Telkwa secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

Telkwa, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

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.Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 5.2.2 (R1); Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 6.2.2 (R2); Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 9.2.2 (C2), 10.2.2 (C3); Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.12.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording .9 Suite, Attached .10 Suite, Detached .5 Suite, Attached .6 Suite, Detached .10 Suite, Attached .11 Suite, Detached .9 Suite, Attached .10 Suite, Detached 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.
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.Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 1 "Suite, Detached"; Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.12.10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording A Detached Suite is regulated as an Accessory Building. 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;
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.Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.12.1, 3.12.3; Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.12.9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 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. 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
Parking	One off-street parking space per suite, in addition to the two required for the single detached dwelling (Table 16.1).Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), Table 16.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 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
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.Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.12.4, 3.12.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 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.
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022, s. 3.12 (suites) and s. 16 (parking); Building Bylaw No. 533, 2003.Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), title; Building Bylaw No. 533, 2003, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording The Village of Telkwa Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 BUILDING BYLAW NO. 533, 2003

How it works

Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 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

Confirm your zone with the Village (see the zoning-lookup answer).
Apply for a building permit; the suite must meet the BC Building Code and pass inspection by the Village's Building Inspector.
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).