---
title: Sicamous secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Sicamous?"
place: Sicamous, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/sicamous
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Sicamous
sources_read: 2026-11-09
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Sicamous secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** A secondary suite in Sicamous needs its own outside entrance. Ask Development Services to check the parcel’s zone, proposed floor area and dwelling type before planning a suite or coach house.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Sicamous, https://www.sicamous.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: The planning office, 250-836-2477

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** R-1 lists a secondary suite as an accessory use. The two-unit parcel limit allows a principal dwelling plus a secondary suite or a principal dwelling plus one detached accessory dwelling.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024, Part 4, R-1 general residential, uses and density](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/125687)
  - Official wording: ".2 R-1 General Residential INTENT This zone is intended to support low-density residential Parcels. PERMITTED USES .1 Principal Uses x Single-Unit Dwelling x Two-Unit Dwelling .2 Accessory Uses x Bed & Breakfast x Home Based Business x Coach House x Secondary Suite x Garden Suite" … ".3 Density Maximum number of Principal Dwelling Units per x 1 Single-Unit Dwelling; or Parcel: 1 Two-Unit Dwelling Maximum number of Dwelling Units per Parcel: x 2; 1 Principal Dwelling Unit and 1 detached Accessory Dwelling Unit or 1 Principal Dwelling Unit and 1 Secondary Suite."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Coach houses and garden suites are listed accessory uses in R-1. Check the parcel's permitted dwelling combination and the requirements for the chosen building.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024, Part 4, R-1 general residential, accessory uses and density](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/125687)
  - Official wording: ".2 R-1 General Residential INTENT This zone is intended to support low-density residential Parcels. PERMITTED USES .1 Principal Uses x Single-Unit Dwelling x Two-Unit Dwelling .2 Accessory Uses x Bed & Breakfast x Home Based Business x Coach House x Secondary Suite x Garden Suite" … ".3 Density Maximum number of Principal Dwelling Units per x 1 Single-Unit Dwelling; or Parcel: 1 Two-Unit Dwelling Maximum number of Dwelling Units per Parcel: x 2; 1 Principal Dwelling Unit and 1 detached Accessory Dwelling Unit or 1 Principal Dwelling Unit and 1 Secondary Suite."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Limits:** A secondary suite needs a separate outside entrance. Where permitted, the secondary dwelling must have at least 33 m² and may occupy up to 45% of the principal building’s floor area.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024, PDF p. 41–42](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/125687)
  - Official wording: ".6 Secondary Dwelling Unit The following regulations shall apply in zones where a Secondary Dwelling Unit is a permitted use: a. Off-Street Parking shall be provided in accordance with Schedule D of this Bylaw; b. the Floor Area of a Secondary Dwelling Unit shall: Bylaw No. 1100, 2024 | PART 3 Page 37 of 146 (i) Not exceed 45% of the Floor Area of the Principal Building on the Parcel on which the Secondary Dwelling Unit is located; and (ii) Have a minimum Floor Area of 33 m²; c. a Secondary Suite shall have a separate entrance from the outside;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Parking:** Provide off-street parking as required by Schedule D of the zoning bylaw.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024, PDF p. 41](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/125687)
  - Official wording: ".6 Secondary Dwelling Unit The following regulations shall apply in zones where a Secondary Dwelling Unit is a permitted use: a. Off-Street Parking shall be provided in accordance with Schedule D of this Bylaw;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Permits:** Not confirmed. Checked CONSOLIDATED DATE, Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024; not found there.
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024, PDF p. 1](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/125687)
  - Official wording: "District of Sicamous Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024 Effective Date – September 11, 2024"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09

## How it works

First identify the kind of dwelling you want to add. A suite inside the main building and a separate dwelling in a backyard building can have different names and different permissions in the zoning bylaw. A secondary suite needs a separate outside entrance. Where permitted, the secondary dwelling must have at least 33 m² and may occupy up to 45% of the principal building’s floor area.

## Steps

1. Check the housing guidance in [Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024 (PDF)](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/125687). Find the parcel's zone and look up the dwelling type you intend to create. Describe whether the space is existing, new or part of a detached building.
2. Show the existing dwellings, proposed entrance and parking on a sketch. Ask planning about permitted use and the building office about the work needed for the space.

## Good to know

- Provide off-street parking as required by Schedule D of the zoning bylaw.
- Coach houses and garden suites are listed accessory uses in R-1. Check the parcel's permitted dwelling combination and the requirements for the chosen building.
- R-1 lists a secondary suite as an accessory use. The two-unit parcel limit allows a principal dwelling plus a secondary suite or a principal dwelling plus one detached accessory dwelling.
- When discussing an existing unit, distinguish what a current zone permits from any approvals already on file for that particular unit.
- For a question about the dwelling type, the zone and whether the proposed suite is attached or detached, call the planning office at 250-836-2477.

## Related questions

- [Sicamous fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/fence-rules.md)
- [Sicamous zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/secondary-suite.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/secondary-suite.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/secondary-suite.md)
- [Revelstoke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/secondary-suite.md)
- [Sun Peaks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/secondary-suite.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1100, 2024 (PDF)](https://sicamous.civicweb.net/document/125687) (read 2026-11-09)
- [District of Sicamous Mapping](https://www.sicamous.ca/maps) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Development Services](https://www.sicamous.ca/your-municipality/departments/development-services) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Sicamous municipal office contact information](https://www.sicamous.ca/DOING-BUSINESS/BUSINESS-LICENSING) (read 2026-11-09)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Sicamous. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/secondary-suite/_