GovHandbook

Revelstoke secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Revelstoke, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedYes: 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 5.2.1(1) and zone permitted-use lists · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(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)
Coach house or garden suite allowedYes: 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 5.2.2 and 5.2.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(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)
LimitsEach 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).Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 5.2.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(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
Parking1 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 11.2(4), 5.2.1(6) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(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
PermitsA 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.Secondary Suite Building Permit Checklist, March 2025, Secondary Suite Building Permit Checklist (March 2025); Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2332, OCP s. 5.1.2(h) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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,
(h) Construction of an accessory dwelling unit, single-detached dwelling, or a two-unit
BylawCity of Revelstoke Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025 (s. 5.2 Accessory Dwelling Units); Building Bylaw No. 2294Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 5.2; Building Bylaw No. 2294, Building Bylaw s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
City of Revelstoke Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025
5.2.1 Secondary Suites
City of Revelstoke Building Bylaw No.

How it works

The City's Zoning Bylaw 2406 (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.

Exceptions: CD-10 Sub Zones B and C allow secondary suites only, and CD-08 allows carriage suites only, under its own rules.

Steps

  1. 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.
  2. Apply for a building permit using the Secondary Suite checklist, with a plumbing permit if you add fixtures. See the building-permit answer.
  3. Builders need a City or Inter-Community business licence.

Good to know

  • Size: a suite may not exceed 40% of the combined usable floor space of the main unit and suite, up to 120 m².
  • Title: the suite must be in a single real estate entity with the main dwelling, not separately titled.
  • 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).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • A bed and breakfast cannot run from a secondary suite, and a short-term rental is not allowed in a carriage or garden suite.
  • 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.

What you'll need

  • 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

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Sicamous · Enderby · Nakusp · Armstrong · Spallumcheen · Golden

Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449 (PDF), City of Revelstoke (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Secondary Suite Building Permit Checklist, March 2025 (PDF), City of Revelstoke (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Building Bylaw No. 2294 (PDF), City of Revelstoke (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2332 (PDF), City of Revelstoke (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2256, consolidated (PDF), City of Revelstoke (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. How answers are checked.