Home, Property & Development

Secondary Suites

Looking to off-set your mortgage or construct a secondary suite? Having a secondary suite to help offset a mortgage or as a way of keeping family close is becoming more and more appealing to homeowners. A secondary suite is designed to be a self-contained living unit, whether built into an existing dwelling or as a separate building. As such, suites have unique requirements to ensure the safety of all residents.

Does your zoning permit secondary suites?

Secondary suites are only allowed in the following single-family residential zones:

  • RR-1: Restricted Low Density Residential
  • RR-1a: Low Density Resort Residential
  • RR-1b: Low Density Resorty Residential – Optional Modular
  • R-1: Low Density Residential
  • R-1a: Low Density Residential – Optional Modular
  • R-1s: Small Lot Low Density Residential

Go to our online map to find out what zone you are in.

Safety Compliance

As part of the process to authorize a pre-existing suite, a review for basic safety compliance with the provisions of the Building Bylaw would need to be performed, including (but not limited to):

  • Interconnected heating systems (not preferred);
  • Smoke alarms (additional interconnected ionization & photo-electric smoke alarms required);
  • Ceiling heights (minimum 2.0 m);
  • Minimum window areas and windows in bedrooms that allow for an exit;
  • means of egress;
  • Fire separations between the suite and principal unit;
  • Exit stairs;
  • Review of electrical system for adequacy and/or proof of Electrical Permit upgrades; and
  • Other obvious safety concerns.

Legalized Suites

In order for a suite to be considered a legal suite, all suite construction must comply with the Zoning Bylaw and the BC Building Code. A building permit is required to ensure that the secondary suite is legal.

Property Taxes

Municipal property tax is the District’s primary source of funds and its most stable and consistent form of revenue. Property tax revenue is unconditional and is used to fund general operating expenditures, debt repayment, reserve contributions and in some instances, direct capital expenditures. The amount of property tax revenue to be collected each year is determined annually through the budget process which is the mechanism for determining the revenue requirements and the resource allocations that ultimately inform the decision on the municipal tax rate.

Learn More About Property Taxes

Water & Wastewater Utilities

Water Supply

The District of Sparwood boasts award winning drinking water and is non-chlorinated as well as non-fluoridated. Sparwood is serviced by 3 wells, all more than 15 m (50 ft) deep – 2 at Mackenzie Springs and 1 at Cummings Creek – that pump on average 3,350 m3/day. Yearly reports showing the amount of water pumped daily, as well as maintenance can be found below.

Water is pumped through distribution lines to two storage reservoirs, with a 2,270 m3 capacity in Sparwood Proper, and 1,820 m3 capacity in Sparwood Heights. The water system has 2 pressure zones; Sparwood Proper and Sparwood Heights.

Bacteriological testing of all 3 sources and one quadrant of Sparwood are conducted weekly and reported monthly to the Interior Health Authority.

Additional testing is conducted for Selenium on a monthly basis. Well #3 would be taken offline, in consultation with Interior Health, if the selenium results exceed the BC Drinking Water Guidelines and returned to service when testing is within the guidelines. BC Drinking Water Guidelines are more stringent than the Canadian Drinking Water Guideline established by Health Canada.

Full chemical analysis is completed every few years. The chemical analysis results, with comparisons to the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines, are available to view and download.

Water Usage

Sparwood is 100% metered on a volunteer basis. New meters are supplied by the District of Sparwood and installed by the owner. The District reads the meters in town once a month.

All residents and businesses can check their water meter usage for each month online. Determine your water usage.

Property Maintenance

The District of Sparwood puts limits on the things people can do on, and with, their property to help ensure that general standards of health, safety, and cleanliness are maintained for the benefit of everyone. Sparwood has several bylaws that ensure properties are kept to a minimum standard. These bylaws help keep neighbourhoods clean and safe. You should be familiar with the bylaws to understand your responsibilities and avoid bylaw violations.

The most common concerns reported are:

  • Properties in poor condition;
  • Suspected hoarding;
  • Vehicles parked in the front yard;
  • Home-based businesses where customers are coming on site;
  • Overgrown yards;
  • Illegal suites and illegal uses;
  • Operating without a business license;
  • Fences in disrepair.

If you live in a strata

If you live in a strata, the rules are slightly different when it comes to property use concerns. Stratas are governed first by the provincial Strata Property Act. Each strata can then make their own rules within that framework. These stricter strata bylaws overrule District bylaws. For many property use concerns, you will need to contact your strata council or strata manager to learn how they enforce your strata bylaws.

Property use bylaws

For more information on relevant bylaws for property use and maintenance:

  • Building Bylaw
  • Business Licence Bylaw
  • Community Standards Bylaw: Includes regulations for Noise Control, Unsightly Premises, Wildlife Attractants, Boulevard Maintenance and more.
  • Development Application Procedure Bylaw
  • Litter Control Bylaw
  • Mobile Home Parks Bylaw
  • Off-Street Parking and Loading Bylaw
  • Official Community Plan Bylaw
  • Sign Bylaw
  • Traffic, Parking and Highways Regulation Bylaw
  • Zoning Bylaw

    The District responds to complaints from the public and other government agencies, and identifies property use issues. It does not respond to civil issues. Information regarding the complainant is kept confidential, unless the complaint ends up in the court system.