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

# Rossland secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** In Rossland, the Zoning Bylaw allows a secondary suite (inside a house) or an accessory dwelling unit (a detached garden suite, coach house or laneway home) in several zones, including RR, R-1 and R-3. You need a building permit. One suite per dwelling unit, with a separate entrance, and no strata.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Rossland, https://rossland.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit: $50 non-refundable application fee plus $10 per $1000 of declared or assessed value. Fees for a development permit or servicing permit are not covered here.  
**How long:** See the building-permit answer for building permit timing.  
**Where:**
- Online: CloudPermit (Rossland), https://ca.cloudpermit.com/rossland/
- Email: Planning and Development, development.services@rossland.ca
- Phone: Planning and Development, 250-362-2329

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Allowed in the RR, R-1, R-3 and R-GS zones, in C-2 (with a principal commercial use), in C-4, and in CD-1, CD-2, CD-3, CD-5 and CD-6, subject to s. 4.1.3. Not listed in R-DT, R-2, C-1, C-3, M-1 or P zones. One suite per dwelling unit; units must be side by side, not stacked.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026, s. 4.1.3(b), (c)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924)
  - Official wording: "A Secondary Suite, shown in Figure 4-1, may be permitted on the same parcel as a Single" … "Not more than one Secondary Suite shall be permitted within each Dwelling Unit." … "A Secondary Suite or an Accessory Dwelling Unit must have a separate entrance" … "Secondary Suite in conjunction with a Principal Commercial Use" … "d) Secondary Suites and Accessory Dwelling Units"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026, s. 8.1 (RR) 3(a)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924)
  - Official wording: "A Secondary Suite or an Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be permitted subject to the provisions of Section 4.1.3;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026, s. 8.3 (R-1) 3(a); 8.5 (R-3); 8.8 (R-GS)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924)
  - Official wording: "A Secondary Suite shall be permitted subject to the provisions of Section 4.1.3."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026, s. 9.2 (C-2) 2; 9.4 (C-4) 2](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suite in conjunction with a Principal Commercial Use" … "Secondary Suites and Accessory Dwelling Units"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Yes. An accessory dwelling unit (garden suite, coach house or laneway home) is allowed in RR, R-1, R-3, R-GS, C-2 (with a principal commercial use), C-4, CD-1, CD-2, CD-3, CD-5 and CD-6, subject to s. 4.1.3. It must be fully above ground, no more than 6.0 m or 2 storeys (7.5 m or 2.5 storeys if built in a detached garage).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026, Definitions: Accessory Dwelling Unit](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924)
  - Official wording: "This may include a garden suite, coach house, or laneway home." … "An Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be permitted subject to the provisions of Section 4.1.3." … "An Accessory Dwelling Unit must be located fully above ground."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026, s. 4.1.3(d), (e), (f)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924)
  - Official wording: "An Accessory Dwelling Unit must not exceed a Height of 6.0 m or 2 Storeys, whichever is" … "the Building Height may be increased to 7.5 m or 2.5 Storeys, whichever is less." … "An Accessory Dwelling Unit must be located fully above ground."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026, s. 8.3 (R-1) 3(b)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924)
  - Official wording: "An Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be permitted subject to the provisions of Section 4.1.3."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** One secondary suite per dwelling unit, on the same lot as the principal residence, as one real estate entity (no strata), with a separate entrance. Zone caps on units per parcel apply: RR two; R-1 three (parcel 280 m² or less) or four. No short-term rental on a lot with a suite. No suite size or owner-occupancy rule found.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026, s. 4.1.3(b), (g)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924)
  - Official wording: "Not more than one Secondary Suite shall be permitted within each Dwelling Unit." … "must form part of a single real estate entity. No strata titling will" … "A Secondary Suite or an Accessory Dwelling Unit must have a separate entrance" … "Maximum number of Dwelling Units per Parcel: two (2), inclusive of all Principal Buildings and" … "For Parcels equal to or less than 280 m2 in size, a maximum of three (3) Dwelling Units are permitted" … "For Parcels greater than 280 m2 in size, a maximum of four (4) Dwelling Units are permitted"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026, Definitions: Short-Term Rental - Residential](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924)
  - Official wording: "Short term rental - Residential use is prohibited in conjunction with a Secondary Suite or an Accessory Dwelling Unit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** 1 space per dwelling unit, and secondary suites and accessory dwelling units are listed in that class; a unit with 3 or more sleeping units needs 2 spaces.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026, Table 5-1](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924)
  - Official wording: "1 space per Dwelling Unit" … "2 spaces per Dwelling Unit with 3 or more" … "Sleeping Units Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing; Secondary Suite; Accessory Dwelling Unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit is required for a new secondary suite. A development permit may also be required (for example in the wildfire interface zone, downtown, on a slope over 30%, or near a creek). New construction such as a carriage house needs an infrastructure servicing permit first.
  - Source: [Building Permits & Inspections, Do you need a Building Permit?](https://rossland.ca/building/permits/)
  - Official wording: "Construction of any new occupancy building, accessory building or secondary suite"
  - Source: [Building Permits & Inspections, What should I check before applying?](https://rossland.ca/building/permits/)
  - Official wording: "A Development Permit - this is for any builds in the wildfire interface zone, downtown, the gateway area, if the build is in a multi-unit, on a slope over 30% or near a creek or riparian area etc."
  - Source: [CloudPermit Information, How to Submit an Application](https://rossland.ca/cloudpermit/)
  - Official wording: "All new construction (eg: new single residential dwelling, multi-family dwelling, carriage house) must apply for an Infrastructure Servicing Permit first."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026, s. 4.1.3(a)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924)
  - Official wording: "the owner shall comply with all applicable provisions of the current British Columbia Building Code (BCBC) at the time of application."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Rossland Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026 (s. 4.1.3 and the zone sections); Building Bylaw No. 2716, 2019
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026, s. 1 (short title)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw shall be cited as the "City of Rossland Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026.""
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2716, 2019, s. 1.1](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/6563)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as "Building Bylaw No. 2716, 2019"."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under Rossland's [Zoning Bylaw 2864](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924) (s. 4.1.3), a secondary suite (a self-contained dwelling unit within a building) is allowed in the RR, R-1, R-3 and R-GS zones, in C-2 (with a principal commercial use), in C-4, and in CD-1, CD-2, CD-3, CD-5 and CD-6. The bylaw does not list suites in R-DT, R-2, C-1, C-3, M-1 or the P zones.

A detached accessory dwelling unit (garden suite, coach house or laneway home) is allowed in the same zones. It must be fully above ground and no more than 6.0 m or 2 storeys high (7.5 m or 2.5 storeys if built in a detached garage).

## Steps

1. Check your zone. See the zoning-lookup answer.
2. Confirm with Planning and Development (250-362-2329) whether you also need a development permit, for example in the wildfire interface zone, downtown, on a slope over 30%, or near a creek.
3. For new construction such as a carriage house, get an infrastructure servicing permit first.
4. Apply for a building permit through CloudPermit.

## Good to know

- Limits: one secondary suite per dwelling unit, on the same lot as the principal residence, as one real estate entity (no strata), with a separate entrance. Units must be side by side, not stacked.
- Zone caps on units per parcel also apply: RR allows two dwelling units; R-1 allows three on a parcel of 280 m² or less, or four.
- Parking: 1 space per dwelling unit. Secondary suites and accessory dwelling units are in that class. A unit with 3 or more sleeping units needs 2 spaces.
- No short-term rental is allowed on a lot with a suite. See the short-term-rental answer.
- The bylaw and City pages state no suite size limit or owner-occupancy rule. Ask Planning to confirm.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw 2864, 2026 (PDF), section 4.1.3 Secondary Suites and Accessory Dwelling Units](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924)
- [CloudPermit Information (City page)](https://rossland.ca/cloudpermit/)
- [Building Permits and Inspections (City page)](https://rossland.ca/building/permits/)
- [Building Bylaw 2716, 2019 (PDF)](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/6563)

## Related questions

- [Rossland building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/building-permit.md)
- [Rossland building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/building-permit-fees.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/secondary-suite.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/secondary-suite.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/secondary-suite.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/secondary-suite.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/secondary-suite.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2864, 2026 (PDF), City of Rossland](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/55924) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permits & Inspections, City of Rossland](https://rossland.ca/building/permits/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [CloudPermit Information, City of Rossland](https://rossland.ca/cloudpermit/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2716, 2019 (PDF), City of Rossland](https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/6563) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning & Rezoning, City of Rossland](https://rossland.ca/planning/zoning/) (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 Rossland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/secondary-suite/_