Secondary suites approved

Photo: Contributed

Kamloops City Council adopted zoning bylaw amendments on Tuesday to allow secondary suites and garden suites as permitted uses on single-family lots in more urban residential zones.   

The bylaw amendments are key components of the city’s residential suites update — a project that has involved extensive research; analysis; and engagement with the public, stakeholders, and council over the past nine months, the city said in a release.

Secondary suites and garden suites are now allowed on single-family lots that meet the zoning requirements in most urban residential areas of the city, including a majority of lots in Aberdeen, Batchelor Heights, Brocklehurst, Downtown, Dufferin, Juniper Ridge, Lower Sahali, North Kamloops, Pineview, Sagebrush, Upper Sahali, Valleyview, West End, and Westsyde, the city said.

Carriage suites — two-storey accessory residential dwellings — will continue to require a rezoning process and a public hearing and they will only be permitted in the RS-1S Single Family Residential - Suite zone, the city said.

Homeowners who want to construct a new or legalize an existing suite on a lot that meets the zoning requirements for a secondary suite or garden suite can apply for a building permit.

This will result in the homeowner saving $1,500 in fees and will allow them to complete their projects eight to 12 weeks sooner, as they do not have to go through the rezoning and public hearing process, the city said.  

The city also said they are also working on developing a legal suite registry and an accompanying interactive online map. 

Fore more go to LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/Suites.