West Kelowna officially launches grant program to boost secondary suites

Homeowners in West Kelowna building legal secondary suites or carriage houses can now apply for financial support through a new municipal grant program.

The Grow a Suite Grant Program offers up to $7,500, covering 25 per cent of construction costs. The grant is applied as a credit on property taxes and also includes a waiver of building permit fees, typically valued between $150 and $500.

City officials say the program is designed to increase rental housing supply while ensuring new units meet B.C. Building Code standards. The initiative is expected to support the creation of at least 42 new housing units by the end of 2027.

Applications will be accepted until Dec. 31, 2027, or until the program’s $330,000 budget is fully allocated.

Funding comes from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, administered through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

West Kelowna received up to $7.9 million through the program to help accelerate housing development.