{"title":"Revelstoke secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/revelstoke","name":"Revelstoke","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":"City of Revelstoke","url":"https://www.revelstoke.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes, in Revelstoke most residential and mixed-use zones allow one secondary suite, carriage suite and garden suite per principal dwelling unit, within the zone's density. You need a building permit. A suite may not exceed 40% of the combined usable floor space, up to 120 m².","aliases":["basement suite revelstoke","secondary suite bylaw revelstoke","carriage house revelstoke","garden suite revelstoke","accessory dwelling unit revelstoke"],"cost":"Building permit $126 plus $11 per $1,000 of value, plus a plumbing permit if fixtures are added. The business licence fee schedule also lists $58 for secondary, garden and carriage suites.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building Services","value":"250-837-3637"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Services","value":"building@revelstoke.ca"}],"documents":["Completed Building Permit Application package","Secondary Suite checklist items (plans and drawings)","Plumbing permit, if fixtures are added","Development permit or variance approval, if your property needs one"],"forms":[{"title":"Secondary Suites Building Permit Checklist (PDF)","url":"https://www.revelstoke.ca/DocumentCenter/View/13111/Secondary-Suites-Fillable-PDF"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025 (PDF), section 5.2 Accessory Dwelling Units","url":"https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Revelstoke building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Revelstoke zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Revelstoke short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sicamous","name":"Sicamous","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/enderby","name":"Enderby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nakusp","name":"Nakusp","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/armstrong","name":"Armstrong","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/spallumcheen","name":"Spallumcheen","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/golden","name":"Golden","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/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: one secondary suite per principal dwelling unit in a single-detached, two-unit or multi-unit dwelling, within the zone's density. Accessory dwelling units are listed in R-LD1, R-LD2, R-LD3, R-LD5, R-LD6, R-LD7, R-MD1, MU-1, MU-2, MU-3, CD-02, CD-05, CD-06, CD-08 (Sub-Area F) and CD-10.","short":"Yes, one per principal dwelling in listed zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449 (PDF), City of Revelstoke","section":"Zoning Bylaw s. 5.2.1(1) and zone permitted-use lists","quotes":["(1) A single-detached dwelling, two-unit dwelling, or a multi-unit dwelling may contain one","(1) secondary suite per principal dwelling unit, subject to the density provisions of the","(5) Accessory dwelling unit","(1)      A single-detached dwelling, two-unit dwelling, or a multi-unit dwelling may contain one","(5)      Accessory dwelling unit (secondary suite)","(4)      Accessory dwelling unit (secondary suite)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Yes: one carriage suite and one garden suite per principal dwelling unit (zone density applies) in the zones listing accessory dwelling units, except CD-10 Sub Zones B and C (secondary suites only) and CD-08 (carriage suites only, own rules). Not in the front yard setback or in front of the house. Height 6.0 m garden, 8.0 m carriage.","short":"Yes, one carriage suite and one garden suite per dwelling","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449 (PDF), City of Revelstoke","section":"Zoning Bylaw s. 5.2.2 and 5.2.3","quotes":["(4) A carriage suite shall not be located in the front yard setback area or in front of the","(5) A carriage suite must meet a 1.5 m minimum setback from the side lot line and rear lot","(7) A carriage suite must not exceed a building height of 8.0 m (inclusive of a first storey","(7) A garden suite must not exceed a building height of 6.0 m.","(4) A garden suite shall not be located in the front yard setback area or in front of the","(4)      A carriage suite shall not be located in the front yard setback area or in front of the","(5)      Accessory dwelling unit (secondary suite)","(4)      Accessory dwelling unit (carriage suite)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Each suite may not exceed 40% of the combined usable floor space of the main unit and suite, up to 120 m². It must be within a single real estate entity with the main dwelling (not separately titled). Needs a separate exterior entrance (or shared entrance with its own inside corridor door) and 10 m² of usable open space (5 m² on lots 350 m² or less).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449 (PDF), City of Revelstoke","section":"Zoning Bylaw s. 5.2.1","quotes":["(2) A secondary suite shall not exceed 40% of the total combined usable floor space of the","principal dwelling unit and the secondary suite, up to a maximum of 120.0 sq. m.","(3) A secondary suite shall be located within a single real estate entity comprised of the","(4) A secondary suite shall contain a separate exterior entrance, or a shared entrance with","(5) A minimum of 10.0 sq. m of usable open space is required for the occupant of the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"1 parking space per accessory dwelling unit, but none if the unit has less than 29.0 m² of usable floor space. The suite must have a parking area with uninhibited access to a City street or lane.","short":"1 space per unit (none under 29.0 m²)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449 (PDF), City of Revelstoke","section":"Zoning Bylaw s. 11.2(4), 5.2.1(6)","quotes":["(4) Accessory dwelling unit a. 1.0 parking spaces per dwelling unit","accessory dwelling units less than 29.0 sq. m in usable floor space shall require 0.0 parking","(6) A secondary suite shall be provided a parking area with uninhibited access to a City"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit (with a plumbing permit if fixtures are added) is required; the City has a Secondary Suite checklist. Applicants must confirm no development permit or variance is needed, because a building permit is not accepted until those are applied for. The OCP exempts accessory dwelling units from a development permit in most commercial, mixed-use and multi-family permit areas.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.revelstoke.ca/DocumentCenter/View/13111/Secondary-Suites-Fillable-PDF","title":"Secondary Suite Building Permit Checklist, March 2025 (PDF), City of Revelstoke","section":"Secondary Suite Building Permit Checklist (March 2025)","quotes":["Secondary Suite Building Permit Application within an","Please confirm your application complies with Zoning and does","building permit will not be accepted until these other permits","Plumbing Permit","If any new fixtures are being installed or altered,"]},{"url":"https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/198773","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2332 (PDF), City of Revelstoke","section":"OCP s. 5.1.2(h)","quotes":["(h) Construction of an accessory dwelling unit, single-detached dwelling, or a two-unit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"City of Revelstoke Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025 (s. 5.2 Accessory Dwelling Units); Building Bylaw No. 2294","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449 (PDF), City of Revelstoke","section":"Zoning Bylaw s. 5.2","quotes":["City of Revelstoke Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025","5.2.1 Secondary Suites"]},{"url":"https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/42465","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2294 (PDF), City of Revelstoke","section":"Building Bylaw s. 1","quotes":["City of Revelstoke Building Bylaw No."]}],"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 City's [Zoning Bylaw 2406](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/) (section 5.2) allows one secondary suite, one carriage suite and one garden suite per principal dwelling unit in a single-detached, two-unit or multi-unit dwelling, within the zone's density. Accessory dwelling units are listed as a permitted use in these zones: R-LD1, R-LD2, R-LD3, R-LD5, R-LD6, R-LD7, R-MD1, MU-1, MU-2, MU-3, CD-02, CD-05, CD-06, CD-08 (Sub-Area F) and CD-10. Other zones, including R-LD4, R-MD2, R-MD3, R-HD1, R-HD2, MU-4, and the commercial, industrial and park zones, do not list them. Check your zone on the City's map.\n\nExceptions: CD-10 Sub Zones B and C allow secondary suites only, and CD-08 allows carriage suites only, under its own rules.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone allows a suite, and whether you need a development permit or variance. The City will not accept a building permit until those are applied for.\n2. Apply for a building permit using the Secondary Suite checklist, with a plumbing permit if you add fixtures. See the building-permit answer.\n3. Builders need a City or Inter-Community business licence.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Size:** a suite may not exceed 40% of the combined usable floor space of the main unit and suite, up to 120 m².\n- **Title:** the suite must be in a single real estate entity with the main dwelling, not separately titled.\n- **Entrance and open space:** a separate exterior entrance, or a shared entrance with its own inside corridor door; 10 m² of usable open space (5 m² on lots of 350 m² or less).\n- **Parking:** one space per suite, but none if the suite has less than 29.0 m² of usable floor space. The parking area must have uninhibited access to a City street or lane.\n- **Carriage and garden suites:** not in the front yard setback or in front of the house. Height up to 8.0 m (carriage) or 6.0 m (garden). Rear setback is 3.0 m where the lot abuts a residential-zoned lot. They need direct street or lane access, or a 1.0 m durable path from the suite's parking to its entrance.\n- A bed and breakfast cannot run from a secondary suite, and a short-term rental is not allowed in a carriage or garden suite.\n- The Official Community Plan exempts accessory dwelling units from a development permit only in the Downtown, Scenic Corridor, Multi-Family, Resort, Commercial and Industrial areas. The Environmentally Sensitive and Hazardous areas apply to all land.","sources":[{"url":"https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449 (PDF), City of Revelstoke","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.revelstoke.ca/DocumentCenter/View/13111/Secondary-Suites-Fillable-PDF","title":"Secondary Suite Building Permit Checklist, March 2025 (PDF), City of Revelstoke","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/42465","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2294 (PDF), City of Revelstoke","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/198773","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2332 (PDF), City of Revelstoke","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/145989","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2256, consolidated (PDF), City of Revelstoke","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/revelstoke/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/secondary-suite.json"}}