{"title":"Warfield secondary suite and carriage house rules","question":"Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Warfield?","slug":"secondary-suite","place":{"path":"ca/bc/warfield","name":"Warfield","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":"Village of Warfield","url":"https://warfield.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. Warfield's Zoning Bylaw allows a secondary suite inside a single detached or semi-attached home, and an accessory suite (garden suite, laneway home, carriage house or garage suite) in an accessory building. Table 5-1 lists both in the R1 and R2 zones. A building permit is required.","aliases":["secondary suite warfield","basement suite warfield","carriage house warfield","laneway home warfield"],"cost":"A building permit fee applies; see the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"Not stated by the Village.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"RDKB Building Department","value":"250-368-9148"},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"250-368-8202"},{"type":"email","label":"Village Office","value":"info@warfield.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021 (PDF, consolidated June 2024)","url":"https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/Warfield-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidation-FINAL_2024_06_27.pdf"},{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 988, 2026, with backgrounder (PDF)","url":"https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/Building-Bylaw-No.-988-2026-Backgrounder-QA-Signed.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Warfield building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Warfield zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Warfield building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/building-permit-fees/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/trail","name":"Trail","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/rossland","name":"Rossland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/montrose","name":"Montrose","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fruitvale","name":"Fruitvale","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/castlegar","name":"Castlegar","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/secondary-suite/"},{"place":"ca/bc/salmo","name":"Salmo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/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 house) is permitted in single detached and semi-attached dwellings. Table 5-1 lists it in the R1 and R2 zones; the zone descriptions also name secondary suites in R3, R3-M and RIH.","short":"Yes, in R1 and R2 zones (also R3, R3-M, RIH)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/Warfield-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidation-FINAL_2024_06_27.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021 (PDF, consolidated June 2024), Village of Warfield","section":"ss. 5.6.1(a), 3.3.2; Table 5-1","quotes":["secondary suites are permitted in single detached and semi-attached dwellings","Secondary Suite P P","including secondary suites and accessory suites"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"detached_allowed":{"label":"Coach house or garden suite allowed","value":"Yes. An accessory suite (garden suite, laneway home, carriage house or garage suite) in an accessory building on a parcel with a single detached or two-unit dwelling. Table 5-1 lists it in the R1 and R2 zones.","short":"Yes, in R1 and R2 zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/Warfield-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidation-FINAL_2024_06_27.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021 (PDF, consolidated June 2024), Village of Warfield","section":"ss. 2.3, 5.7.1; Table 5-1","quotes":["accessory suites are permitted on parcels where a single detached or two-unit dwelling is located","an accessory suite is permitted within an accessory building on the same parcel as the principal residential use","Accessory Suite P P"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Secondary suite: one per principal dwelling, at most 50% of the house floor area or 90 m² (whichever is less), separate exterior entrance and fire separation, no subdivision or strata. Accessory suite: one per parcel, at most 75% of the house floor area or 90 m², at least 3 m from the house, no strata.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/Warfield-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidation-FINAL_2024_06_27.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021 (PDF, consolidated June 2024), Village of Warfield","section":"ss. 5.6.1, 5.7.1","quotes":["a maximum of one secondary suite per principal dwelling unit per parcel is permitted","a secondary suite must not exceed 50% of the principal building’s floor area or 90m2, whichever is less","a secondary suite must have an entrance from the exterior of a building which is separate","an accessory suite must not exceed 75% of the principal building’s floor area or 90m2, whichever is less","a maximum of one accessory suite per parcel is permitted","an accessory suite must be located a minimum of 3m from the principal building"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"parking":{"label":"Parking","value":"In addition to the principal dwelling's spaces: none for a single secondary or accessory suite; 1 extra space if there is more than one secondary suite and/or accessory suite.","short":"None for one suite; 1 extra if more than one","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/Warfield-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidation-FINAL_2024_06_27.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021 (PDF, consolidated June 2024), Village of Warfield","section":"s. 4.10; Table 4-1","quotes":["Accessory and Secondary Suites In addition to the spaces required for the corresponding","Once secondary suite or secondary suite: 0","More than one secondary suite and/or accessory","accessory Bylaw 959 suite: 1"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permits":{"label":"Permits","value":"A building permit is required for a secondary suite or an accessory suite, and the suite must meet the BC Building Code. An accessory suite must connect through the principal building's water and sewer service connections.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/Warfield-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidation-FINAL_2024_06_27.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021 (PDF, consolidated June 2024), Village of Warfield","section":"ss. 5.6.1(i), 5.7.1(h), 4.6.2","quotes":["the establishment of a secondary suite requires a building permit","the establishment of an accessory suite requires a building permit","any accessory suite must also be","connected via the connections serving the principal building"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021 (ss. 5.6, 5.7) and Building Bylaw No. 988, 2026","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/Warfield-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidation-FINAL_2024_06_27.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021 (PDF, consolidated June 2024), Village of Warfield","section":"s. 1.1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as “Village of Warfield Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021.”"]},{"url":"https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/Building-Bylaw-No.-988-2026-Backgrounder-QA-Signed.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 988, 2026, with backgrounder (PDF), Village of Warfield","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as “Village of Warfield Building Bylaw No. 988, 2026”."]}],"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\nUnder the Village's [Zoning Bylaw No. 896](https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/Warfield-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidation-FINAL_2024_06_27.pdf), a secondary suite (inside the house) is permitted in single detached and semi-attached dwellings. An accessory suite (garden suite, laneway home, carriage house or garage suite) is permitted in an accessory building on a parcel with a single detached or two-unit dwelling. Table 5-1 lists both in the R1 and R2 zones; the zone descriptions also name secondary suites in R3, R3-M and RIH.\n\nA building permit is required, and the suite must meet the BC Building Code. An accessory suite must connect through the main building's water and sewer service connections.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone with the Village Office (250-368-8202).\n2. Check the limits below.\n3. Apply for a building permit through the RDKB Building Department (250-368-9148).\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Secondary suite: one per main dwelling, at most 50% of the house floor area or 90 m² (whichever is less), a separate exterior entrance, fire separation, and no subdivision or strata.\n- Accessory suite: one per parcel, at most 75% of the house floor area or 90 m², at least 3 m from the house, and no strata.\n- Parking: no extra space for a single suite; 1 extra space if there is more than one secondary and/or accessory suite. The main single-unit home needs 2 spaces.\n- The bylaw copy on the Village's site is consolidated to June 2024; confirm later changes with the Village.\n- The Village's pages do not say whether a development permit is also needed.","sources":[{"url":"https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/Warfield-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidation-FINAL_2024_06_27.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 896, 2021 (PDF, consolidated June 2024), Village of Warfield","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://warfield.ca/wp-content/documents/bylaws/Building-Bylaw-No.-988-2026-Backgrounder-QA-Signed.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 988, 2026, with backgrounder (PDF), Village of Warfield","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/warfield/secondary-suite/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/secondary-suite.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/secondary-suite.json"}}