When Are Permits Required? Building Bulletin 13-01 (revised March 7, 2025), Bulletin 13-01, s. 1](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/docs/business-and-building/building-bulletins/When%20a%20permit%20is%20required%202025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "new dwelling units or substantial additions will require registration with the BC Housing"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (s. 8.1 Secondary Suite, s. 8.2 Carriage Houses); Building Bylaw No. 2021-21.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (consolidated October 2026), ss. 8.1 and 8.2, ss. 8.1, 8.2](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%202024-22%20%28Consolidated%20October%202026%29%20-%20new.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suite (Bylaw No. 2026-21)" … "Carriage Houses"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under [Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%202024-22%20%28Consolidated%20October%202026%29%20-%20new.pdf) (sections 8.1 and 8.2), a secondary suite is allowed in the zones above, subject to the bylaw's rules. It needs a community sewer connection unless the lot is at least 830 m² and meets the sewage system regulation. A carriage house is permitted on lots with a single detached dwelling; it cannot be sold separately. In the rural zones only one carriage house is allowed per property, and not together with a secondary suite. Land in the Agricultural Land Reserve must also meet Agricultural Land Commission rules.

## Steps

1. Check your zone on the Property Viewer and read the bylaw and the City's bulletin.
2. Book a free pre-application meeting with the Building and Planning department.
3. Apply for a building permit and/or plumbing permit with plans that let staff check the BC Building Code rules for suites.
4. Pass the inspections. A carriage house also needs BC Housing registration, and an occupancy certificate is required before anyone occupies the new space.

## Good to know

- Suite limits: one secondary suite per dwelling unit, no separate title or strata lot, and 5 m² of private outdoor amenity space.
- Carriage house limits: floor area up to 135 m² in R4-L and R4-S (150 m² in rural zones). In R4 zones it is 5.0 m high and one storey where there is no lane (7.0 m and two storeys with lane access), with a 1.5 m rear setback, and no decks, balconies or roof top patios. Rural lots without municipal sewer need at least 1 ha.
- No parking space is required for a suite or carriage house.
- To legalize an existing suite, use the building permit process; it needs an inspection.
- A business licence is needed to rent either one short-term; the 2026 licence fee for a suite or carriage house is $210 a year. See short-term-rental.
- The City advises speaking with your neighbours before planning a carriage house.

## What you'll need

- Completed application package from the Building Permit Applications and Forms page
- Agency Agreement, if someone applies for you
- For a carriage house, BC Housing registration and plans

## Official forms and pages

- [Secondary Suites](https://www.penticton.ca/business-building/building-permits/residential/secondary-suites)
- [Carriage Houses](https://www.penticton.ca/business-building/building-permits/residential/carriage-houses)
- [Building Bulletins (Secondary Suite and Carriage House bulletins)](https://www.penticton.ca/business-building/building-permits/building-bulletins)

## Related questions

- [Penticton building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/building-permit.md)
- [Penticton building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Penticton zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Penticton short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/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)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/secondary-suite.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/secondary-suite.md)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/secondary-suite.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/secondary-suite.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/secondary-suite.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Secondary Suites, City of Penticton](https://www.penticton.ca/business-building/building-permits/residential/secondary-suites) (read 2026-10-29)
- [Carriage Houses, City of Penticton](https://www.penticton.ca/business-building/building-permits/residential/carriage-houses) (read 2026-10-29)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (consolidated October 2026), ss. 8.1 and 8.2 (PDF)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%202024-22%20%28Consolidated%20October%202026%29%20-%20new.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2014-07 (consolidated October 2026), Appendices 4 and 5 (PDF)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2014-07%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw%20-%20CONSOLIDATED%20PACKAGE%20-%20October%202026_1.pdf) (read 2026-10-29)
- [When Are Permits Required? Building Bulletin 13-01 (revised March 7, 2025) (PDF)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/docs/business-and-building/building-bulletins/When%20a%20permit%20is%20required%202025.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Planning and Land Use, City of Penticton](https://www.penticton.ca/business-building/planning-land-use) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Penticton. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/secondary-suite/_