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

# Salmon Arm secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** In Salmon Arm a secondary suite is permitted in the R-5, R-10, R-11, R-13, R-14, R-17 and R-19 zones and in the A-1, A-2 and A-3 zones, but not every zone allows one, so check yours. A suite needs a building permit and an Occupancy Certificate, and sometimes a Development Permit.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Salmon Arm, https://www.salmonarm.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees apply (see building-permit-fees). The documents read give no separate suite permit fee.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services, 250-803-4000
- Email: Utilities (suite non-use declaration), utilities@salmonarm.ca
- In person: City Hall, Development Services, 500 2 Avenue NE, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4N2

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Permitted in the R-10, R-11, R-13 (one suite), R-14, R-17, R-19 and R-5 zones, and in the A-1, A-2 and A-3 zones (one suite or one rural accessory dwelling unit). Not every zone allows one; check your zone.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), s. 6.3, 7.3, 8.3, 9.3, 12.3, 14.3, 34.3](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74)
  - Official wording: "single family dwelling with or without secondary suite(s);" … "single family dwelling with or without one secondary suite" … "The following uses and no others are permitted in the R-14 Zone:" … "secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit in compliance with s. 4.2 of this Bylaw" … "one secondary suite or one rural accessory dwelling unit (refer to the Agricultural Land Commission Act and" … ".11 secondary suite #4579"
  - Source: [Infill Housing and Single Family Residential, Infill Housing page](https://www.salmonarm.ca/469/Infill-Housing-and-Single-Family-Residen)
  - Official wording: "Most residential properties within the urban containment boundary (PDF) AND serviced by both City water and sewer will be allowed to have up to four (4) dwelling units"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Yes, as an 'accessory dwelling unit' in R-10, R-11 (fee simple parcels) and R-17, and either a suite or a detached unit in R-19. In A-1, A-2 and A-3 it is a 'rural accessory dwelling unit' (subject to Agricultural Land Commission rules). It may not be used for short-term rental or B and B.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), s. 6.3.3, 7.3.2, 12.3.3, 14.3.2, 4.2.6, 34.3.3](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74)
  - Official wording: "accessory dwelling unit(s) in compliance with s. 4.2 of this Bylaw;" … "accessory dwelling unit(s) on fee simple parcels in compliance with s. 4.2 of this Bylaw" … "No Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be used for short term rental or bed and breakfast." … "one secondary suite or one rural accessory dwelling unit (refer to the Agricultural Land Commission Act and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** R-10: no more than 2 dwelling units on parcels of 4,050 m² or more, 3 under 280 m², and 4 between those sizes. R-19 and A zones: the house plus one suite or detached unit. Suites cannot be strata titled and must share water and sewer. The 90 m² size cap now applies only in A-1 to A-3 and ALR land.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), s. 6.4 (R-10), 34.4 (A-1), 4.2.7](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74)
  - Official wording: "No more than two dwelling units are permitted on a parcel of area 4050 square metres (1 acre) or more, where the" … "No more than four dwelling units are permitted per parcel of area between 280 and 4050 square metres (3014" … "The maximum number of dwelling units shall be two per parcel comprising of the principal use dwelling and one" … "Subdivision and strata subdivision of an Accessory Dwelling Unit is prohibited." … "a single family dwelling and either a secondary suite or"
  - Source: [Secondary Suite FAQs (PDF, May 2024)](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/5884)
  - Official wording: "Suites cannot be strata titled and must share water and sewer connections/services with the principal dwelling." … "BUT it remains in effect"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** 1 space per suite (secondary, detached or rural detached), in the parking table. The single family dwelling itself needs 2.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), Appendix I, Table A1-1](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Dwelling Unit (secondary, detached, 1 per suite" … "Single Family Dwelling 2 per dwelling unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit and an Occupancy Certificate are needed even where zoning allows the suite. A Development Permit may also be required in some cases, along with Homeowner Protection Act registration.
  - Source: [Secondary Suite FAQs (PDF, May 2024)](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/5884)
  - Official wording: "No. Despite that zoning may enable your suite, you still require a building permit and"
  - Source: [Infill Housing and Single Family Residential, Infill Housing page](https://www.salmonarm.ca/469/Infill-Housing-and-Single-Family-Residen)
  - Official wording: "Note, if you are applying to add an Accessory Dwelling Unit or Secondary Suite to your property a building permit and in some cases Development Permit as well as registration under the Homeowners Protection Act may also be required."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (s. 4.2 and zone sections) and Building Bylaw No. 4725
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), title and s. 2](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74)
  - Official wording: "SECONDARY SUITE means a self-contained dwelling unit within but accessory to a principal use single family"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 4725 (adopted July 27, 2026), title](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/204)
  - Official wording: "City of Salmon Arm Building Bylaw No. 4725"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

A secondary suite is a self-contained unit within a single family dwelling or duplex. A detached "accessory dwelling unit" is a dwelling unit in an accessory building (not a mobile home or RV). Under [Zoning Bylaw No. 2303](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74):

- A suite is permitted in the R-10, R-11, R-13 (one suite), R-14, R-17, R-19 and R-5 zones, and in the A-1, A-2 and A-3 zones (one suite or one rural accessory dwelling unit).
- A detached accessory dwelling unit is allowed in R-10, R-11 (fee simple parcels) and R-17, and in R-19 as either a suite or a detached unit. In A-1, A-2 and A-3 it is a "rural accessory dwelling unit", subject to Agricultural Land Commission rules. R-13 and R-14 do not list detached units.

Zoning that allows a suite does not make it legal. A building permit and an Occupancy Certificate are needed, and a Development Permit and Homeowner Protection Act registration may also be required.

## Steps

1. Check your zone with Development Services.
2. Submit two sets of drawings with a building permit application. The Occupancy Certificate is issued after the final inspection.
3. Ask whether a Development Permit is also needed.

## Good to know

- R-10: no more than 2 dwelling units on parcels of 4,050 m² or more, 3 under 280 m², and 4 between those sizes. R-19 and A zones: the house plus one suite or detached unit.
- Suites cannot be strata titled and must share water and sewer. The 90 m² size cap now applies only in A-1 to A-3 and ALR land.
- Parking: 1 space per suite; the house itself needs 2.
- An accessory dwelling unit may not be used for short-term rental or bed and breakfast.
- In R-10 the accessory building holding the unit may be up to 6.0 m high (7.5 m with larger setbacks) and up to 20% of the parcel.
- If your suite sits empty, file the [Secondary Suite Non-Use Declaration](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/7526) with Utilities (250-803-4031, utilities@salmonarm.ca). A change in occupancy must be declared within seven days.

## Official forms and pages

- [Infill Housing and Single Family Residential page](https://www.salmonarm.ca/469/Infill-Housing-and-Single-Family-Residen)
- [Secondary Suite FAQs (PDF)](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/5884)
- [Secondary Suite Non-Use Declaration (PDF)](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/7526)

## Related questions

- [Salmon Arm building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmon-arm/building-permit.md)
- [Salmon Arm zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmon-arm/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Salmon Arm short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmon-arm/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)

## Sources

- [Infill Housing and Single Family Residential, City of Salmon Arm](https://www.salmonarm.ca/469/Infill-Housing-and-Single-Family-Residen) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Secondary Suite FAQs (PDF, May 2024), City of Salmon Arm](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/5884) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), City of Salmon Arm](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Secondary Suite Non-Use Declaration (PDF), City of Salmon Arm](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/7526) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 4725 (adopted July 27, 2026), City of Salmon Arm](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/204) (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 Salmon Arm. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmon-arm/secondary-suite/_