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

# Williams Lake secondary suite and carriage house rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in most residential zones. Williams Lake's zoning bylaw permits accessory dwelling units (secondary suites, in-law suites, laneway and carriage homes) in zones R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RR-1 and MU-1. You also need a City building permit.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Williams Lake, https://www.williamslake.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees depend on the value of the work. Each extra unit pays additional water and sewer fees.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services (zoning), 250-392-1765
- Email: Development Services, developmentservices@williamslake.ca
- Phone: Building Inspection (permits and Building Code), 250-392-8488
- Email: Building Inspection, building@williamslake.ca

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** Yes. Accessory dwelling units (which include secondary suites and in-law suites) are permitted uses in zones R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RR-1 and MU-1, subject to s. 3.4. Up to four dwelling units are allowed on eligible serviced residential lots without rezoning.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025, s. 2.4.1, s. 3.4, Part 4](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/178601)
  - Official wording: "DWELLING UNIT, ACCESSORY means a self-contained dwelling unit that detached" … "suites, in-law suites, laneway homes, and carriage homes." … "4A SMALL-SCALE RESIDENTIAL" … "Dwelling Units, Accessory (a)" … "4H NEIGHBOURHOOD MIXED-USE"
  - Source: [Infill Development](https://www.williamslake.ca/1057/Infill-Development)
  - Official wording: "the City has amended its Zoning Bylaw to allow up to four dwelling units on eligible serviced residential properties without requiring a rezoning application."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Yes. The zoning definition of an accessory dwelling unit covers units detached from or combined within a building, with examples including laneway homes and carriage homes. Permitted in the same zones as secondary suites (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RR-1, MU-1).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025, s. 2.4.1](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/178601)
  - Official wording: "DWELLING UNIT, ACCESSORY means a self-contained dwelling unit that detached" … "or combined within a building on the same parcel" … "suites, in-law suites, laneway homes, and carriage homes."
  - Source: [Infill Development](https://www.williamslake.ca/1057/Infill-Development)
  - Official wording: "Detached accessory dwelling units (carriage houses)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Each unit needs a separate exterior entrance, one cooking facility, bedroom(s) and bathroom(s), a lit 1.2 m path and civic address signage. Units per lot: R-1, R-3, R-4 up to 4; R-2 up to 5 (5+ separate); RR-1 up to 3. Extra water and sewer fees per unit. No size or owner-occupancy rule found.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025, s. 3.4.1 to 3.4.5, 4A.2](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/178601)
  - Official wording: "Accessory dwelling units must have separate entrances from the exterior of the" … "a single cooking facility, one or more bedrooms and one or more" … "Accessory dwelling units shall provide a well-lit 1.2m (3.9ft) wide access path" … "Each dwelling unit shall have a clearly identifiable civic addressing signage" … "Additional water and sewer utility fees will be charged for each dwelling unit in" … "Units 1-4" … "Minimum Lot Size (m²) 560" … "Units 1-3 & Structures Coverage 35% 15%" … "Units 1-5 5+ & Structures Coverage 55% 55% 10%" … "Units 1-4 & Structures Coverage 50% 10%"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** 1 off-street parking space per accessory dwelling unit.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025, s. 3.4.4, 5.4.1](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/178601)
  - Official wording: "Off-street parking shall be required in accordance with Part 5 of this bylaw." … "Accessory Dwelling Units 1 space/DU"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit is required for a secondary suite. A development permit is required first if the property is in an OCP development permit area. Contact Development Services about zoning and servicing; a business licence may be needed for certain rental housing arrangements.
  - Source: [Building Inspection, A Permit is Required For](https://www.williamslake.ca/1067/Building-Inspection)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suites and finishing previously unfinished spaces"
  - Source: [Adding a Residence](https://www.williamslake.ca/1060/Adding-a-Residence)
  - Official wording: "Planning staff can help you understand zoning requirements, servicing requirements and the approvals that may be needed." … "Property owners may also be required to obtain a business license for certain rental housing arrangements."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2274, 2019 (consolidated PDF), s. 10.1(a)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39376)
  - Official wording: "the owner must apply for and obtain a development permit if the building or structure is in an area designated by the City’s Official Community Plan as a development permit area;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Williams Lake Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025 (s. 3.4, s. 5.4.1, Part 4); City of Williams Lake Building Bylaw No. 2274, 2019
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025, s. 3.4](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/178601)
  - Official wording: "3.4 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2274, 2019 (consolidated PDF), s. 1](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39376)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the “City of Williams Lake Building Bylaw No. 2274,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Williams Lake's [Zoning Bylaw 2430](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/178601) permits accessory dwelling units, which include secondary suites, in-law suites, laneway homes and carriage homes, in zones R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RR-1 and MU-1, subject to s. 3.4. Detached units are covered too, but must still meet accessory building rules for size, height and setbacks unless the zone sets other standards. Up to four dwelling units are allowed on eligible serviced residential lots without rezoning. R-5, commercial and industrial zones do not list accessory dwelling units.

A building permit is required for a secondary suite. If the property is in an Official Community Plan development permit area, a development permit is needed first.

## Steps

1. Confirm your lot's zone and servicing with Development Services (250-392-1765).
2. Check whether the property is in an Official Community Plan development permit area.
3. Apply for a building permit (see the building permit answer).
4. Ask whether your arrangement needs a business licence.

## Good to know

- Each unit needs a separate exterior entrance, one cooking facility, bedroom(s) and bathroom(s), a lit 1.2 m path and civic address signage.
- Units allowed per lot: up to 4 in R-1, R-3 and R-4; up to 5 in R-2; up to 3 in RR-1.
- Parking: 1 off-street space per accessory dwelling unit.
- Each unit pays extra water and sewer fees.
- The bylaw sets no maximum suite size and no owner-occupancy rule that we found. Ask Development Services if you need certainty.
- The Province requires four units on serviced parcels over 280 m² (see the City's Infill Development page).

## Official forms and pages

- [Adding a Residence, City of Williams Lake](https://www.williamslake.ca/1060/Adding-a-Residence)
- [Infill Development, City of Williams Lake](https://www.williamslake.ca/1057/Infill-Development)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2430, 2025 (PDF), section 3.4](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/178601)

## Related questions

- [Williams Lake building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/building-permit.md)
- [Williams Lake zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Williams Lake business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/business-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/secondary-suite.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/secondary-suite.md)
- [Clinton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clinton/secondary-suite.md)
- [Cache Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cache-creek/secondary-suite.md)
- [Clearwater](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/secondary-suite.md)
- [Lillooet](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Adding a Residence, City of Williams Lake](https://www.williamslake.ca/1060/Adding-a-Residence) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Infill Development, City of Williams Lake](https://www.williamslake.ca/1057/Infill-Development) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025 (PDF)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/178601) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2274, 2019 (consolidated PDF)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/39376) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Inspection, City of Williams Lake](https://www.williamslake.ca/1067/Building-Inspection) (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 Williams Lake. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/secondary-suite/_