---
title: Smithers secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?"
place: Smithers, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/smithers
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Smithers
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Smithers secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Smithers allows a secondary suite in single-detached, semi-detached and townhouse dwellings in the A-1, LDR-1, R-6 and R-7 zones, and a carriage house on a lot with a single-detached house. Both need a building permit, and one extra parking space each.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Smithers, https://www.smithers.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit: $80 application fee, then $6.25 per $1,000 of estimated construction value minus the application fee (Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003). The Town's guides also say a suite or carriage house is billed an additional 100% of the full water and sewer rate.  
**How long:** The Town says most building permits can be issued within 20 working days.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services, 250-847-1600 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- In person: Town Hall, 1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, BC

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Yes. Secondary suites are an auxiliary use in the A-1, LDR-1, R-6 and R-7 zones and the C-1A Residential Overlay, in single-detached, semi-detached and townhouse dwellings (in the R-3 zone, only in a townhouse dwelling). The Town's guide says semi-detached duplexes are eligible only in LDR-1 with lane access, outside Environmental DP areas.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.4 and 2.10, s. 2.4.2(a); s. 4.2.1; s. 4.5.1](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suites are permitted in single detached, semi-detached and townhouse dwellings;" … "(c) secondary suite in a townhouse dwelling" … "(d) bed & breakfast (e) secondary suite (f) carriage house (g) short-term rental"
  - Source: [4 Steps to a Secondary Suite, Step 1, Know your Zoning](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/4%20Steps%20to%20a%20Secondary%20Suite_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "all residentially zoned properties (LDR-1, R-6, R-7, A-1 and C-1A Overlay)" … "Semi-detached duplexes in the LDR-1 zone with laneway access, outside Environmental"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Yes, a carriage house (a separate self-contained dwelling) is allowed as an auxiliary use in the A-1, LDR-1, R-6 and R-7 zones and the C-1A Residential Overlay, but only on a parcel with an existing single-detached dwelling. (Sources differ: Bylaw s. 3.1.1 lists carriage house in the A-1 zone, but the Town's '6 Steps to a Carriage House' guide (Sept. 2026) lists only LDR-1, R-6, C-1A Residential Overlay and R-7; the bylaw is followed. The Town's secondary suites page says carriage houses are permitted 'in most residential zoned properties'.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.4 and 2.10, s. 2.4.3(a); s. 3.1.1; s. 4.5.1](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "A carriage house is only permitted on a parcel where there is an existing single" … "(g) bed & breakfast (h) carriage house" … "(e) secondary suite (f) carriage house"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Carriage house: max 90 m²; not subdivided or stratified; 1.2 m setbacks and 6.0 m height apply; 1.2 m lit pathway from the street. Secondary suite: one per single-detached dwelling; entrance at rear or side; not subdivided or stratified. A house may have both. No owner-occupancy rule found.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.4 and 2.10, s. 2.4.2, 2.4.3, 2.4.4](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "The maximum floor area of a carriage house is 90 sq. m.;" … "Secondary suite entrances shall be located on the rear or the side of the building." … "A secondary suite shall not be subdivided or stratified." … "A single-family dwelling may concurrently have a carriage house and a secondary suite," … "one additional dwelling unit in the form of a secondary suite for residential use." … "A carriage house must provide a minimum 1.2 metre wide illuminated pathway"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** One extra parking space per suite or carriage house, on top of the 2 spaces for a single-detached dwelling. Carriage house parking goes in the rear yard with access from the lane (a driveway from the street is allowed only where there is no lane or it is not regularly maintained).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.4 and 2.10, s. 2.10 Table 2.10.2; s. 2.4.3(e)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suite 1 per suite" … "Carriage house 1 per suite" … "Single detached dwelling 2 per dwelling unit" … "Parking for a carriage house shall be located in the rear yard with access from the"
  - Source: [4 Steps to a Secondary Suite, Step 2](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/4%20Steps%20to%20a%20Secondary%20Suite_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "I have room for 1 extra parking space on my property (added to the 2 parking spaces"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** Secondary suite: a building permit (application with site plan, floor plans, estimated value and fee); an occupancy permit is issued at the end. Carriage house: a building permit, with a Development Variance Permit first if a variance is required; an occupancy permit at the end. A development permit may also be needed in a development permit area.
  - Source: [4 Steps to a Secondary Suite, Step 4, Get the Permits](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/4%20Steps%20to%20a%20Secondary%20Suite_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Now is the time to submit a Building Permit Application." … "At the end of your project, you will be issued an Occupancy Permit - your secondary suite is ready!"
  - Source: [6 Steps to a Carriage House, Step 6, Get the Permits](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/6%20Steps%20to%20a%20Carriage%20House.pdf)
  - Official wording: "If a variance is required, you must" … "obtain a Development Variance Permit (DVP) before applying for a Building Permit." … "you will be issued an Occupancy Permit - your carriage house is now ready to be occupied."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.4 (Secondary Suites & Carriage Houses), s. 2.10 (Parking) and s. 2.15; Building Bylaw No. 1924.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.4 and 2.10, Section 2.4](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "Section 2.4 Secondary Suites & Carriage Houses 2.4.1 Secondary suites and carriage houses shall comply with off-street parking requirements"
  - Source: [https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/, Title page](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW No. 1924 Building Bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/) (s. 2.4) sets the rules.

**Secondary suite:** an auxiliary use in the A-1, LDR-1, R-6 and R-7 zones and the C-1A Residential Overlay, in single-detached, semi-detached and townhouse dwellings (in R-3, only in a townhouse dwelling). The Town's guide says semi-detached duplexes qualify only in LDR-1 with lane access, outside Environmental development permit areas. One suite per single-detached dwelling, with an entrance at the rear or side; it cannot be subdivided or stratified.

**Carriage house** (a separate self-contained dwelling): allowed in the A-1, LDR-1, R-6 and R-7 zones and the C-1A Residential Overlay, only on a parcel with an existing single-detached dwelling. Maximum 90 m², 1.2 m setbacks, 6.0 m height, a 1.2 m lit pathway from the street, and not subdivided or stratified.

A house may have both. The bylaw sets no owner-occupancy rule that we found.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zoning (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Plan one extra parking space for each suite or carriage house, on top of the 2 for the house. Carriage house parking goes in the rear yard with lane access; a street driveway is allowed only where there is no lane or it is not regularly maintained.
3. Apply for a building permit with a site plan, floor plans, estimated value and the fee. A carriage house needs a Development Variance Permit first if a variance is required.
4. Meet the BC Building Code requirements listed in the Town's guide (fire separations, sound, exits, alarms, ventilation).
5. An occupancy permit is issued at the end.

## Good to know

- A development permit may also be needed in a development permit area.
- The Town's guides say the suite or carriage house is billed an additional 100% of the full water and sewer rate, whether occupied or vacant.
- A bed and breakfast cannot operate in a building with a secondary suite. Short-term rental use is allowed only as the short-term-rental answer describes.
- The Town's carriage house guide lists fewer zones than the bylaw (it omits A-1). Confirm with Development Services at 250-847-1600.

## Official forms and pages

- [4 Steps to a Secondary Suite (PDF)](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/4%20Steps%20to%20a%20Secondary%20Suite_0.pdf)
- [6 Steps to a Carriage House (PDF)](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/6%20Steps%20to%20a%20Carriage%20House.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Smithers building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/building-permit.md)
- [Smithers building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Smithers zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Smithers short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/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)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/secondary-suite.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/secondary-suite.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/secondary-suite.md)
- [Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/secondary-suite.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/secondary-suite.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.4 and 2.10, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [4 Steps to a Secondary Suite (PDF), Town of Smithers](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/4%20Steps%20to%20a%20Secondary%20Suite_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [6 Steps to a Carriage House (PDF), Town of Smithers](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/6%20Steps%20to%20a%20Carriage%20House.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Town of Smithers. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/secondary-suite/_