---
title: Sun Peaks secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Sun Peaks?"
place: Sun Peaks, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/sun-peaks
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Sun Peaks secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, https://www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca)  
**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:**
- Email: Planning Services, planner@sunpeaksmunicipality.ca
- Email: Building Inspector, inspector@sunpeaksmunicipality.ca
- Phone: Building Inspector, 250-319-4558
- In person: Municipal Hall, 106-3270 Village Way, Sun Peaks, BC V0E 5N0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed statutory holidays))

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, ss. 12.2(c), 13.2(c), 15.2(d), 17.2(c), 16.9(c)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/)
  - Official wording: "(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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Not confirmed. The zoning bylaw does not say whether a detached suite is allowed.
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, ss. 12.9(c), (d); 15.9(d), (f)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** 1 space per auxiliary dwelling unit (Table 4A), in addition to the spaces required for the main dwelling.
  - Source: [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Table 4A](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/)
  - Official wording: "Auxiliary Residential 1 space per dwelling Not required Not required"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 3.1(a)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/)
  - Official wording: "commence or continue any construction or change the occupancy of any building or"
  - Source: [Building Permit Application form (PDF, January 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55195/)
  - Official wording: "Type of Building: □ SFD □ SFD w/suite □ Duplex"
  - Source: [Guide to Building Permits (PDF, 2023 update), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Additional permits](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/39482/)
  - Official wording: "Plumbing Permit – A plumbing permit is required for the installation or relocation of any"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 0034, 2014, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 19.1(8)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/30924/)
  - Official wording: "A Development Permit will be required for all parcels having slopes exceeding 25%."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** 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
  - Source: [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Title page](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW NO. 1400"
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Title](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/)
  - Official wording: "Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [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.

The zoning bylaw does not name a detached suite, coach house or garden suite as allowed or not allowed. Ask Planning Services.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone and the limits below with Municipal Hall.
2. Apply for a building permit (the application form has an "SFD w/suite" type) and a plumbing permit for new fixtures.
3. 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.

## Good to know

- 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.
- Parking: 1 space per suite, in addition to the spaces required for the main dwelling.
- The zoning bylaw does not state an owner-occupancy rule for suites.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/)
- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF)](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/)

## Related questions

- [Sun Peaks building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/building-permit.md)
- [Sun Peaks zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Sun Peaks short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/short-term-rental.md)
- [Sun Peaks building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/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)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/secondary-suite.md)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/secondary-suite.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/secondary-suite.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/secondary-suite.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/secondary-suite.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/48158/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/52961/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 0034, 2014 (PDF), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/30924/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Guide to Building Permits (PDF, 2023 update), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/39482/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permit Application form (PDF, January 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality](https://sunpeaks.civicweb.net/document/55195/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/secondary-suite/_