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Spallumcheen secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

Spallumcheen, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

Yes. In the Township of Spallumcheen, one secondary suite inside a single family dwelling is permitted in the R.1, S.H., C.R., A.2, L.H. and L.H.4 zones. A detached suite is allowed in the S.H., C.R., A.2, L.H. and L.H.4 zones on lots of 2 ha or more. A building permit is needed.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedYes. One secondary suite inside a single family dwelling is permitted in the R.1, S.H., C.R., A.2, L.H. and L.H.4 zones, under each zone's conditions. Not permitted in cellars.Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 701, 801 to 804 (PDF, consolidated), s. 701.1(d), 701.10.c; Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 701, 801 to 804 (PDF, consolidated), Definitions; Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 701, 801 to 804 (PDF, consolidated), s. 801.1, 803.1, 804.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
d. Single family dwellings which may include secondary suites subject to the
Secondary suites shall not be permitted in cellars.
Single family dwellings (or manufactured homes) which may include secondary suites subject to the provisions of Section 805.9.b. of this Bylaw
SECONDARY SUITE means a dwelling unit located within the structure of a single family dwelling.
Single family dwellings (or manufactured homes) which may include secondary suites subject to the provisions of Section 801.10.d. of this
secondary suites subject to the provisions of Section 803.9.f. of this Bylaw
secondary suites subject to the provisions of Section 804.9.d. of this
Coach house or garden suite allowedYes, a detached suite (a dwelling unit above an accessory residential or agricultural building) in the S.H., C.R., A.2, L.H. and L.H.4 zones, on lots of 2 ha or more. Not listed for R.1. One per lot, not on a lot with a secondary single family dwelling. In the ALR it is treated as a second dwelling.Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 701, 801 to 804 (PDF, consolidated), Definitions; Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 701, 801 to 804 (PDF, consolidated), s. 801.10.f · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
DETACHED SUITE means a dwelling unit located above an accessory residential or agricultural
Detached suite subject to the provisions of Section 805.9.d of this bylaw
the detached suite shall not be permitted on lots that are smaller than 2 ha;
the detached suite must be located entirely on one floor and on
no more than one (1) detached suite shall be permitted per lot;
the detached suite shall not be permitted on lots containing a secondary
the detached suite shall not be permitted on lots that are smaller
LimitsOne suite per building, up to the greater of 40% of the dwelling's floor area or 90 m², with a separate outside entrance; not strata-subdivided; none in cellars. The 2024 amendment dropped owner-occupancy. Detached suite: one per lot, 2 ha or more, none with a secondary dwelling; 90 m² cap in S.H., C.R. and L.H.Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 701, 801 to 804 (PDF, consolidated), s. 701.10.c (as amended 2024); Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 701, 801 to 804 (PDF, consolidated), s. 801.10.f(viii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
not more than one (1) secondary suite shall be contained within
the secondary suite shall not exceed the greater of forty percent
the secondary suite shall have at least one (1) access to the outside
buildings containing secondary suites shall not be subdivided
the secondary suite shall not exceed the greater of forty percent (40%) of the floor area of the building which contains the single family dwelling unit or 90 square metres (968.78 square feet); and
the maximum floor area of a detached suite shall not exceed 90 m2 (968 square feet);
the maximum floor area of a detached suite shall not exceed 90
ParkingOne off-street parking space for each secondary suite. For a detached suite, one off-street space that cannot be in tandem with another required space.Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 701, 801 to 804 (PDF, consolidated), s. 701.10.c.v (Bylaw 2135, 2024); Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 701, 801 to 804 (PDF, consolidated), s. 801.10.f.ix · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
one off-street parking space shall be provided for each secondary
one (1) off-street parking space must be provided for each
detached suite. The parking space may not be provided in
PermitsA building permit is needed for the construction or alteration (no one may build or alter without one). The Zoning Bylaw lists no separate suite permit. For a detached suite in the ALR, Agricultural Land Commission rules also apply.Building Bylaw No. 2009, 2020, s. 301.1 (PDF, consolidated); Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 701, 801 to 804 (PDF, consolidated), s. 801.10.f(xi) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No person shall commence or continue any construction, alteration, reconstruction,
unless a Building Official has issued a permit for the work as outlined in
for properties within the Agricultural Land Reserve, a
detached suite is a second dwelling and shall meet the
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008 (zone sections 701, 801 to 804; detached suites added by Bylaw 1938, 2017); Building Bylaw No. 2009, 2020Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 701, 801 to 804 (PDF, consolidated), Title page; Building Bylaw No. 2009, 2020, s. 301.1 (PDF, consolidated), Title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
ZONING BYLAW NO. 1700, 2008
Bylaw No. 1938, 2017 Sept 18, 2017 Detached suites and secondary dwellings
BUILDING BYLAW NO. 2009, 2020

How it works

Under the Zoning Bylaw, one secondary suite inside a single family dwelling is permitted in the R.1, S.H., C.R., A.2, L.H. and L.H.4 zones, under each zone's conditions. Suites are not permitted in cellars.

Secondary suite limits:

  • One suite per building.
  • Up to the greater of 40% of the dwelling's floor area or 90 m².
  • A separate outside entrance.
  • Not strata-subdivided.
  • One off-street parking space per suite.
  • Owner occupancy is no longer required under the 2024 amendment.

Detached suite (a dwelling unit above an accessory residential or agricultural building): allowed in the S.H., C.R., A.2, L.H. and L.H.4 zones on lots of 2 ha or more. It is not listed for R.1. One per lot, and not on a lot with a secondary single family dwelling. It must be on a floor above the main floor, up to 90 m² in S.H., C.R. and L.H., with its own outside access, and not strata-titled. It needs one off-street space that cannot be in tandem with another required space.

In the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), a detached suite is treated as a second dwelling and Agricultural Land Commission rules also apply.

Steps

  1. Confirm your zone and lot size with Planning at 250-546-3013.
  2. Apply for a building permit for the construction or alteration. No one may build or alter without one, and the Zoning Bylaw lists no separate suite permit.
  3. Check for development permit areas (hillsides, within 30 m of streams, wildfire hazard areas) with Planning.

Good to know

  • The zoning text prints old and amended wording together. Confirm the current rules with the Township before you design.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Armstrong · Enderby · Vernon · Coldstream · Lumby · Lake Country

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 1700, 2008, s. 701, 801 to 804 (PDF, consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 2009, 2020, s. 301.1 (PDF, consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Contact Us, Township of Spallumcheen (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. How answers are checked.