---
title: Slocan secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Slocan?"
place: Slocan, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/slocan
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Slocan
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Slocan secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Slocan, https://www.slocancity.com)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees apply; see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** The Village does not state a processing time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Village Office, 250-355-2277 (Monday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (confirm by phone))

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** 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).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 4.19(1)-(2)](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf)
  - Official wording: "one secondary suite or one single detached accessory residence, is permitted as" … "is permitted" … "within the principal dwelling unit only."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 5.4.6](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf)
  - Official wording: "single family dwelling plus one secondary suite"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 5.4.1(c), 4.19(1), definitions](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf)
  - Official wording: "One Single Detached Accessory Residence;" … "shall not be a trailer, camper, recreational vehicle or similar shelter;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 4.19](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 5.4.6](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The maximum number of dwelling units per site shall be 2"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** 1 space per dwelling unit for a secondary suite or single detached accessory residence (the principal dwelling needs 2).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 4.21(4) table](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Single Detached Accessory" … "1 per dwelling unit" … "Secondary Suite"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** A building permit is needed to renovate a dwelling to create a secondary suite (Checklist 3, Secondary Suite). No development permit requirement was found.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.slocancity.com/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Renovate your dwelling to create a secondary suite" … "Checklist-3-Secondary-Suite"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013, s. 4.19, and RDCK Building Bylaw No. 2200, 2010.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 4.19](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf)
  - Official wording: "4.19 Secondary Suite or Single Detached Accessory Residence"
  - Source: [Bylaws, Bylaws page](https://www.slocancity.com/bylaws/)
  - Official wording: "#2200 – BUILDING BYLAW, 2010"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under 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.

To 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.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone is R-1 or R-2 (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Check the limits below.
3. Apply for a building permit through the Village Office with the Secondary Suite checklist.

## Good to know

- One suite per principal dwelling, at most the lesser of 90 m² or 40% of the dwelling.
- The suite must connect to septic or sewer and cannot be strata titled.
- At most 2 dwelling units per site in R-1 and R-2.
- Parking: 1 space for a suite or detached accessory residence; the principal dwelling needs 2.
- No owner-occupancy rule was found in the Zoning Bylaw. Ask the Village Office.

## Official forms and pages

- [Checklist 3, Secondary Suite (RDCK, PDF)](https://www.rdck.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RDCK_Building-Permit_Checklist3-Secondary-Suite-REVISED-MAR-10-2025.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 633 (PDF)](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Slocan building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/building-permit.md)
- [Slocan building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Slocan zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Slocan short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/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)
- [Silverton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/secondary-suite.md)
- [New Denver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-denver/secondary-suite.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/secondary-suite.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/secondary-suite.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/secondary-suite.md)
- [Nakusp](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permits, Village of Slocan](https://www.slocancity.com/building-permits/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [RDCK Building Bylaw No. 2200, 2010 (PDF, consolidated for convenience)](https://www.rdck.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Building-Consol-1.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws](https://www.slocancity.com/bylaws/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Village of Slocan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/secondary-suite/_