West Kelowna secondary suite and carriage house rules

Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

West Kelowna, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

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.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; Secondary Suite Information Bulletin, Where are Secondary Suites permitted? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 Secondary Suites are only permitted on properties with one of the following zoning designations, as per Zoning Bylaw No. 0320:
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).Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, sections 3.17, 3.18 and Table 4.1, s. 3.18.1, Table 3.9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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,
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.Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, sections 3.17, 3.18 and Table 4.1, s. 3.17.1-3.17.2; zone density rows; Secondary Suite Information Bulletin, How big can my Secondary Suite be? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 100 m2 (1,076.4 ft2) or 40% of the habitable floor area of the principal dwelling, whichever is less.
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.Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, sections 3.17, 3.18 and Table 4.1, s. 4.4, Table 4.1; Secondary Suite Information Bulletin, Am I required to provide parking? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 For suites with two or more bedrooms, two parking stalls are required.
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.Secondary Suite Information Bulletin, Quick Summary; What Permits and Licences may be required?; Building permits and inspections, Secondary Suite · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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). Find information regarding Secondary Suites in the Secondary Suite Bulletin Parking Plan
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, 2009Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, sections 3.17, 3.18 and Table 4.1, s. 3.17, 3.18 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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

How it works

West Kelowna's Zoning Bylaw 0320 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

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).
Prepare the building permit package with a parking plan.
If you need a new access, apply for a municipal highway permit.
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

The same question in other places

Peachland · Kelowna · Lake Country · Summerland · Penticton · Vernon

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

Sources

Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, sections 3.17, 3.18 and Table 4.1 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Secondary Suite Information Bulletin (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Building permits and inspections, City of West Kelowna (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw, City of West Kelowna (read 2026-11-05)
Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 0028, Schedule 2 (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. How answers are checked.