{"title":"Slocan secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Slocan?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/slocan","name":"Slocan","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Village of Slocan","url":"https://www.slocancity.com"},"short_answer":"Yes. In Slocan, the R-1 and R-2 zones allow one secondary suite inside a single family dwelling, and one detached accessory residence. A building permit is needed to create a suite. The suite is limited to the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of the dwelling.","aliases":["secondary suite slocan","basement suite slocan","carriage house slocan","legal suite slocan"],"cost":"Building permit fees apply; see the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"The Village does not state a processing time.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"250-355-2277","note":"Monday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (confirm by phone)"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Checklist 3, Secondary Suite (RDCK, PDF)","url":"https://www.rdck.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RDCK_Building-Permit_Checklist3-Secondary-Suite-REVISED-MAR-10-2025.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633 (PDF)","url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Slocan building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Slocan building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Slocan zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Slocan short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/silverton","name":"Silverton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-denver","name":"New Denver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-denver/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nelson","name":"Nelson","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kaslo","name":"Kaslo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/castlegar","name":"Castlegar","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nakusp","name":"Nakusp","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/secondary-suite/"}],"topic":{"title":"Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite/"},"facts":{"suite_allowed":{"label":"Secondary suite allowed","value":"Yes: one secondary suite is permitted inside a single family dwelling (R-1 and R-2 allow a single family dwelling plus one secondary suite).","short":"Yes, one inside a single family dwelling","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","section":"s. 4.19(1)-(2)","quotes":["one secondary suite or one single detached accessory residence, is permitted as","is permitted","within the principal dwelling unit only."]},{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","section":"s. 5.4.6","quotes":["single family dwelling plus one secondary suite"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Yes: one single detached accessory residence (stand-alone, not a trailer, camper or RV) is permitted in R-1 and R-2, as an accessory use to a single family dwelling.","short":"Yes, one detached residence in R-1 and R-2","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","section":"s. 5.4.1(c), 4.19(1), definitions","quotes":["One Single Detached Accessory Residence;","shall not be a trailer, camper, recreational vehicle or similar shelter;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"One suite per principal dwelling; floor area at most the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of the dwelling; must connect to septic or sewer; cannot be strata titled; at most 2 dwelling units per site in R-1/R-2.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","section":"s. 4.19","quotes":["The maximum floor area of a secondary suite must not exceed the lesser of 90 m2 or 40% of","A secondary suite must not be strata titled.","connections to septic or sanitary sewer system."]},{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","section":"s. 5.4.6","quotes":["The maximum number of dwelling units per site shall be 2"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"1 space per dwelling unit for a secondary suite or single detached accessory residence (the principal dwelling needs 2).","short":"1 space per suite; main dwelling needs 2","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","section":"s. 4.21(4) table","quotes":["Single Detached Accessory","1 per dwelling unit","Secondary Suite"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is needed to renovate a dwelling to create a secondary suite (Checklist 3, Secondary Suite). No development permit requirement was found.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.slocancity.com/building-permits/","title":"Building Permits, Village of Slocan","section":"Building Permits page","quotes":["Renovate your dwelling to create a secondary suite","Checklist-3-Secondary-Suite"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013, s. 4.19, and RDCK Building Bylaw No. 2200, 2010.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","section":"s. 4.19","quotes":["4.19 Secondary Suite or Single Detached Accessory Residence"]},{"url":"https://www.slocancity.com/bylaws/","title":"Bylaws","section":"Bylaws page","quotes":["#2200 – BUILDING BYLAW, 2010"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the Village of Slocan [Zoning Bylaw No. 633](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf) (s. 4.19), R-1 and R-2 allow a single family dwelling plus one secondary suite inside it. They also allow one single detached accessory residence (stand-alone, not a trailer, camper or RV) as an accessory use. The R-3 uses do not list a secondary suite.\n\nTo create a suite you need a building permit (RDCK Checklist 3, Secondary Suite). No development permit requirement was found, but the Official Community Plan's development permit areas may apply on some lots.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone is R-1 or R-2 (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Check the limits below.\n3. Apply for a building permit through the Village Office with the Secondary Suite checklist.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- One suite per principal dwelling, at most the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of the dwelling.\n- The suite must connect to septic or sewer and cannot be strata titled.\n- At most 2 dwelling units per site in R-1 and R-2.\n- Parking: 1 space for a suite or detached accessory residence; the principal dwelling needs 2.\n- No owner-occupancy rule was found in the Zoning Bylaw. Ask the Village Office.","sources":[{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.slocancity.com/building-permits/","title":"Building Permits, Village of Slocan","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.rdck.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Building-Consol-1.pdf","title":"RDCK Building Bylaw No. 2200, 2010 (PDF, consolidated for convenience)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.slocancity.com/bylaws/","title":"Bylaws","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/secondary-suite.json"}}