{"title":"Sun Peaks secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Sun Peaks?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/sun-peaks","name":"Sun Peaks","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","url":"https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca"},"short_answer":"In Sun Peaks zoning allows an \"auxiliary residential dwelling unit\" inside a house in the RS-1, RS-1A and RT-1 zones, with size and bedroom limits. It is prohibited in RS-2 and RM-1. The zoning bylaw does not say whether a detached suite or carriage house is allowed.","aliases":["secondary suite sun peaks","basement suite sun peaks","carriage house sun peaks","auxiliary dwelling unit sun peaks"],"cost":"A building permit is required (see building-permit-fees); a plumbing permit is needed for new fixtures.","how_long":"Not stated; ask the Building Inspector.","where":[{"type":"email","label":"Planning Services","value":"planner@sunpeaksmunicipality.ca"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Inspector","value":"inspector@sunpeaksmunicipality.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Building Inspector","value":"250-319-4558"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"106-3270 Village Way, Sun Peaks, BC V0E 5N0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed statutory holidays)"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF)","url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/"},{"title":"Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF)","url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Sun Peaks building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Sun Peaks zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Sun Peaks short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/short-term-rental/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Sun Peaks building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/building-permit-fees/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/kamloops","name":"Kamloops","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/barriere","name":"Barriere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/enderby","name":"Enderby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sicamous","name":"Sicamous","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/armstrong","name":"Armstrong","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/spallumcheen","name":"Spallumcheen","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/secondary-suite/"}],"topic":{"title":"Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite/"},"facts":{"suite_allowed":{"label":"Secondary suite allowed","value":"Yes, as an 'auxiliary residential dwelling unit' inside the house in RS-1, RS-1A and RT-1 (single or two family dwelling). RM-2 allows one per 38 principal dwelling units; other multi-family and tourist zones also list them. Prohibited in RS-2 and RM-1.","short":"Yes, in RS-1, RS-1A and RT-1 (not RS-2, RM-1)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/","title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"ss. 12.2(c), 13.2(c), 15.2(d), 17.2(c), 16.9(c)","quotes":["(c) Auxiliary residential dwelling unit; and","(c) Auxiliary residential dwelling unit;","Auxiliary residential dwelling unit provided it is contained within a","single family dwelling or a two family dwelling;","An auxiliary residential dwelling unit is prohibited in this zone.","A maximum of one auxiliary residential dwelling unit is permitted per 38"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"The zoning bylaw does not say whether a detached suite is allowed.","sources":[]},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"RS-1 and RS-1A: 32.5 to 80 m², no more than 40% of the principal building's floor area, at most two bedrooms, one bathroom, one kitchen and one living room. RT-1: at most 80 m² and 45% of floor area, one bedroom. Owner-occupancy is not stated.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/","title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"ss. 12.9(c), (d); 15.9(d), (f)","quotes":["An auxiliary residential dwelling unit shall contain a gross floor area no","greater than 80 square metres or less than 32.5 square metres, and in no","case shall the auxiliary residential dwelling unit exceed 40 percent of the","An auxiliary dwelling unit is not permitted to contain more than two","The maximum permitted gross floor area of an auxiliary residential","dwelling unit in a principal building unit is 80 square metres and shall not","occupy more than 45 percent of the gross floor area of the principal","An auxiliary residential dwelling unit shall not contain more than one"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"1 space per auxiliary dwelling unit (Table 4A), in addition to the spaces required for the main dwelling.","short":"1 space per unit, plus the main dwelling","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/","title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"Table 4A","quotes":["Auxiliary Residential 1 space per dwelling Not required Not required"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is required for the work (the application form has an 'SFD w/suite' type); a plumbing permit is needed for new fixtures. A development permit is needed if the lot has slopes of 25% or more or is in a riparian area.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/","title":"Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"s. 3.1(a)","quotes":["commence or continue any construction or change the occupancy of any building or"]},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55195/","title":"Building Permit Application form (PDF, January 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"Application form","quotes":["Type of Building: □ SFD □ SFD w/suite □ Duplex"]},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/39482/","title":"Guide to Building Permits (PDF, 2023 update), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"Additional permits","quotes":["Plumbing Permit – A plumbing permit is required for the installation or relocation of any"]},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/30924/","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 0034, 2014 (PDF), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"s. 19.1(8)","quotes":["A Development Permit will be required for all parcels having slopes exceeding 25%."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (RS-1 s. 12, RS-1A s. 13, RT-1 s. 15, Table 4A); Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/","title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"Title page","quotes":["ZONING BYLAW NO. 1400"]},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/","title":"Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","section":"Title","quotes":["Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Zoning Bylaw No. 1400](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/) defines an auxiliary residential dwelling unit as a dwelling unit contained within a single family dwelling, or one ancillary to the principal use. It is allowed inside the house in RS-1, RS-1A and RT-1. RM-2 allows one per 38 principal dwelling units, and other multi-family and tourist zones list them too. It is prohibited in RS-2 and RM-1. Check your zone with the zoning-lookup answer.\n\nThe zoning bylaw does not name a detached suite, coach house or garden suite as allowed or not allowed. Ask Planning Services.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone and the limits below with Municipal Hall.\n2. Apply for a building permit (the application form has an \"SFD w/suite\" type) and a plumbing permit for new fixtures.\n3. If your lot has slopes of 25% or more, or is in a riparian area, a development permit is also needed under the Official Community Plan.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- RS-1 and RS-1A: 32.5 to 80 m², no more than 40% of the principal building's floor area, at most two bedrooms, one bathroom, one kitchen and one living room.\n- RT-1: at most 80 m² and 45% of floor area, one bedroom.\n- Parking: 1 space per suite, in addition to the spaces required for the main dwelling.\n- The zoning bylaw does not state an owner-occupancy rule for suites.\n- In RS-1A only one dwelling unit (suite or main) may be used for tourist accommodation. A business licence is also needed if a suite is rented short term; see short-term-rental.","sources":[{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/","title":"Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/","title":"Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/30924/","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 0034, 2014 (PDF), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/39482/","title":"Guide to Building Permits (PDF, 2023 update), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55195/","title":"Building Permit Application form (PDF, January 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/secondary-suite.json"}}