---
title: West Kelowna secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?"
place: West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/west-kelowna
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of West Kelowna
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/secondary-suite.json"
---

# West Kelowna secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in many West Kelowna zones you can add a secondary suite inside a single detached home (up to 110 m² or 40% of the home's habitable floor area, whichever is less), and in some zones a carriage house. Both need a building permit. Confirm your zone first.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of West Kelowna, https://www.westkelownacity.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit: application fee $150 to $5,500 by construction value plus 1.14% of construction value (see building-permit-fees). A Development Permit, if needed, has its own fee.  
**How long:** See the building-permit answer for the City's permit targets.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Department, 778-797-8820
- Email: Building Department, building@westkelownacity.ca
- Phone: Development Services (zoning and Development Permits), 778-797-8830
- Email: Development Services, dev.services@westkelownacity.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Inside a single detached dwelling (and, where the zone allows, each half of a duplex or a carriage house), as a secondary use in zones including A1, RU1 to RU5, RC1 to RC3, R1, R1L, RP1, I6 and parts of CD1 and CD3. Not allowed on a parcel with a bed and breakfast. (Sources differ: Zone list taken from the secondary uses and density rows of each zone in Bylaw 0320 (consolidation effective April 22, 2025, amendments to July 28, 2026). The April 2025 bulletin lists A1, RU1-RU5, RC1-RC3, R1, R1L, RP1 and CD-1(C), (D), (E), but not I6 or CD3; the bylaw wins. Confirm the zone with the Building Department.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, sections 3.17, 3.18 and Table 4.1, s. 3.17.1(a), 3.17.3; Parts 8-10, 13, 15](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Be located only within a principal single detached dwelling, except where specifically permitted in this bylaw." … "Short-term rental (Bed and breakfast)." … "Care facility, minor (f) Secondary suite"
  - Source: [Secondary Suite Information Bulletin, Where are Secondary Suites permitted?](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/ndhdvop0/secondary-suite-bulletin.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suites are only permitted on properties with one of the following zoning designations, as per Zoning Bylaw No. 0320:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Carriage houses are allowed in RC1, RC2, RC3, RP1, R1, R1L, RU1 to RU5, A1, I6, CD1(C), CD1(E) and CD3(A). Accessory to a single detached dwelling on the same parcel, at least 3.0 m from it, rented one month or longer. Maximum 110 m² or 75% of the house's floor area, whichever is less (140 m² in RU2 to RU5 and A1; 90 m² in the ALR).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, sections 3.17, 3.18 and Table 4.1, s. 3.18.1, Table 3.9](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Only be accessory to and on the same parcel as a principal single detached dwelling." … "Be separated a minimum distance of 3.0 m (9.8 ft) from the single detached dwelling on the same parcel." … "RC1, RC2, RC3, RP1, R1," … "RU2, RU3, RU4, RU5, A1" … "110 m2 (1,184 ft2) or 75% of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling," … "140 m2 (1,506.9 ft2) or 75% of the floor area of the principal dwelling,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Maximum 110 m² or 40% of the principal dwelling's habitable floor area, whichever is less; separate exterior entrance; rented one month or longer; no strata subdivision. Most urban zones allow up to 2 suites per parcel, at most 1 within each of the house, a carriage house or each half of a duplex; A1, rural zones and RC1 allow only 1 suite or 1 carriage house. No owner-occupancy rule in the bylaw. (Sources differ: The April 2025 bulletin says 100 m²; the bylaw says 110 m² (change marked Bylaw 0320.15, listed effective July 28, 2026). Bylaw followed. A suite also needs community sewer, or written ROWP approval for septic (s. 3.17.2(a)). Searched s. 3.17 for 'owner' and 'occupan'; no owner-occupancy requirement.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, sections 3.17, 3.18 and Table 4.1, s. 3.17.1-3.17.2; zone density rows](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "110 m2 (1184.0 ft2) or 40 % of the habitable gross floor area of the principal dwelling, whichever is less" … "Be accessed through a separate exterior entrance from that of the principal dwelling unit." … "Only be rented for rental periods of one month or greater, unless it is authorized as a short-term rental as specified in Section 3.19." … "Be subdivided under the Strata Property Act from the principal dwelling." … "Only 2 secondary suites per parcel, where a minimum of 1 secondary suite is permitted within" … "Only 1 secondary suite or only 1 carriage house per parcel" … "Only 2 secondary suites per parcel, where a maximum of 1 secondary suite is permitted within a:" … "110 m2 (1184.0 ft2) or 40 % of the habitable gross floor area of the principal"
  - Source: [Secondary Suite Information Bulletin, How big can my Secondary Suite be?](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/ndhdvop0/secondary-suite-bulletin.pdf)
  - Official wording: "100 m2 (1,076.4 ft2) or 40% of the habitable floor area of the principal dwelling, whichever is less."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** 1 space for a one-bedroom suite; 2 spaces for a suite with two or more bedrooms. In RC2, RC3, RP1, R1, R1L, I6, CD1(C), CD1(E) and CD3(A) the rate is 1 per one-bedroom and 1.5 per suite with two or more bedrooms. (Sources differ: The bulletin (2 stalls for 2+ bedrooms; stalls 2.75 m by 6.0 m, tandem allowed, on the parcel) differs from the bylaw's 1.5 rate in the listed zones; bylaw followed. The building permit checklist wording 'one additional parking space/bedroom' is older still.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, sections 3.17, 3.18 and Table 4.1, s. 4.4, Table 4.1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suite 1.0 per one bedroom dwelling" … "2.0 per two or more bedroom dwelling" … "1.5 per two or more bedroom dwelling"
  - Source: [Secondary Suite Information Bulletin, Am I required to provide parking?](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/ndhdvop0/secondary-suite-bulletin.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For suites with two or more bedrooms, two parking stalls are required."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit for all construction (with a parking plan); a development permit if the parcel is in a Hillside, Sensitive Terrestrial Ecosystem, Aquatic or Wildfire development permit area; a municipal highway permit for a new access. The suite must also be permitted and registered.
  - Source: [Secondary Suite Information Bulletin, Quick Summary; What Permits and Licences may be required?](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/ndhdvop0/secondary-suite-bulletin.pdf)
  - Official wording: "8. All construction requires a Building Permit." … "9. A Secondary Suite must be permitted and registered." … "You may be required to obtain a Development Permit (DP) for new construction or site alterations on parcels located within one or more DP areas: Hillside, Sensitive Terrestrial Ecosystem, Aquatic, and Wildfire." … "you must apply for a Municipal Highway Permit (MHP)."
  - Source: [Building permits and inspections, Secondary Suite](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/building-business-development/building-permits-and-inspections/)
  - Official wording: "Find information regarding Secondary Suites in the Secondary Suite Bulletin" … "Parking Plan"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of West Kelowna Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, 2024 (s. 3.17 Secondary Suites; s. 3.18 Carriage Houses; Table 4.1 parking); City of West Kelowna Building Regulation Bylaw No. 0086, 2009
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, sections 3.17, 3.18 and Table 4.1, s. 3.17, 3.18](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "3.15 OUTDOOR LIGHTING .......................................................................................................................................................33 3.16 HOME BASED BUSINESSES ..................................................................................................................................................34 3.17 SECONDARY SUITES......................................................................................................................................................36 3.18 CARRIAGE HOUSES .......................................................................................................................................................37 3.19 SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND SHORT-TERM RENTALS (BED AND BREAKFAST)...................................................................................39" … "this consolidation." … "CITY OF WEST KELOWNA ZONING BYLAW No. 0320 CITY OF WEST KELOWNA"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

West Kelowna's [Zoning Bylaw 0320](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf) allows a secondary suite inside a single detached dwelling (and, where the zone allows, each half of a duplex or a carriage house) as a secondary use. Zones include A1, RU1 to RU5, RC1 to RC3, R1, R1L, RP1, I6 and parts of CD1 and CD3. A suite is not allowed on a parcel with a bed and breakfast.

A carriage house is a separate small home on the same parcel. It is allowed in RC1, RC2, RC3, RP1, R1, R1L, RU1 to RU5, A1, I6, CD1(C), CD1(E) and CD3(A). It must be at least 3.0 m from the house and rented for a month or longer.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone on WestMap or with Development Services (778-797-8830), and ask whether a Development Permit is needed (Hillside, Sensitive Terrestrial Ecosystem, Aquatic or Wildfire areas).
2. Prepare the building permit package with a parking plan.
3. If you need a new access, apply for a municipal highway permit.
4. Build, pass inspections, and make sure the suite is registered.

## Good to know

- Suite size: 110 m² or 40% of the principal dwelling's habitable floor area, whichever is less. Carriage house: 110 m² or 75% of the house's floor area, whichever is less (140 m² in RU2 to RU5 and A1; 90 m² in the ALR).
- Suites need a separate exterior entrance, must be rented for one month or longer, and cannot be strata-subdivided. The bylaw sets no owner-occupancy rule. A suite needs community sewer, or written approval for septic.
- Most urban zones allow up to 2 suites per parcel, at most 1 within each of the house, a carriage house or each half of a duplex. A1, rural zones and RC1 allow only 1 suite or 1 carriage house.
- Parking: 1 space for a one-bedroom suite and 2 for two or more bedrooms. In RC2, RC3, RP1, R1, R1L, I6, CD1(C), CD1(E) and CD3(A) it is 1 and 1.5.
- The City's April 2025 bulletin says 100 m², lists fewer zones and asks for 2 spaces for 2+ bedrooms. The bylaw is newer; confirm with the Building Department.
- A bylaw notice and a municipal ticket for breaking the suite rules (section 3.17) are each $500.

## What you'll need

- Building Permit Application, checklist documents and a parking plan on the site plan

## Official forms and pages

- [Secondary Suite Information Bulletin (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/ndhdvop0/secondary-suite-bulletin.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw 0320 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)

## Related questions

- [West Kelowna building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/building-permit.md)
- [West Kelowna building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/building-permit-fees.md)
- [West Kelowna short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/short-term-rental.md)
- [West Kelowna zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/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)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/secondary-suite.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/secondary-suite.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/secondary-suite.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/secondary-suite.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/secondary-suite.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, sections 3.17, 3.18 and Table 4.1 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Secondary Suite Information Bulletin (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/ndhdvop0/secondary-suite-bulletin.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building permits and inspections, City of West Kelowna](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/building-business-development/building-permits-and-inspections/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw, City of West Kelowna](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/city-hall/bylaws/zoning-bylaw/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 0028, Schedule 2 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/cbpflexp/b0028-fees-and-charges-consolidated.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of West Kelowna. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/secondary-suite/_