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Slocan secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

Slocan, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedYes: one secondary suite is permitted inside a single family dwelling (R-1 and R-2 allow a single family dwelling plus one secondary suite).Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 4.19(1)-(2); Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 5.4.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
one secondary suite or one single detached accessory residence, is permitted as
is permitted
within the principal dwelling unit only.
single family dwelling plus one secondary suite
Coach house or garden suite allowedYes: 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 5.4.1(c), 4.19(1), definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
One Single Detached Accessory Residence;
shall not be a trailer, camper, recreational vehicle or similar shelter;
LimitsOne 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 4.19; Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 5.4.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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.
The maximum number of dwelling units per site shall be 2
Parking1 space per dwelling unit for a secondary suite or single detached accessory residence (the principal dwelling needs 2).Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 4.21(4) table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Single Detached Accessory
1 per dwelling unit
Secondary Suite
PermitsA building permit is needed to renovate a dwelling to create a secondary suite (Checklist 3, Secondary Suite). No development permit requirement was found.Building Permits, Building Permits page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Renovate your dwelling to create a secondary suite
Checklist-3-Secondary-Suite
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013, s. 4.19, and RDCK Building Bylaw No. 2200, 2010.Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 4.19; Bylaws, Bylaws page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
4.19 Secondary Suite or Single Detached Accessory Residence
#2200 – BUILDING BYLAW, 2010

How it works

Under the Village of Slocan Zoning Bylaw No. 633 (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

The same question in other places

Silverton · New Denver · Nelson · Kaslo · Castlegar · Nakusp

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025) (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Permits, Village of Slocan (read 2026-11-08)
  3. RDCK Building Bylaw No. 2200, 2010 (PDF, consolidated for convenience) (read 2026-11-08)
  4. 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. How answers are checked.