Secondary Suites

Secondary Suites

"Secondary Suites are an important form of affordable rental housing in the District of West Kelowna with recognized benefits for homeowners, tenants and the community. To this end, the municipality aims to ensure that the provision of Secondary Suites within the District is a viable and attainable choice of affordable rental housing."

The policy has the following objectives:

1. To build and maintain an inventory of legal Secondary Suites in the District of West Kelowna, which provide affordable rental accommodation. 
2. To build and maintain an inventory of Secondary Suites in the District of West Kelowna, which meet or exceed acceptable health and safety standards. 
3. To decommission dangerous and illegal suites if they cannot meet acceptable BC Building Code health and safety standards within a reasonable period of time. 
4. To maintain an accurate inventory of the housing stock for appropriate government administration (i.e. long-range planning, infrastructure servicing and obtaining population related funding).

Recognizing the benefits of Secondary Suites to homeowners, tenants and to the community, the Secondary Suites Policy establishes Secondary Suites as a permitted use in all Single Family Residential (R1), Rural Residential (RU1, RU2, RU3, RU4, RU5, RU6) and Agricultural (A1) zones, subject to a number of requirements as identified in the policy. (See full Policy)

In order to enact aspects of the Secondary Suite Policy, West Kelowna Council would be required to amend its Zoning Bylaw to permit secondary suites as an allowable use subject to a number of conditions.

The District of West Kelowna held a Public Hearing on proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment 2010 No. 871.225 (File No: Z10/07) on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the Mount Boucherie Secondary School, 2751 Cameron Road, West Kelowna, BC.