Residents in the Municipal District of Pincher Creek will now see clearer rules around secondary suites and how many homes can be built on rural properties.

Council approved Bylaw 1368-26 on March 24, introducing changes to the land-use bylaw that allow for detached secondary suites while placing new limits on dwelling density in agriculturally oriented districts.

The bylaw amendment received first hearing Jan. 27, with second and third readings on March 24, following a public hearing held March 10. No verbal or written submissions were received during the hearing.

The changes are part of an ongoing effort by the municipality to keep its land-use regulations up to date and aligned with evolving development patterns, as well as council and community expectations.

The amendment builds on the current land-use bylaw, adopted in 2024, and focuses on clarifying how additional dwelling units, such as secondary suites, are defined and regulated.

One of the key updates is a revision to the definition of a secondary suite. Under the amended bylaw, a secondary suite remains an additional dwelling unit subordinate to a principal residence, but it must now be located within the same yard as the main dwelling.

The bylaw continues to prohibit secondary suites in multiunit housing types such as duplexes, semidetached dwellings, rowhouses and apartment buildings.

At the same time, the amendment formally introduces a definition for “principal dwelling,” identifying it as the primary residential unit on a titled parcel of land. This clarification helps distinguish the main residence from any additional units that may be developed on the property.

The bylaw also strengthens rules around how many dwelling units are allowed on a parcel. New provisions state that the maximum number of units will be determined by the specific land-use district and its development standards.

In general, more than one dwelling unit cannot be developed on a property unless it is explicitly permitted within the district and approved through a development permit.

In agriculturally oriented districts, including airport vicinity protection, urban fringe and wind farm industrial areas, the rules for additional dwellings remain closely tied to parcel size.

Larger parcels over 32.4 hectares (80 acres) may allow multiple additional units, but only in the form of secondary farm residences and where permitted by the district.

For smaller, subdivided parcels under 32.4 hectares, the amendment introduces a clear density cap. These properties are now limited to a maximum of two dwelling units, typically allowing a combination of a principal dwelling and a secondary suite.

The bylaw also addresses situations where properties were previously approved for a secondary farm residence and later subdivided. In those cases, a development permit will now be required to convert that residence into a secondary suite.

Where a subdivided parcel already contains more than two dwelling units, those additional units will be classified as legal non-conforming. This means they may remain but cannot be expanded or used to support further development, such as adding new secondary suites.

Changes were also made to how secondary suites can be developed in agricultural and similar districts. The amendment expands options to allow suites to be located above garages or shops, or within detached buildings. However, these units are subject to a size limit of 1,000 square feet.

As part of this update, “garden suites” have been removed as a listed use in several districts, with the new secondary suite provisions taking their place.

The amendment further refines rules around tourist homes in the agriculture district.

Properties with a principal dwelling may also include a secondary suite or a secondary farm residence, but only one dwelling unit on the property can be used as a tourist home.

Alternatively, instead of using an existing dwelling, a property owner may designate up to two recreational vehicle spaces as a seasonal tourist home.

Administration noted the changes are intended to provide clearer direction for both property owners and the development authority, while maintaining control over residential density in rural areas.

With third reading given, Bylaw 1368-26 is now in effect.