{"title":"Tumbler Ridge secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Tumbler Ridge?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/tumbler-ridge","name":"Tumbler Ridge","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":"District of Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. Tumbler Ridge's Zoning Bylaw allows one secondary suite inside the main building, and one garden or carriage suite in a rear yard or accessory building, in the R1, R2, R3 and RR zones. A building permit is needed. A development permit may also apply in mapped areas.","aliases":["secondary suite tumbler ridge","basement suite tumbler ridge","carriage house tumbler ridge","garden suite tumbler ridge"],"cost":"Not stated for suites specifically; see the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"305 Iles Way, Tumbler Ridge, BC V0C 2W0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"Town Hall","value":"250-242-4242"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/"},{"title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/"},{"title":"Official Community Plan (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/43955/"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Tumbler Ridge building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Tumbler Ridge building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Tumbler Ridge zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Tumbler Ridge short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/chetwynd","name":"Chetwynd","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/dawson-creek","name":"Dawson Creek","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/pouce-coupe","name":"Pouce Coupe","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/hudsons-hope","name":"Hudson's Hope","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/mackenzie","name":"Mackenzie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/taylor","name":"Taylor","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/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, a secondary suite (inside the principal building) is allowed in the R1, R2, R3 and RR zones, with a maximum of one per parcel. A single-detached dwelling or a two-unit dwelling can have one.","short":"Yes, one per parcel in R1, R2, R3 and RR zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"s. 5.4.2, 5.5.1(a), (e)","quotes":["Parcels zoned as R1, R2, R3, or RR can contain a secondary suite, an accessory suite, or both concurrently.","A maximum of one secondary suite is permitted per parcel in those residential zones where secondary suites are","permitted: R1, R2, R3, and RR.","and located within the principal building;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Yes. A garden suite (stand-alone, rear yard) or carriage suite (second floor of an accessory building) is allowed in R1, R2, R3 and RR zones, one per parcel. It may be built on site or as a modular building.","short":"Yes, in R1, R2, R3, RR; one per parcel","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"s. 5.6","quotes":["Are permitted in the following zones: R1, R2, R3, and RR;","A maximum of one Accessory Suite is permitted per parcel;","An Accessory Suite may be constructed on-site or as a modular building.","A Carriage","Suite is located on the second floor of an accessory building"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Secondary suite: one per parcel, inside the principal building, fully separated by walls or floors, sharing utility connections, with its own fire-separated entrance; may not be subdivided or strata titled. Accessory suite: 20 m² minimum, 125 m² maximum, stand-alone. One of each is allowed on the same parcel.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"s. 5.5.1(e), (g), (j), 5.6.3(g), (h), (j)","quotes":["Must be fully separated from the associated principal use by walls, partitions and/or floors, and located within the","Must share common utility connections with the principal building;","Shall not be subdivided or strata titled.","Must have a minimum floor area of 20 m2;","Must have a maximum floor area of 125 m2;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"One extra off-street parking space on the parcel for each suite, in addition to the minimum required for the principal use.","short":"1 extra space per suite","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"s. 5.5.1(i), 5.6.3(i), Table 7-1","quotes":["One off-street parking space must be provided on the parcel for the secondary suite in addition to the minimum","Accessory Dwelling Unit: Secondary Suite / Accessory Suite 1 per Accessory Dwelling Unit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is needed (Zoning s. 5.4.3; Building Bylaw s. 15.4.13: basement suites need permits and all inspections). A development permit may also be needed for a new detached suite in a mapped OCP development permit area; interior alterations are exempt.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"s. 5.4.3","quotes":["Safety standards for accessory dwelling units will be met through the Building Permit process, governed by the BC Building"]},{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"s. 15.4.13","quotes":["basement suites shall require permits and all inspections."]},{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/43955/","title":"Official Community Plan (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"OCP s. 5.7.1, 5.7.2","quotes":["construction, addition or alteration of a building or other structure; or,","interior alterations to buildings;","the construction of new buildings or structures less than 10 square"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 5.4 to 5.6; Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013, s. 15.4.13","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"s. 5.4, 5.5, 5.6","quotes":["5.3.6 Minimum parcel coverage requirements shall not apply to temporary and permanent swimming pools or hot tubs. 5.4 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS 5.4.1 Accessory dwelling units can be in the form of a 'secondary suite' as per Section 5.5 or an 'accessory suite' as per Section 5.6,","Code (BCBC), as amended from time to time. 5.5 SECONDARY SUITES 5.5.1 Where permitted, secondary suites must comply with the following regulations:","DISTRICT OF TUMBLER RIDGE ZONING BYLAW No. 747, 2025 A Bylaw to regulate the location and use of buildings and structures and the use of land including the surface"]},{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"s. 15.4.13","quotes":["basement suites shall require permits and all inspections."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe District of Tumbler Ridge's [Zoning Bylaw No. 747](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/) allows, in the R1, R2, R3 and RR zones:\n\n- **A secondary suite** inside the principal building (a single-detached or two-unit dwelling), one per parcel. It must be fully separated by walls or floors, share the utility connections, have its own fire-separated entrance, and cannot be subdivided or strata titled.\n- **A garden suite** (stand-alone, in the rear yard) or **carriage suite** (second floor of an accessory building), one per parcel, 20 m² minimum and 125 m² maximum. It may be built on site or as a modular building.\n\nOne of each is allowed on the same parcel. Suites do not count toward density limits.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Check the Official Community Plan's [development permit areas](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/43955/) (aquifer protection and hazardous lands) for your lot. Maps are at Town Hall.\n3. Apply for a building permit at Town Hall (250-242-4242). Basement suites need permits and all inspections under the [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/). A new detached suite in a mapped area may also need a development permit; interior alterations are exempt.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Each suite needs one extra off-street parking space on top of the 2 required for the main dwelling.\n- No size limit for a secondary suite and no owner-occupancy rule were found in the adopted bylaw. Confirm with the Building Official.\n- A business licence is not required for a long-term suite. A short-term rental needs one, and cannot run in a building with an occupied secondary suite.","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/43955/","title":"Official Community Plan (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/-building-utilities","title":"Building & Utilities Permit Applications, District of Tumbler Ridge","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 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/secondary-suite.json"}}