Kelowna City Council has given final approval to a process that will streamline applications for secondary suites.

Final adoption of the new process was granted Monday.

The new process permits a secondary suite in single-family dwellings in most residential zones without needing to rezone the property.

“This change will help provide more affordable housing stock in Kelowna with minimal impact to neighbourhoods,” says Mayor Walter Gray.

“No new infrastructure is required because the secondary suites are contained within existing single-family homes.”

The new process requires a Building Permit application concurrent with a Business Licence application, both of which are reviewed by City staff to ensure a dwelling can support the inclusion of a secondary suite.

A Business Licence is required to legalize any existing or new secondary suites within a single-family dwelling.

A 30-day grace period now begins for owners of unregistered suites to conform to the new process before bylaw enforcement is initiated.

This change applies only to secondary suites being created within an existing single-family dwelling.

Secondary suites in accessory buildings, now known as Carriage Houses, will continue to have a separate approval process.