Sun Peaks secondary suite and carriage house rules
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.
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.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) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official 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 |
|---|---|
| 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.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) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAn 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 |
| Parking | 1 space per auxiliary dwelling unit (Table 4A), in addition to the spaces required for the main dwelling.Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Table 4A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAuxiliary Residential 1 space per dwelling Not required Not required |
| 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.Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 3.1(a); Building Permit Application form (PDF, January 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality; Guide to Building Permits (PDF, 2023 update), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Additional permits; Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 0034, 2014, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 19.1(8) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingcommence or continue any construction or change the occupancy of any building or Type of Building: □ SFD □ SFD w/suite □ Duplex Plumbing Permit – A plumbing permit is required for the installation or relocation of any A Development Permit will be required for all parcels having slopes exceeding 25%. |
| 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, 2023Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Title page; Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingZONING BYLAW NO. 1400 Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023. |
How it works
The Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 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
- Confirm your zone and the limits below with Municipal Hall.
- Apply for a building permit (the application form has an "SFD w/suite" type) and a plumbing permit for new fixtures.
- 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
The same question in other places
Kamloops · Barriere · Enderby · Sicamous · Armstrong · Spallumcheen
Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 0034, 2014 (PDF), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Guide to Building Permits (PDF, 2023 update), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Building Permit Application form (PDF, January 2026), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (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. How answers are checked.