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Vernon secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

Vernon, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Often, depending on your zone and lot. In the City of Vernon, Zoning Bylaw 6000 allows a secondary suite (inside a house) in several zones, and a detached accessory dwelling unit (coach house, garden suite) in some. You need a building permit. Confirm your lot with Planning.

Key facts

Secondary suite allowedYes. A secondary suite is a dwelling unit inside a detached, semi-detached or townhouse building. Allowed in AGRL, AGRS, and in MUS, MUA and RTH lots without full services (1 home plus 1 suite); on serviced MUS lots a suite counts toward the 3 to 6 unit cap. ALR: only lots under 1 ha without sewer.Zoning Bylaw 6000, section 3.3.8, Definitions; Zoning Bylaw 6000, section 3.3.8, s. 8.2.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Secondary Suite means a Dwelling Unit that is subordinate to, and located within, a Building
Dwelling Units may include Secondary Suites and/or Accessory
Maximum Density: 1 Dwelling Unit, plus 1 Secondary Suite, plus 1 Accessory Dwelling Unit
Maximum Density: 1 Dwelling Unit, plus 1 Secondary Suite, plus 1 Accessory Dwelling Unit
Coach house or garden suite allowedYes, in some zones. An accessory dwelling unit (coach house, garden suite) is allowed in AGRL; AGRS (over 1 ha without sewer, or any lot on community sewer); MUS class 2; MUA classes 2 and 3; and RTH class 2 (community sewer). Not allowed everywhere.Zoning Bylaw 6000, section 3.3.8, Definitions; Zoning Bylaw 6000, section 3.3.8, s. 8.2.3; Zoning Bylaw 6000, section 3.3.8, s. 9.1.3 (Class 2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) means an Accessory Building used in whole or part as a
Maximum Density: 1 Dwelling Unit, plus 1 Secondary Suite, plus 1 Accessory Dwelling Unit
Maximum Density: 1 Dwelling Unit, plus 1 Secondary Suite, plus 1 Accessory Dwelling Unit
plus 1 Accessory Dwelling Unit
LimitsSecondary suite: gross floor area no more than 49% of the dwelling it serves; separate exterior entrance (or shared hall); private amenity area; lit, barrier-free 1.5 m path from the street. Accessory dwelling unit: net floor area no more than 100 m², building height 8.0 m, no rooftop deck. Minimum dwelling unit size 30 m².Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.4.1.1; Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.4.1.3-5.4.1.4; Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.4.2.1-5.4.2.5; Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.2.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The Gross Floor Area of a Secondary Suite shall not exceed 49% of the Gross Floor
Secondary Suites must have a separate entrance with exterior access, except where
A 1.5 m wide Barrier-free, lit, and clearly marked pathway from the Street to the main
The Net Floor Area of an Accessory Dwelling Unit must not exceed 100 m².
The maximum Height of an Accessory Building with an Accessory Dwelling Unit is
Rooftop Decks or patios are not permitted on Accessory Dwelling Units.
The minimum size of a Dwelling Unit is 30 m² (323 ft²) Net Floor Area
ParkingZoning Table 7.7 sets 1.0 vehicle space per dwelling unit minimum (4.0 maximum) for small scale multi-unit housing. A suite is a dwelling unit. No parking is required within 400 m of a Frequent Transit Route or in a Transit Oriented Development Area.Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 7 Parking, Loading and Bike Parking, s. 7.3.5; Table 7.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Mobile Home 1.0 per 4.0 per
Buildings and Uses located in a TOD Area or within 400 m from the centerline of road
PermitsA building permit is required to add a secondary suite. A development permit is also needed first if the property is in a development permit area set by the Official Community Plan.Building Permit Application; Building Bylaw 5900, s. 10.1(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
This includes new buildings, renovations, secondary suites, and structural changes.
the owner must apply for and obtain a development permit if the building
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 6000, s. 5.4 (Secondary Suites & Accessory Dwellings) and zone density tables; Building Bylaw No. 5900Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.4; Building Bylaw 5900, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
5.4 Secondary Suites & Accessory Dwellings
City of Vernon Building Bylaw No. 5900, 2021

How it works

In Zoning Bylaw 6000, a secondary suite is a dwelling unit inside a detached, semi-detached or townhouse building. A detached coach house or garden suite is an "accessory dwelling unit". Which you can have depends on your zone, lot size and servicing, so confirm your lot class with Planning before you plan.

Steps

  1. Confirm your zone and lot class with Planning (planning@vernon.ca or 250-550-3634).
  2. If your property is in a development permit area set by the Official Community Plan, a development permit is needed first.
  3. Apply for a building permit. The checklist asks for a secondary suite assessment file number, if applicable.

Good to know

  • Secondary suites are allowed in AGRL and AGRS, and in MUS, MUA and RTH lots without full services (one home plus one suite). On serviced MUS lots, a suite counts toward the cap of 3 to 6 units. In the ALR, only lots under 1 ha without sewer qualify.
  • Accessory dwelling units are allowed in AGRL; AGRS (over 1 ha without sewer, or any lot on community sewer); MUS class 2; MUA classes 2 and 3; and RTH class 2 (community sewer). They are not allowed everywhere.
  • Secondary suite: gross floor area no more than 49% of the dwelling it serves; a separate exterior entrance (or shared hall); a private amenity area; and a lit, barrier-free 1.5 m path from the street.
  • Accessory dwelling unit: net floor area no more than 100 m², building height 8.0 m, no rooftop deck. Where it sits in a larger accessory building, the total footprint may not exceed 150 m². Minimum dwelling unit size is 30 m².
  • Parking: Table 7.7 is reported to set a minimum of 1.0 vehicle space per dwelling unit (maximum 4.0) for small scale multi-unit housing, and a suite is a dwelling unit. Confirm with Planning. No parking is required within 400 m of a Frequent Transit Route or in a Transit Oriented Development Area.
  • An unlawful secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit can bring a bylaw notice of $250 ($225 if paid within 14 days) or a municipal ticket of $500 ($450 early).

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Coldstream · Lake Country · Spallumcheen · Armstrong · Lumby · Enderby

Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 9.1 MUS Multi-Unit Small Scale (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 7 Parking, Loading and Bike Parking (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Building Bylaw 5900 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Building Permit Application, City of Vernon (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 6048 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  7. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 6049 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  8. Contact Us, City of Vernon (read 2026-11-05)
  9. Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909, consolidated (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  10. Zoning Bylaw 6000, section 3.3.8 (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.