---
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?"
place: Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/radium-hot-springs
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Radium Hot Springs
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Radium Hot Springs secondary suite and carriage house rules

**Question:** Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Radium Hot Springs?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Radium Hot Springs, https://radiumhotsprings.ca)  
**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:**
- In person: Village Office, 4836 Radium Boulevard, Radium Hot Springs, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Building and Development Services, 250-347-6455 ext. 7 (The Building Official is available Monday to Thursday only.)
- Email: Building and Development Services, building@radiumhotsprings.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026, s. 4.1.1](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/)
  - Official wording: "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)"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026, s. 6.7.2 (R2)](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026, s. 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026, s. 4.2.4, 4.2.5, 4.2.7](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026, s. 4.1.2](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/)
  - Official wording: "100.0 m2 or 50% of first Storey area of the"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026, s. 6.7.6, 6.8.6](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/)
  - Official wording: "a) Dwelling Units 2 per Parcel including Accessory Dwelling Units" … "a) Dwelling Units 3 per Parcel including Accessory Dwelling Units"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** One off-street parking space per bedroom of the suite, up to a maximum of 2. No visitor parking is required.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026, Table 2, row 3](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/)
  - Official wording: "3) Accessory Dwelling Unit" … "1 per bedroom up to a" … "maximum of 2"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Permits](https://radiumhotsprings.ca/building-development/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Changes, alterations, reconstruction or additions to existing buildings or structures" … "New construction of buildings or structures"
  - Source: [Report a Problem, Report a Problem form](https://radiumhotsprings.ca/services/community-safety-bylaws/report-a-problem/)
  - Official wording: "- 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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Radium Hot Springs Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026, ss. 4.1 and 4.2 (suites), Table 2 (parking) and the zone sections.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026, s. 1.1.1](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/)
  - Official wording: "Village of Radium Hot Springs Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026, s. 4](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/)
  - Official wording: "4.1 Accessory Dwelling Units (Attached)" … "4.2 Accessory Dwelling Units (Detached)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Suites are regulated in ss. 4.1 and 4.2 of the [Zoning Bylaw No. 528](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/).

**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.

**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.

No suite may be subdivided or stratified. R2 allows 2 dwelling units per parcel and R3 allows 3, including suites.

**Parking:** one off-street space per bedroom of the suite, up to a maximum of 2. No visitor parking is required.

## Steps

1. Check your zone. See the zoning-lookup answer.
2. Confirm the size limits above.
3. Apply for a building permit; one is needed for new construction and for changes, alterations or additions to existing buildings.
4. Ask Building and Development Services whether a development permit is also needed.

## Good to know

- Whether the C zones allow a suite was not checked here.
- 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.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026 (PDF)](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/)
- [Building Permits, Village of Radium Hot Springs](https://radiumhotsprings.ca/building-development/building-permits/)

## Related questions

- [Radium Hot Springs building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/building-permit.md)
- [Radium Hot Springs building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Radium Hot Springs zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Radium Hot Springs short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/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)
- [Invermere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/secondary-suite.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/secondary-suite.md)
- [Golden](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/secondary-suite.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/secondary-suite.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/secondary-suite.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 528, 2026 (PDF)](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21642/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permits, Village of Radium Hot Springs](https://radiumhotsprings.ca/building-development/building-permits/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Report a Problem, Village of Radium Hot Springs](https://radiumhotsprings.ca/services/community-safety-bylaws/report-a-problem/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 530, 2026 (PDF)](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21179/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permit Guide, Village of Radium Hot Springs (PDF)](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/10063/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building and Development Services, Village of Radium Hot Springs](https://radiumhotsprings.ca/administration/departments-staff/building-and-development-services/) (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 Village of Radium Hot Springs. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/secondary-suite/_