Whistler secondary suite and carriage house rules
Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house in Whistler?
Short answer
Yes, in many Whistler zones. Where a zone limits a parcel to a detached dwelling, one auxiliary residential dwelling unit is allowed inside the dwelling or in an auxiliary building (carriage house). You need a building permit, and often a development permit first.
Key facts
| Secondary suite allowed | Yes. Where a zone limits a parcel to a detached dwelling, the permitted uses include one auxiliary residential dwelling unit inside the dwelling or in an auxiliary building. Single-family zones such as RS1 list it as a permitted use. Zone rules vary.Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), Part 5, s. 35(3); Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), Part 12, RS1 Zone, s. 2(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe permitted uses include the construction and use of an auxiliary residential dwelling unit within the detached dwelling or in an auxiliary building. Auxiliary residential dwelling unit provided it is serviced by a community sewer |
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| Coach house or garden suite allowed | Yes, in an auxiliary building. In RS1, RS2, RS3, RI1 and RSE1 zones the building may be up to 90 m² if it holds only the unit; in RS1 up to 110 m² if it also holds parking.Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), Part 5, s. 3(2); Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), Part 12, RS1 Zone, s. 7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingauxiliary building containing an auxiliary residential dwelling unit in an RS1, RS2, RS3, RI1 or RSE1 zone is 90 square metres. the maximum floor area of an auxiliary building containing both auxiliary parking use and an auxiliary residential dwelling unit is |
| Limits | Each dwelling unit must be at least 32.5 m². Under the small-scale multi-unit rules a suite inside a detached dwelling may not exceed 40 per cent of that dwelling's gross floor area. Serviced parcels of 4,050 m² or less in the urban containment area may have three units (280 m² or less) or four units (larger).Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), Part 5, s. 35(11); Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), Part 5, s. 35(5) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe gross floor area of any auxiliary residential dwelling unit that is located within a detached dwelling shall not exceed 40% of the gross floor area of the detached the gross floor area of any residential dwelling unit is in no case less than 32.5 specified in this Bylaw is 4,050 m2 or more, a total of three dwelling units are permitted on the parcel if it has an area of 280 m2 or less and a total of four dwelling units are permitted if the parcel has an area greater than 280 m2. |
| Parking | One space per auxiliary residential dwelling unit. On a parcel with three or four units under the small-scale multi-unit rules: one space per dwelling unit, with at most six spaces on the parcel.Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), Part 6, Table 6-A; Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), Part 5, s. 35(15) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAuxiliary Residential Dwelling 1 space per dwelling unit the minimum number of parking spaces required is one space per dwelling unit and the |
| Permits | A building permit is needed (the Municipality lists building a suite or carriage house among residential permits). Many projects also need a development permit first, which Planning confirms. New accessory dwelling units need home warranty insurance.Building and Development Permits, Apply for a building permit; Building Permit Application Guide, Section 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingConstruct or renovate a single family home or build a suite, carriage house, duplex or triplex — and more. While all construction projects require a building permit, Accessory dwelling units (carriage home, coach home, etc.) |
| Bylaw | Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015; Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2482, 2025Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), title page; Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2482, 2025 (PDF, consolidated October 20, 2026), s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingZONING AND PARKING BYLAW NO. 303, 2015 This bylaw may be cited as "Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2482, 2025" (Bylaw). |
How it works
Under Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, where a zone limits a parcel to a detached dwelling, the permitted uses include one auxiliary residential dwelling unit, either inside the dwelling or in an auxiliary building. Single-family zones such as RS1 list it as a permitted use. Zone rules vary, so check yours (see zoning-lookup).
In RS1, RS2, RS3, RI1 and RSE1 zones an auxiliary building may be up to 90 m² if it holds only the unit; in RS1 up to 110 m² if it also holds parking. Other zones set their own limits.
Steps
- Confirm your zone and whether a development permit is needed. Planning: 604-935-8170.
- Apply for a building permit (see building-permit). New accessory dwelling units need home warranty insurance.
- Provide one parking space per auxiliary residential dwelling unit.
Good to know
- Each dwelling unit must be at least 32.5 m².
- Under the small-scale multi-unit rules, a suite inside a detached dwelling may not exceed 40 per cent of that dwelling's gross floor area.
- Serviced parcels of 4,050 m² or less in the urban containment area may have three units (280 m² or less) or four units (larger). At least one unit (three units) or two units (four units) must be residential rental tenure. Parking is one space per unit, with at most six spaces on the parcel.
- Extra floor area (56 m²) in RS1 for employee use and rental needs an employee housing agreement.
- We found no owner-occupancy rule in the zoning bylaw.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Pemberton · Squamish · Lions Bay · Anmore · District of North Vancouver · Bowen Island
Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026) (read 2026-11-06)
- Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2482, 2025 (PDF, consolidated October 20, 2026) (read 2026-11-06)
- Building and Development Permits, Resort Municipality of Whistler (read 2026-11-06)
- Building Permit Application Guide, Resort Municipality of Whistler (read 2026-11-06)
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.