• is a complete living unit with its own kitchen, sleeping area, and washroom.
• can be in the same building as the primary home. (For example, a basement suite.)
• can be in a separate building. (For example, a garden suite or garage suite.)
• can be a manufactured home meeting CSA standards for 2240 or A277. (CSA Z241park model RVs cannot be used as an SDU)
• must be one legal parcel. (It can’t be subdivided, turned into a strata or legally separated.)
Specific planning rules and building code standards are in place for SDUs, providing property owners and tenants with assurances about the safety of their homes.
Do I need a building permit?
Permits help ensure that construction and major renovations comply with local bylaws, the building code and health and safety standards.
You will need to apply for a building permit to construct an SDU if your property is in:
• Electoral Area B (Rural Revelstoke)
• Electoral Area C (Eagle Bay, White Lake, Tappen, Sunnybrae)
• Electoral Area E (Rural Sicamous)
• Electoral Area F (North Shuswap)
• Electoral Area G (Sorrento, Blind Bay, Notch Hill)
Electoral Areas A (Rural Golden) and D (Falkland/ Ranchero/Deep Creek) do not have building inspection, so a permit is not required to construct in these areas. In Electoral Area D, you will need to ensure that your proposed SDU is permitted by the applicable zoning bylaw.
Electoral Area A does not have a zoning bylaw. www.csrd.bc.ca/536/Development-Permits
SDUs are permitted for most properties in the CSRD. You’ll need to check the zoning of your property to determine the number and type you can build. This is generally based on the property size.
Questions?
Connect with a Planner to discuss your project. plan@csrd.bc.ca
Should I build a Secondary Dwelling Unit?
THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Do I want/need additional housing? Consider the intended use of the SDU. Is it for a family member? Tenant? Visiting friends and family? If you are considering it for a short-term rental, be sure to check your property’s zoning to see if it is permitted. Many zones do not permit them.
How much will it cost for building and servicing? Beyond the cost of the building itself, additional costs may include: utility connections (hydro, internet etc), a septic system, water, permit fees, professional reports (if required), legal fees, and surveying (if required).
How will water and sewage disposal be provided? What are the requirements? If you have community water and/or sewer, contact your provider to find out if another connection is available and the costs of connecting. For on-site servicing see additional info provided on Page 3.
Is there space on the property to meet zoning requirements? This includes:
• Setbacks (required distance from property lines for buildings)
• Parcel coverage (how much of the property can be covered with buildings)
• Parking (how many spaces are required)
• Building height requirements.
Is your property near a lake, river or creek? If so, there can be additional requirements (Floodplain setbacks and flood construction elevation requirements).
Is there space on the property to meet the required distance between a water source and sewage disposal? Wells and surface water must be a minimum of 30 m away from a septic system or other source of contamination.
Is a Development Permit (DP) required?
A DP is required if building within 30 m of a watercourse, 100 m of a lake, on property with slopes over 30%, or within a mapped steep creek hazard area. See Guide to Development Permits: https://www.csrd.bc.ca/536/Development-Permits
Is the property in the Agricultural Land Reserve? There are different regulations regarding the number of secondary dwellings allowed in the Agricultural Land Commission at: alc.interior@gov.bc.ca
ONSITE SERVICING FOR A SECONDARY DWELLING UNIT
What is required?
All SDUs must be serviced with a sewage disposal system. If you plan to connect to an existing system, you will require documentation from a Registered On-site Wastewater Practitioner (ROWP) showing that the system has enough capacity for the new dwelling.
Alternately, a new septic system may be installed for the SDU. It must also be demonstrated that there is a suitable area on the property for a backup field to accommodate future sewage disposal when the life of one of the current systems comes to an end.
For lots less than one hectare, the back-up field is required to be protected by covenant so it isn’t lost to development over time.
One of the first things an owner should do is to have a ROWP visit the property to check the existing septic system and determine the location for the primary and back-up fields if the property is
less than one hectare, the owner will need to have a reference plan prepared by a BC Land Surveyor showing the location of the back-up field area. This plan will form part of the covenant to be registered on title by the owner’s lawyer or notary.
All SDU’s must be provided with potable water. This can be from a well or surface water licensed by the Province or a community water system operated by the CSRD, or a private company. When you apply for a building permit, you must provide information on how you plan to provide water for the SDU. If there are three or more dwellings on a property using the same water source, it is considered a small water system and requires a permit from Interior Health. See links below for further information.
1. Talk to a Planner and a Building Official about your project to find out the requirements
2. Site Planning – prepare a sketch of your property to determine where on you can place the SDU and additional sewage system areas. The sketch should include:
- Existing and proposed buildings and structures including setbacks to property lines;
- Existing and proposed septic systems and back up field area;
- Wells or surface water sources including setbacks to septic systems;
- Watercourses/waterbody (creek, pond, lake, wetland)
- Services (hydro, gas, internet, telephone)
- Parking areas
3. Talk to a ROWP about the sewage disposal requirements for the SDU. They will need to do perc testing to determine appropriate locations on the property for a new primary septic field for the SDU and back up field for the property. If the SDU is to be connected to an existing septic system confirmation from the ROWP that the system is sized to accommodate the additional sewage from the proposed SDU is required.
If your property is less than 1 ha, you will need to have a covenant prepared for registration on title to protect the back up field area. This will include:
- A BC Land Surveyor will need to prepare a Reference Plan showing the reserve field area that was identified by the ROWP for the property.
- A notary public or lawyer will need to prepare a Section 219 covenant for registration on title and have it registered along with the Reference Plan. Prior to registration they will need to send the draft covenant to the CSRD Planning Department for review. A Planner will confirm it meets all requirements and can be registered.
- Provide a copy of the registered covenant to the CSRD.
5. Development Permits (DP) are required for properties located within 30 m of a watercourse, 100 m of specified lakes, or in hazardous areas such as those with steep slopes, flooding or debris flow. If a Planner advised that a DP is required you will need to arrange to have the appropriate Qualified Professional(s) prepare reports regarding the proposed development. You will also need to apply to the CSRD for the DP.
6. Apply for a Building Permit. *If a DP is required the Building Permit cannot be issued until the DP is issued.
