---
title: Summerland secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage home?"
place: Summerland, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/summerland
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Summerland
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Summerland secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Often yes. The District of Summerland allows one secondary suite inside a house in zones A1, A2, CR1, RU1, RU2, RU3 and RMD (and parts of CD9), and a carriage house in a separate building in A1, A2, CR1, RU1, RU2 and RU3. Each needs a building permit and one extra parking space.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Summerland, https://www.summerland.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees apply; see building-permit-fees.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services, 250-494-1373
- Email: Development Services, devserv@summerland.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** A secondary suite is a self-contained dwelling inside a single detached house, duplex, multi-unit or townhouse unit. It is a permitted accessory use in zones A1, A2, CR1, RU1, RU2, RU3 and RMD, and in the CD9 NeighbourWood and Hillside sub-areas, subject to s. 7.3. (Sources differ: Bulletin 25-06 (Sept 2025) lists older zone names (RSD1, RSD2, RSD3, RDH, RSH with a 460 m² lot minimum) that do not match the current Zoning Bylaw zones; the bylaw wins. Some comprehensive development zone(s) (e.g. s. 15.9) also list secondary suites. Bill 44 requires up to 4 units on many low-density lots (District bulletin 24-002).)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (ss. 7.3, 7.4, 6.1), s. 7.3; zone accessory-use lists (8.1.3, 8.2.3, 9.1.3, 10.1.3, 10.2.3, 10.3.3, 10.4.3)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suite means a self-contained, Dwelling located within a Single" … "Secondary Suite, subject to Section 7.3;" … "Secondary Suites, where permitted in this Bylaw as an Accessory Use, shall comply with" … "Secondary Suites, subject to Section 7.3;"
  - Source: [Existing House - Secondary Suite, Building Bulletin 25-06](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/planning---building/building/bulletins/secondary-suites-existing-house---building-bulletin.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suites are permitted in principle buildings in single family zones."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** A carriage house (a secondary dwelling in an accessory building) is a permitted accessory use in A1, A2, CR1, RU1, RU2 and RU3, only with single detached, duplex, multi-unit or manufactured housing. In RMD it is allowed only on one named lot (9306 Prairie Valley Road).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (ss. 7.3, 7.4, 6.1), s. 7.4; zone accessory-use lists](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Carriage House, subject to Section 7.4;" … "A Carriage House shall only be considered an Accessory Use to the Single" … "Carriage House, subject to Section 7.4" … "Carriage House means a secondary Dwelling constructed in an Accessory Building."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** One secondary suite per principal dwelling, no larger than that dwelling's gross floor area, and one real estate entity with the house (no separate ownership). A carriage house: at most the principal dwelling's floor area (90 m² in the ALR), at least 11 m², 7.5 m high (no higher than the house on lots under 1,000 m²), 3.0 m from the house.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (ss. 7.3, 7.4, 6.1), s. 7.3.1, s. 7.4.1](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suites shall form a single real estate entity with the principal" … "Secondary Suites shall be limited to one such Use within a principal Dwelling" … "and be lesser than or equal to the Gross Floor Area of the principal Dwelling." … "For lands within the Agricultural Land Reserve, the maximum floor area of a Carriage House shall" … "The distance between a Principal Dwelling and a Carriage House in any" … "for Lots less than 1000m2, shall not exceed the Height of the principal Dwelling on the Lot."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** One extra parking space for each suite or carriage house (1 per dwelling unit); the house itself needs 2, so a house with a suite needs 3 off-street spaces.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (ss. 7.3, 7.4, 6.1), s. 6.1 (parking table); s. 7.3.2](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Housing - Secondary Suites, Carriage" … "Houses, Live-Work Unit 1 per Dwelling unit" … "2 per Dwelling unit"
  - Source: [Existing House - Secondary Suite, Building Bulletin 25-06](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/planning---building/building/bulletins/secondary-suites-existing-house---building-bulletin.pdf)
  - Official wording: "One (1) additional parking space is required."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit (fee based on construction value) with inspections and a final occupancy inspection; gas and electrical permits for alterations; a development permit first if the lot is in an OCP development permit area. A secondary suite or one carriage house is exempt from the District's servicing bylaw requirements.
  - Source: [Existing House - Secondary Suite, Building Bulletin 25-06](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/planning---building/building/bulletins/secondary-suites-existing-house---building-bulletin.pdf)
  - Official wording: "you can apply for a building permit to commence the work." … "Gas and Electric permits are required for any alterations to the respective systems."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, consolidated to March 25, 2026, s. 14.1(a)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the owner must apply for and obtain a development permit if the building or structure is in an area"
  - Source: [Works and Infrastructure Requirements for Adding Residential Units, Bulletin 24-002](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/planning---building/building/bulletins/w-i-requirements-for-adding-residential-units.pdf)
  - Official wording: "In all cases, the construction of a secondary suite or one carriage house is exempt from the bylaw requirements."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 2000-450 (ss. 7.3, 7.4, 6.1); Building Bylaw No. 2022-002
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (ss. 7.3, 7.4, 6.1), title page](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Summerland Zoning Bylaw 2000-450"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, consolidated to March 25, 2026, title page](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw No. 2022-002"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf) (s. 7.3), a secondary suite is a self-contained dwelling inside a single detached house, duplex, multi-unit or townhouse unit. It is a permitted accessory use in zones A1, A2, CR1, RU1, RU2, RU3 and RMD, and in the CD9 NeighbourWood and Hillside sub-areas. A carriage house (s. 7.4) is a secondary dwelling in an accessory building, allowed in A1, A2, CR1, RU1, RU2 and RU3 with single detached, duplex, multi-unit or manufactured housing. In RMD it is allowed only on one named lot (9306 Prairie Valley Road).

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone allows it (see zoning-lookup) and check your title for covenants.
2. Apply for a building permit (see building-permit). If your lot is in an Official Community Plan development permit area, a development permit comes first.
3. Arrange gas and electrical permits for alterations, and book inspections, including a final occupancy inspection.

## Good to know

- Limits: one secondary suite per principal dwelling, no larger than that dwelling's gross floor area, with no separate ownership. A carriage house is at most the principal dwelling's floor area (90 m² in the ALR), at least 11 m², 7.5 m high and 3.0 m from the house. On lots under 1,000 m² it may not be higher than the principal dwelling.
- Carriage houses must connect to municipal water and sewer (lots of 1.0 ha or more may use an onsite system).
- Parking: one extra space per suite or carriage house. The house needs 2, so a house with a suite needs 3 off-street spaces.
- A secondary suite or one carriage house is exempt from the District's servicing bylaw requirements. The bulletin says a dual electrical meter is mandatory and utility charges apply to the suite even if empty.
- Bulletin 25-06 uses older zone names than the Zoning Bylaw. The bylaw governs, so confirm your zone with Development Services.

## What you'll need

- Current state of title (to check for covenants or a Land Use Contract)

## Official forms and pages

- [Secondary Suites Existing House building bulletin 25-06 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/planning---building/building/bulletins/secondary-suites-existing-house---building-bulletin.pdf)
- [Works and Infrastructure requirements for adding residential units, Bulletin 24-002 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/planning---building/building/bulletins/w-i-requirements-for-adding-residential-units.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Summerland building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/building-permit.md)
- [Summerland zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Summerland building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/building-permit-fees.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/secondary-suite.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/secondary-suite.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/secondary-suite.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/secondary-suite.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/secondary-suite.md)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450 Schedule A (PDF), consolidated to March 3, 2026 (ss. 7.3, 7.4, 6.1)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Existing House - Secondary Suite, Building Bulletin 25-06 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/planning---building/building/bulletins/secondary-suites-existing-house---building-bulletin.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Works and Infrastructure Requirements for Adding Residential Units, Bulletin 24-002 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/planning---building/building/bulletins/w-i-requirements-for-adding-residential-units.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002 (PDF), consolidated to March 25, 2026](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 District of Summerland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/secondary-suite/_