Adding a Suite on Septic? Check the System First
A septic system is sized for the house it was built for. Before you add a basement suite, a carriage house or extra bedrooms, a registered practitioner (ROWP) confirms whether yours can take the extra flow. We connect you with a local one.
Why You Need It
Your system was designed and filed for a set daily flow, usually tied to the number of bedrooms. A suite adds people, showers and laundry. A system pushed past its design can back up or saturate the field, and it puts you offside the Sewerage System Regulation.
In Kelowna it's also the owner's job. The City's secondary-suite bulletin says that where the property is on septic, the owner must get confirmation from a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner that the existing system can accommodate the suite.
What the Check Covers
- The filed design and records for your system, where they exist
- Tank located and opened: size, condition, baffles and filter
- Drain field walked and probed for wet spots or surfacing
- Design capacity compared with the house plus the new suite or bedrooms
- A written answer you can hand to the city, your lender or a buyer
Three Possible Answers
- It fits. You get the confirmation in writing and carry on with the suite.
- It's close. The pro tells you what would bring it up to size, such as a larger tank or a field extension.
- It doesn't fit. You'll need a larger or new system. See installation costs before you commit to the suite.
Who Can Do It
Only a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner (ROWP) registered with ASTTBC as a Planner or Private Inspector, or a professional engineer qualified for sewerage systems. Before we pass your request on, we check the pro's registration in ASTTBC's public directory. The pro quotes you directly before any work starts.
Good to know
Common Questions
Do I need a septic check to add a suite in Kelowna?
If the house is on septic, yes. The City of Kelowna's secondary-suite bulletin makes it the owner's responsibility to get confirmation from a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner that the existing sewage disposal system can accommodate the suite. If you're on city sewer, you don't need one.
Does a short-term rental need a septic check?
Kelowna's short-term rental licence itself doesn't ask for one. But if you're creating a new suite or carriage house to rent, the suite needs the check, and guests use water like any other occupant. Get it done before you build or list.
Who is allowed to do the check?
A Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner (ROWP) registered with ASTTBC as a Planner or Private Inspector, or a professional engineer qualified for sewerage systems. We check the pro's registration in ASTTBC's public directory before we pass your request on.
What if my system is too small for the suite?
The pro tells you what it would take: sometimes a larger tank or a field extension, sometimes a new system. You'll know the cost before you commit to the suite, not after the framing is up.
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Planning a suite or carriage house?
Check the septic before you draw up plans. We connect you with a registered local pro in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country and Peachland.