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Salmon Arm secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Salmon Arm, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedPermitted 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), s. 6.3, 7.3, 8.3, 9.3, 12.3, 14.3, 34.3; Infill Housing and Single Family Residential, Infill Housing page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
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
Coach house or garden suite allowedYes, 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.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 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
LimitsR-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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), s. 6.4 (R-10), 34.4 (A-1), 4.2.7; Secondary Suite FAQs (PDF, May 2024) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
Suites cannot be strata titled and must share water and sewer connections/services with the principal dwelling.
BUT it remains in effect
Parking1 space per suite (secondary, detached or rural detached), in the parking table. The single family dwelling itself needs 2.Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), Appendix I, Table A1-1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Accessory Dwelling Unit (secondary, detached, 1 per suite
Single Family Dwelling 2 per dwelling unit
PermitsA 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.Secondary Suite FAQs (PDF, May 2024); Infill Housing and Single Family Residential, Infill Housing page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No. Despite that zoning may enable your suite, you still require a building permit and
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.
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 2303 (s. 4.2 and zone sections) and Building Bylaw No. 4725Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), title and s. 2; Building Bylaw No. 4725 (adopted July 27, 2026), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
SECONDARY SUITE means a self-contained dwelling unit within but accessory to a principal use single family
City of Salmon Arm Building Bylaw No. 4725

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:

  • 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 with Utilities (250-803-4031, utilities@salmonarm.ca). A change in occupancy must be declared within seven days.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

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

Sources

  1. Infill Housing and Single Family Residential, City of Salmon Arm (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Secondary Suite FAQs (PDF, May 2024), City of Salmon Arm (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), City of Salmon Arm (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Secondary Suite Non-Use Declaration (PDF), City of Salmon Arm (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Building Bylaw No. 4725 (adopted July 27, 2026), City of Salmon Arm (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.