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

# Telkwa secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Telkwa's Zoning Bylaw allows an attached suite (such as a basement suite) and a detached suite (garden or garage suite) in the R1 and R2 zones, on a parcel with a single detached dwelling used as a full-time permanent residence. No more than two suites per parcel.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Telkwa, https://www.telkwa.ca)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer for the building permit fee.  
**How long:** The Village does not state a review time.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 1415 Hankin Avenue, Telkwa, BC V0J 2X0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and statutory holidays).)
- Phone: Village Office, 250-846-5212
- Email: Village Office, info@telkwa.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** An attached suite (inside a single detached dwelling, such as a basement suite) is an accessory use in the R1 and R2 zones (also listed in C2 and C3), only on a parcel with a single detached dwelling used as a full-time permanent residence.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 5.2.2 (R1)](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: ".9 Suite, Attached .10 Suite, Detached"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 6.2.2 (R2)](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: ".5 Suite, Attached .6 Suite, Detached"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 9.2.2 (C2), 10.2.2 (C3)](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: ".10 Suite, Attached .11 Suite, Detached" … ".9 Suite, Attached .10 Suite, Detached"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.12.2](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "Suites are an Accessory use to a Single Detached Dwelling and are only permitted on Parcels containing a Single Detached Dwelling used as a full-time permanent Residence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** A detached suite (garden suite, or garage suite) is allowed in the same zones. It must be in the rear yard (or on the second storey of an existing detached garage), at most 90 m² and 7.6 m high, connected to the house's water and sewer, and not in a building with a basement.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 1 "Suite, Detached"](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "A Detached Suite is regulated as an Accessory Building."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.12.10](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "Shall not exceed a Gross Floor Area of 90 m²;" … "Shall not exceed a Height of 7.6 m;" … "Shall not be in a Building that has a basement; and" … "Be connected to the water and sanitary sewer service of the Principal Dwelling;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** Only two suites per parcel where suites are allowed. Attached suite: at least 30 m²; all attached suites together at most 90 m² or 40% of the main home's floor area. Detached suite: at most 90 m². Day-to-day or week-to-week rental is prohibited; rentals must exceed one month, except short-term rental under s. 3.14.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.12.1, 3.12.3](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "Only two (2) suites are permitted per Parcel in those R Zones where suites are allowed." … "Suites may only be rented for periods longer than one (1) month in duration except as outlined in section 3.14." … "The day-to-day or week-to-week occupancy of Suites is prohibited. Suites may only be rented for periods longer than one (1) month in duration except as outlined in section 3.14."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.12.9](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "Be a minimum of 30 m² in size and collectively not exceed a Gross Floor Area of 90 m² or 40% of the Gross Floor Area of the Principal Dwelling; and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** One off-street parking space per suite, in addition to the two required for the single detached dwelling (Table 16.1).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), Table 16.1](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Dwelling Unit 1 per Dwelling Unit Suite, Attached (see also 3.12.5) Suite, Detached (see also 3.12.5)" … "Dwelling, Single Detached 2 per Dwelling Unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** A suite must meet the BC Building Code and pass inspection by the Village's Building Inspector (a building permit applies to the work). Using a suite for short-term rental needs a Village business permit.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.12.4, 3.12.6](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "All Suites must meet the BC Building Code requirements and pass inspection from the Village's Building Inspector." … "Any use of a Suite for Short-Term Rental Accommodation will require a Business Permit to be issued by the Village of Telkwa."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022, s. 3.12 (suites) and s. 16 (parking); Building Bylaw No. 533, 2003.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), title](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "The Village of Telkwa Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 533, 2003, title](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/17042/)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 533, 2003"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

[Zoning Bylaw No. 747](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/), s. 3.12, allows suites as an accessory use in the R1 and R2 zones (also listed in C2 and C3). The parcel must have a single detached dwelling used as a full-time permanent residence. No owner-occupancy rule is stated. A suite is not subject to strata or subdivision.

- **Attached suite** (inside the house, such as a basement suite): at least 30 m². All attached suites together at most 90 m² or 40% of the main home's floor area.
- **Detached suite** (garden or garage suite): in the rear yard, or on the second storey of an existing detached garage. At most 90 m² and 7.6 m high, connected to the house's water and sewer, and not in a building with a basement. It must be set back 4.5 m from the rear of the house (except over an existing garage), accessory building setbacks apply, and service cables must be buried.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone with the Village (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Apply for a building permit; the suite must meet the BC Building Code and pass inspection by the Village's Building Inspector.
3. Provide one off-street parking space for the suite, in addition to the two required for the house.

## Good to know

- Only two suites are allowed per parcel.
- Renting by the day or week is prohibited; rentals must exceed one month, except short-term rental under s. 3.14.
- Using a suite for short-term rental needs a Village business permit (see the short-term-rental answer).

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF)](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)

## Related questions

- [Telkwa building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/building-permit.md)
- [Telkwa building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Telkwa zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Telkwa short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/secondary-suite.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/secondary-suite.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/secondary-suite.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/secondary-suite.md)
- [Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/secondary-suite.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), Village of Telkwa](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Bylaw No. 533, 2003 (PDF), Village of Telkwa](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/17042/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Village of Telkwa. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/secondary-suite/_