{"title":"Radium Hot Springs secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Radium Hot Springs?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/radium-hot-springs","name":"Radium Hot Springs","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":"Village of Radium Hot Springs","url":"https://radiumhotsprings.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. Radium Hot Springs allows an attached suite (in a basement, a storey or a converted garage) with a one-unit or two-unit home in the R2, R3, R4, R5, RTA and AG zones. A detached suite (coach house or garden suite) is allowed only where the zone lists it. A building permit is needed.","aliases":["secondary suite radium hot springs","basement suite radium hot springs","coach house radium hot springs","garden suite radium"],"cost":"Building permit fees apply; see the building-permit-fees answer. Development permit applications for the wildfire area have no charge.","how_long":"The Village's Building Permit Guide says 2 to 4 weeks on average for a complete building permit application.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Village Office","value":"4836 Radium Boulevard, Radium Hot Springs, BC","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"Building and Development Services","value":"250-347-6455 ext. 7","note":"The Building Official is available Monday to Thursday only."},{"type":"email","label":"Building and Development Services","value":"building@radiumhotsprings.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026 (PDF)","url":"https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/"},{"title":"Building Permits, Village of Radium Hot Springs","url":"https://radiumhotsprings.ca/building-development/building-permits/"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Radium Hot Springs building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Radium Hot Springs building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Radium Hot Springs zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Radium Hot Springs short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/invermere","name":"Invermere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/golden","name":"Golden","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kaslo","name":"Kaslo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/elkford","name":"Elkford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/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. An attached accessory dwelling unit (in a basement, a storey, or a converted garage) is allowed as an accessory use to a one-unit or two-unit residential building, one per principal dwelling unit. It is a listed accessory use in the R2, R3, R4, R5, RTA and AG zones.","short":"Yes, one per principal dwelling in listed zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.1.1","quotes":["Not more than one Accessory Dwelling Unit (Attached) is permitted per Principal Dwelling Unit on a Parcel","is only permitted within a Residential Building (1- Unit) or Residential Building (2-Units)"]},{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.7.2 (R2)","quotes":["The following Uses are permitted as accessory to the Principal Uses in the R2 Zone:","c) Accessory Dwelling Unit g) Tourist Accommodation (Bed and Breakfast)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Yes, a detached accessory dwelling unit (coach house or garden suite) is allowed only on a parcel with a one-unit residential building, where the zone lists it as an accessory use, and not on a parcel that has an attached suite. It must be on the community water and sewer systems.","short":"Yes, where zone lists it; community water and sewer","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3","quotes":["An Accessory Dwelling Unit (Detached) is only permitted on a Parcel with a Residential Building (1-","Unit) unless otherwise permitted by this bylaw.","shall be connected to the community water system and community sewer system."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Attached suite: up to 100% of the basement (or first storey) for existing buildings; for new construction, 100 m² or 50% of the first storey, whichever is greater. Detached suite: 95 m² on parcels under 1,000 m², 140 m² on larger ones, and no more than 75% of the main dwelling's floor area; at least 3.0 m from the house; separate entrance; no roof-top deck. No suite may be subdivided or stratified. R2 allows 2 dwelling units per parcel, R3 allows 3, including suites.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.2.4, 4.2.5, 4.2.7","quotes":["is 95 m2 on Parcels less than 1,000 m2 and 140 m2 on Parcels greater than 1,000 m2.","be greater than 75%","minimum distance of 3.0 m from the"]},{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.1.2","quotes":["100.0 m2 or 50% of first Storey area of the"]},{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.7.6, 6.8.6","quotes":["a) Dwelling Units 2 per Parcel including Accessory Dwelling Units","a) Dwelling Units 3 per Parcel including Accessory Dwelling Units"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"One off-street parking space per bedroom of the suite, up to a maximum of 2. No visitor parking is required.","short":"1 space per bedroom, up to 2","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026 (PDF)","section":"Table 2, row 3","quotes":["3) Accessory Dwelling Unit","1 per bedroom up to a","maximum of 2"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is required for new construction and for changes, alterations or additions to existing buildings. The Village also has a \"Secondary Suite\" type on its Report a Problem form.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.ca/building-development/building-permits/","title":"Building Permits, Village of Radium Hot Springs","section":"Building Permits","quotes":["Changes, alterations, reconstruction or additions to existing buildings or structures","New construction of buildings or structures"]},{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.ca/services/community-safety-bylaws/report-a-problem/","title":"Report a Problem, Village of Radium Hot Springs","section":"Report a Problem form","quotes":["- Type of Problem*Accessibility IssuesIllegal Dumping/LitterGarbage/RecyclingGraffiti/VandalismNoiseWeeds/Invasive SpeciesParksPlayground Repairs/MaintenancePotholes/Roads MaintenanceMunicipal FacilitiesSecondary SuiteSnow/IceSports Field/Sports Court MaintenanceStreetlightsStreet ParkingStreet SignsTrails/PathwaysTreesTripping HazardsUnsightly PremisesConstruction Site SafetyWater LeakWater - OtherOther"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Village of Radium Hot Springs Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026, ss. 4.1 and 4.2 (suites), Table 2 (parking) and the zone sections.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 1.1.1","quotes":["Village of Radium Hot Springs Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026"]},{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 4","quotes":["4.1 Accessory Dwelling Units (Attached)","4.2 Accessory Dwelling Units (Detached)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nSuites are regulated in ss. 4.1 and 4.2 of the [Zoning Bylaw No. 528](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/).\n\n**Attached suite.** An attached accessory dwelling unit (in a basement, a storey or a converted garage) is allowed as an accessory use to a one-unit or two-unit residential building, one per principal dwelling unit. It is a listed accessory use in the R2, R3, R4, R5, RTA and AG zones. Size: up to 100% of the basement (or first storey) for existing buildings; for new construction, 100 m² or 50% of the first storey, whichever is greater.\n\n**Detached suite** (coach house or garden suite). Allowed only on a parcel with a one-unit residential building, where the zone lists it, and not on a parcel that has an attached suite. It must be on the community water and sewer systems. It may be 95 m² on parcels under 1,000 m² or 140 m² on larger ones, and no more than 75% of the main dwelling's floor area. It must be at least 3.0 m from the house, have a separate entrance and have no roof-top deck.\n\nNo suite may be subdivided or stratified. R2 allows 2 dwelling units per parcel and R3 allows 3, including suites.\n\n**Parking:** one off-street space per bedroom of the suite, up to a maximum of 2. No visitor parking is required.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone. See the zoning-lookup answer.\n2. Confirm the size limits above.\n3. Apply for a building permit; one is needed for new construction and for changes, alterations or additions to existing buildings.\n4. Ask Building and Development Services whether a development permit is also needed.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Whether the C zones allow a suite was not checked here.\n- The Village's pages do not say whether a development permit (the wildfire area covers all Village land) is needed for a suite. Wildfire development permit applications have no fee.\n- We did not find a rule requiring the owner to live on the parcel for a long-term suite. An owner or long-term tenant must live there for a short-term rental suite; see the short-term-rental answer.","sources":[{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.ca/building-development/building-permits/","title":"Building Permits, Village of Radium Hot Springs","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.ca/services/community-safety-bylaws/report-a-problem/","title":"Report a Problem, Village of Radium Hot Springs","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21179/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 530, 2026 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/10063/","title":"Building Permit Guide, Village of Radium Hot Springs (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://radiumhotsprings.ca/administration/departments-staff/building-and-development-services/","title":"Building and Development Services, Village of Radium Hot Springs","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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/radium-hot-springs/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/secondary-suite.json"}}