ACCESSORY BUILDING
Guide to Accessory Buildings
IN THE COLUMBIA SHUSWAP REGIONAL DISTRICT
PRINCIPAL USE BUILDING
ACCESSORY BUILDING
An accessory building supports the residents living on a property. The most common is a detached garage, but accessory buildings also include a secondary dwelling unit (i.e. a suite above a garage), garden sheds, green houses (for personal use), and workshops (for personal use).
www.csrd.bc.ca/559/Secondary-DwellingsAccessory-Buildings
• How large of a building can I have? - Building Height - Floor area gross / net - Property setbacks
Property Coverage
Building Permits
Development Permits
Floodplain regulations • Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) PHONE: 250-832-8194 TOLL FREE: 1-888-248-2773
How big can my building be?
Specific regulations of an accessory building can be found in the Zoning Bylaw. Each zone has regulations for height, floor area sizes, parcel coverage, and building setbacks. Each property is unique and the characteristics of each lot may determine what can be built.
To confirm whether your plans comply with CSRD Zoning Bylaws, or questions on your property contact the CSRD Planning Department:
EMAIL: plan@csrd.bc.ca
PHONE: 250-832-8194
TOLL FREE: 1-888-248-2773
Questions?
Connect with a Planner to discuss your project. plan@csrd.bc.ca
REGULATIONS INCLUDE:
1. Height: The highest point of a building to the lowest point.
2. Floor Area Gross: The sum of area on all floors with a ceiling clearance of 1.5 m. This includes all decks and balconies.
3. Floor Area Net: The sum of all areas for a specific use (such as a secondary dwelling unit in an accessory building). This does not include decks and balconies.
4. Specific Regulations: Based on the specific features of the property (i.e. setbacks, parcel coverage, and floodplain regulations).
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
• Building Permit
• Development Permit
• Agriculture Land Reserve
Floor Area Gross:
The sum of area on all floors with a ceiling clearance of 1.5 m. This includes all decks and balconies.
All spaces with a ceiling height over 1.5 m WILL count towards gross floor area.
Carports, lean-to’s and portions of buildings with posts instead of walls will count towards gross floor area.
Floor Area Net:
Attic spaces with a ceiling height under 1.5 m will NOT count towards gross floor area.
Covered areas extending more than 1.3 m from walls or posts will count towards gross floor area.
The sum of all areas for a specific use (such as a secondary dwelling unit in an accessory building). This does not include decks and balconies.
NET GROSS GROSS
Crawl spaces with a ceiling height UNDER 1.5 m will not count towards gross floor area.
Setbacks and Parcel Coverage
A setback is the distance from a property line for a buliding or structure.
Parcel coverage is the portion of a property that can be covered in buildings and structures.
Setbacks and elevations for building within a floodplain
BUILDING PERMITS
Building Permits help ensure that construction complies with the safety and health standards of the BC building code. Building Permits will be required for accessory buildings over 10 sq. m. in Electoral Areas B, C, E, F and G www.csrd.bc.ca/197/Building-Regulation-Inspection
DEVELOPMENT PERMITS
Construction in a hazardous area (i.e steep slopes, landslide debris flow) has a potential risk for residents. Development near water and environmentally sensitive areas has potential risks to the environment. Development Permits ensure that hazards are mitigated and the environment is protected.
Whether or not a development permit is required would depend on the physical characteristics of your property, and the Official Community Plan in effect for your property. Contact the Planning Department to ask whether development permits will be required for your proposed accessory building.
Electoral Area A does not have an Official Community Plan, and therefore, development permits are not required prior to construction.
AGRICULTURAL LAND RESERVE (ALR)
If your property is in the Agricultural Land Reserve, the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) has regulations on placement of construction fill and residential accessory structure size that may apply. Authorization from the ALC may be required before the CSRD can issue a building permit. For questions regarding building in the ALR contact the Agricultural Land Commission:
Okanagan Region: 1-236-468-3284
ALC.Okanagan@gov.bc.ca (Electoral Areas A-G)
Kootenay Region: 1-236-468-3287
ALC.Kootenay@gov.bc.ca (Southern half of Electoral Area A, southeastern corner of Electoral Area B) Questions?
Connect
www.csrd.bc.ca/559/Secondary-Dwellings-