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

# Tumbler Ridge secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Tumbler Ridge, https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca)  
**Cost:** Not stated for suites specifically; see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall, 305 Iles Way, Tumbler Ridge, BC V0C 2W0 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-242-4242

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 5.4.2, 5.5.1(a), (e)](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 5.6](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 5.5.1(e), (g), (j), 5.6.3(g), (h), (j)](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** One extra off-street parking space on the parcel for each suite, in addition to the minimum required for the principal use.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 5.5.1(i), 5.6.3(i), Table 7-1](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 5.4.3](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "Safety standards for accessory dwelling units will be met through the Building Permit process, governed by the BC Building"
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013, s. 15.4.13](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/)
  - Official wording: "basement suites shall require permits and all inspections."
  - Source: [Official Community Plan, OCP s. 5.7.1, 5.7.2](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/43955/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 5.4 to 5.6; Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013, s. 15.4.13
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 5.4, 5.5, 5.6](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013, s. 15.4.13](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/)
  - Official wording: "basement suites shall require permits and all inspections."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District of Tumbler Ridge's [Zoning Bylaw No. 747](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/) allows, in the R1, R2, R3 and RR zones:

- **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.
- **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.

One of each is allowed on the same parcel. Suites do not count toward density limits.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. 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.
3. 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.

## Good to know

- Each suite needs one extra off-street parking space on top of the 2 required for the main dwelling.
- No size limit for a secondary suite and no owner-occupancy rule were found in the adopted bylaw. Confirm with the Building Official.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
- [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/)
- [Official Community Plan (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/43955/)

## Related questions

- [Tumbler Ridge building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/building-permit.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/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)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/secondary-suite.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/secondary-suite.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/secondary-suite.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/secondary-suite.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/secondary-suite.md)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Official Community Plan (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/43955/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building & Utilities Permit Applications, District of Tumbler Ridge](https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/-building-utilities) (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 District of Tumbler Ridge. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/secondary-suite/_