White Rock secondary suite and carriage house rules
Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?
Short answer
Yes, in the City of White Rock's small-scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH) zones. One registered secondary suite per lot is allowed inside the house, up to 90 m² and two bedrooms, with one extra parking space. A detached suite (coach house or garden suite) is allowed only where the zone specifically permits it.
Key facts
| Secondary suite allowed | Only in the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) residential zones, as an accessory to a one-unit home, semi-detached building or rowhouse. The suite must be inside the house, not in a detached building.Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, sections 5.5 and 5.6), s. 5.5.1; Secondary Suites · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingshall only be permitted in all SSMUH be an accessory to a one-unit residential use; semi-detached residential building or This means the suite cannot be located in a detached accessory building |
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| Coach house or garden suite allowed | Detached accessory dwelling units (coach house or garden suite) are allowed in the SSMUH zones where specifically permitted. Needs lane access or a 1.0 m wide hard-surfaced lit path to the street; not in a required front or exterior side yard; at least 3.0 m from the house; height up to 7.0 m (6.0 m with a flatter roof) in RS-1.Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, sections 5.5 and 5.6), s. 3 Definitions; Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, sections 5.5 and 5.6), s. 5.6.1; Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, sections 5.5 and 5.6), s. 6.1.8; Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, sections 5.5 and 5.6), s. 6.1.10; Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, Key changes · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingis accessory and detached to the principal building; be allowed only where secondary access can be provided from a lane, or common unobstructed, hard‑surfaced path at least 1.0 m wide accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed a height of 7.0m (22.97ft) for a building with accessory dwelling units shall be located not less than 3.0m (9.84ft) from a principal Detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs), such as garden suites or coach houses |
| Limits | One registered secondary suite per lot, up to 90 m² of residential gross floor area and no more than two bedrooms. Tenants only for periods of 90 days or longer. Cannot be stratified or sold separately. The Zoning Bylaw sets no owner-occupancy rule for a suite.Sources differ: The City web page says 'one secondary suite per dwelling unit'; the bylaw says per lot. Value follows the bylaw. Owner-occupancy: searched s. 5.5 and the City page; none stated for suites (it applies only to short term rentals, s. 5.8).Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, sections 5.5 and 5.6), s. 5.5.1; Secondary Suites · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingbe limited to one accessory registered secondary suite per lot; limited to a maximum of 90 only accommodate tenants for periods of ninety (90) days or greater. Secondary suites are not permitted to be stratified or sold separately. |
| Parking | One additional on-site parking space for the suite's occupants (Zoning Bylaw s. 5.5.1(d)). The City says the Province prohibits it from requiring off-street parking on some lots near prescribed bus stops, so check your lot.Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, sections 5.5 and 5.6), s. 5.5.1(d); Secondary Suites; Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, Your property / key changes · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingprovide one additional on-site parking space for occupants of the accessory registered One additional on-site parking space must be provided for the occupants of the suite. The Province has incorporated provisions within the legislation, that prohibit the City from requiring off-street parking for lots within these areas. |
| Permits | A single-family/houseplex renovation permit (building permit) is required to add a suite; book an intake appointment on 604-541-2149. The suite must also be inspected and registered through the City's Secondary Suite Registration process (fee $280 with a new house permit, $370 otherwise).Single-Family Dwelling / Houseplex Renovation Permits, Intro; Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, sections 5.5 and 5.6), s. 5.5.1(e); 2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554, Sch. A, Other Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingis required for renovations to a single-family home, including the addition of a secondary suite. be inspected and registered through the City’s Secondary Suite Registration process; house building permit registration $280.00 All other secondary suite registrations $370.00 |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw, 2024, No. 2506 (s. 5.5, s. 5.6); Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 1928; Secondary Suite Service Fee Bylaw, 2012, No. 2009Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, sections 5.5 and 5.6), Title; Building Bylaw 1928, Title; Secondary Suite Service Fee Bylaw 2009 (PDF, consolidated January 2026), Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingWHITE ROCK ZONING BYLAW, 2024, No. 2506 Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 1928 CITY OF WHITE ROCK BYLAW NO. 2009 A Bylaw to establish a fee payable by the owners and occupiers |
How it works
The Zoning Bylaw 2506 (section 5.5) allows a registered secondary suite only in the SSMUH residential zones, as an accessory to a one-unit home, semi-detached building or rowhouse. The suite must be inside the house, not in a detached building. It is limited to one per lot, up to 90 m² of residential gross floor area and no more than two bedrooms. Tenants may stay only 90 days or longer, and the suite cannot be stratified or sold separately. The bylaw sets no owner-occupancy rule for a suite.
A detached accessory dwelling unit (coach house or garden suite) is allowed in SSMUH zones where specifically permitted (section 5.6). It needs lane access or a 1.0 m wide hard-surfaced lit path to the street, must not be in a required front or exterior side yard, and must be at least 3.0 m from the house. In RS-1 the height limit is 7.0 m (6.0 m with a flatter roof). Floor-area limits for a detached unit were not found.
Steps
- Check your zone (see zoning-lookup).
- Call 604-541-2149 to book an intake appointment and apply for a renovation (building) permit using the single-family or houseplex checklist.
- Have the suite inspected and registered through the City's Secondary Suite Registration process.
- Expect the annual service fee on your property tax bill.
Good to know
- Parking: one additional on-site space for the suite's occupants. The City says the Province bars it from requiring off-street parking on some lots near prescribed bus stops, so check your lot.
- The City's page says "one secondary suite per dwelling unit"; the bylaw says per lot. Confirm with the Building Department.
- In RS-1, one accessory use is allowed at a time on a one-unit lot, except that a registered suite and a detached unit may be permitted together.
- The business licence fee schedule lists an accessory registered secondary suite at $40, but that schedule is from April 2020 and may be out of date.
- Tickets under Bylaw 1929 for failing to comply with the suite requirements are $500, $1,000, then $2,000 for a third and later offence. Disobeying an order to bring a suite up to Building Code is $250, $500, then $1,000.
What you'll need
- Building Permit Application and the interior renovation checklist for a single-family dwelling or houseplex
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Surrey · Langley City · Township of Langley · Delta · New Westminster · Burnaby
Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Secondary Suites, City of White Rock (read 2026-11-05)
- Single-Family Dwelling / Houseplex Renovation Permits, City of White Rock (read 2026-11-05)
- Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, City of White Rock (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, sections 5.5 and 5.6), City of White Rock (read 2026-11-05)
- Secondary Suite Service Fee Bylaw 2009 (PDF, consolidated January 2026), City of White Rock (read 2026-11-05)
- 2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554 (PDF), City of White Rock (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw 1928 (PDF), City of White Rock (read 2026-11-05)
- Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 1929 (PDF, consolidated November 2024), City of White Rock (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.