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

# Valemount secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in Valemount's ENV, RR1, R1 and R2 zones. One attached accessory dwelling unit (such as a basement suite) and one detached accessory dwelling unit are allowed per legal parcel. You need a building permit and a fire inspection before anyone occupies the suite.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Valemount, https://valemount.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees apply (see building-permit-fees). A $200 development permit fee applies only where a development permit is required.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Email: Land Use Planner, planner@valemount.ca
- Email: Building Inspector, building@valemount.ca
- Phone: Village Office, 250.566.4435

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Yes. One attached accessory dwelling unit (for example a basement suite) per legal parcel is an accessory use in the ENV, RR1, R1 and R2 zones, in a single detached dwelling (or a duplex, townhouse or rowhouse that is a separate real estate entity). Commercial zones have separate attached-unit rules.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, s. 2.7 and zones 5.2 to 5.5](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/98099/)
  - Official wording: "A maximum of one (1) Attached Accessory Dwelling Units is permitted per legal parcel." … "An Attached Accessory Dwelling Units shall be located in one (1) Principal Single Detached Dwelling Unit." … "Dwelling, Attached Accessory Unit - Residential 2 (per Bylaw 858)"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, s. 5.3 RR1 accessory uses](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/98099/)
  - Official wording: "Within the RR1 - Rural Residential Zone, the following accessory uses are permitted:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Yes. One detached accessory dwelling unit per legal parcel is allowed in the ENV, RR1, R1 and R2 zones. It must be connected to municipal sewer and water and be at least 3 m from the principal dwelling.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, s. 2.6 and zones](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/98099/)
  - Official wording: "A maximum of one (1) Detached Accessory Dwelling Units is permitted per legal parcel." … "All Detached Accessory Dwelling Units shall be connected to the municipal sanitary sewer and water distribution system." … "The minimum separation between a principal Dwelling Unit and a Detached Accessory Dwelling Units shall be 3.0 metres." … "Dwelling, Detached Accessory Unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** Detached unit: at most the lesser of 100 m² or 60% of the principal dwelling's floor area; up to 6.0 m high if on a second storey. Attached unit: basement or existing space up to 100% of that floor area; new attached space the greater of 100 m² or 60% of the main floor. R2: at most three dwelling units per parcel.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, s. 2.6(i)(ii), 2.7(c), R2 Density](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/98099/)
  - Official wording: "The maximum floor area of a Detached Accessory Dwelling Units shall not exceed the lesser of 100.0 m2 (1076 ft2) or 60% of the principal dwelling floor area." … "Interior Basement 100% of the basement floor area" … "A maximum of three Dwelling Units per parcel shall be permitted in the R-2 zone"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Parking:** An accessory unit of 50 m² or less needs 1 space; over 50 m², 2 spaces. A detached unit needs one more off-street space in addition to those for the main dwelling.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, s. 3.13 table; s. 2.6(vii)](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/98099/)
  - Official wording: "Dwelling, Accessory Unit50 m2 (538 sq. ft.) • 1 per Dwelling Unit" … "Dwelling, Accessory Unit >50 m2 (538 sq. ft.) • 2 per Dwelling Unit" … "One (1) additional off-street parking space per Detached Accessory Dwelling Units is required in addition to those required for the principal Dwelling Unit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permits:** A building permit and a fire inspection are required before the suite is occupied. A development permit applies only if the lot is in a Development Permit Area.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, s. 2.6(vi), 2.7(ii)](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/98099/)
  - Official wording: "Fire Inspections and all required Building Permits shall be obtained prior to occupancy."
  - Source: [Application Forms and Process, Development Permits](https://valemount.ca/services/building-services/application-forms-and-process/)
  - Official wording: "Applicants must confirm with the Planning Department as to whether or not the property is in a Development Permit Area, in which case a Development Permit will be required."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Valemount Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, sections 2.5 to 2.7 and Part 5 (amended by Bylaws No. 858, 907 and 927)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, Notes](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/98099/)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021 was adopted by the Village of Valemount Council on August 24, 2021 and became effective on that date."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021, Notes](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/98099/)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 927, 2026"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Village of Valemount's [Zoning Bylaw No. 847](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/98099/) allows one attached accessory dwelling unit per legal parcel in the ENV, RR1, R1 and R2 zones, in a single detached dwelling (or a duplex, townhouse or rowhouse that is a separate real estate entity). It also allows one detached accessory dwelling unit per legal parcel in those zones. The R3 and MHP zones do not list accessory dwelling units, and commercial zones have separate rules. In R2, at most three dwelling units are allowed per parcel.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone with the Land Use Planner (see zoning-lookup).
2. Apply for a building permit by emailing Form B to building@valemount.ca (see building-permit).
3. Get a fire inspection. Both the permit and the inspection are required before the suite is occupied.
4. Ask the Planner whether your lot is in a Development Permit Area, which would need a development permit.

## Good to know

- **Detached unit:** must connect to municipal sewer and water, be at least 3 m from the principal dwelling, and be at most the lesser of 100 m² or 60% of the principal dwelling's floor area, up to 6.0 m high if on a second storey.
- **Attached unit:** in a basement or existing space, up to 100% of that floor area; new attached space is the greater of 100 m² or 60% of the main floor.
- **Parking:** a unit of 50 m² or less needs 1 space; over 50 m², 2 spaces. A detached unit needs one more off-street space in addition to those for the main dwelling.
- The Official Community Plan exempts one- and two-family dwellings from a development permit in Development Permit Areas 2, 3 and 4, but not the Environmental one.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021 (PDF)](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/98099/)
- [Building Permit Form B (PDF)](https://valemount.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Form_B_Building_Permit-2024.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Valemount building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/building-permit.md)
- [Valemount building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Valemount zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Clearwater](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/secondary-suite.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/secondary-suite.md)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/secondary-suite.md)
- [Williams Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/secondary-suite.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/secondary-suite.md)
- [Revelstoke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 847, 2021 (PDF), Village of Valemount](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/98099/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Application Forms and Process, Village of Valemount](https://valemount.ca/services/building-services/application-forms-and-process/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 843, 2021 (PDF), Village of Valemount](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/95014/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 869, 2023 (PDF), Village of Valemount](https://valemount.civicweb.net/document/96759/) (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 Valemount. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/secondary-suite/_