Secondary suites · 2026 rules · City registry data
Secondary suites in Calgary: 2026 rules, costs and data
Secondary suites remain permitted in Calgary's low-density districts after the rezoning repeal took effect August 4, 2026. A new suite needs a $404 building permit plus electrical and plumbing permits, registration is free until December 31, 2026, and the City's suite grants closed September 28, 2026. The registry lists 28,057 legal suites.
What is allowed since August 4, 2026?
- Secondary suites (basement or main-floor): Permitted in all low-density residential districts. Source: City of Calgary, Land Use Bylaw 1P2007 (consolidated, effective Aug 5, 2026; Bylaw 26P2026 suites), effective August 5, 2026. Checked .
- Backyard suites: Permitted in R-G; discretionary elsewhere; not on the same lot as a secondary suite; a development permit is always required. Source: City of Calgary, Build a backyard suite (development permit always required). Checked .
- Zoning: the 2024 R-CG blanket rezoning was repealed and about 99% of parcels returned to districts such as R-C1 and R-C2. Source: City of Calgary, Rezoning for housing: repeal of city-wide rezoning (old districts reinstated), effective August 4, 2026. Checked .
- Parking: generally 1 stall per suite, reduced near transit. Source: City of Calgary, Build a new secondary suite: permits and building code requirements. Checked .
What do suite permits cost in 2026?
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Building permit, new secondary suite | $404 |
| Building permit, legalize an existing suite | $206 |
| Building permit, new backyard suite | $1,302 |
| Homeowner electrical or plumbing permit (each) | $117 |
| Development permit and registry | $0 until December 31, 2026 (amnesty) |
Source: City of Calgary, Suite permit costs and timelines (2026), effective January 1, 2026. Checked .
Which building code items does the City check?
- Ceiling height at least 1.95 m (1.85 m under ducts and beams).
- An egress window in each bedroom with at least 0.35 m² of opening and no side under 380 mm.
- Hard-wired, interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms; smoke-tight separation between units; self-closing doors.
Source: City of Calgary, Build a new secondary suite: permits and building code requirements. Checked .
| Development permit and registry | $0amnesty to December 31, 2026 |
|---|---|
| New suite: building permit | $404 |
| New suite: electrical + plumbing (homeowner) | $233 |
| Legalize an existing suite: building permit | $206 |
| New suite, all City permits | $637$431 more than legalizing |
How do you pay for a suite in 2026?
The City's Secondary Suite Incentive Program (up to $10,000) and backyard suite program closed on September 28, 2026, and the federal $80,000 suite loan announced in 2024 will not go ahead. The main federal help left is an insured refinance of up to 90% of the home's as-improved value (under $2 million, up to 30 years). On a $718,500 home with a $560,000 mortgage and a $110,000 build that adds $90,000 of value, a conventional 80% refinance is $95,200 short, while the insured limit of $727,650 funds the whole build. Try it in the suite refinance calculator. Source: CMHC, Refinance to add a secondary suite (fact sheet): 90% of as-improved value, under $2M, 30 years, effective January 15, 2025. Checked .
How many suites does Calgary register each year?
Show the numbers
| Suites | |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 130 |
| 2016 | 205 |
| 2017 | 227 |
| 2018 | 274 |
| 2019 | 1,031 |
| 2020 | 2,131 |
| 2021 | 2,625 |
| 2022 | 2,113 |
| 2023 | 3,035 |
| 2024 | 4,951 |
| 2025 | 6,519 |
| 2026 | 4,458 |
| Community | Sector | Suites | Added, last 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone | Northeast | 1514 | 318 |
| Livingston | North | 1305 | 245 |
| Saddle Ridge | Northeast | 1274 | 169 |
| Seton | Southeast | 849 | 106 |
| Mahogany | Southeast | 802 | 159 |
| Pine Creek | South | 677 | 158 |
| Glacier Ridge | North | 658 | 160 |
| Carrington | North | 547 | 144 |
| Rangeview | Southeast | 538 | 132 |
| Moraine | North | 468 | 154 |
Source: City of Calgary Secondary Suites registry (open data, dataset jwn6-r58y, retrieved 2026-11-01); last 12 months = completed October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build a secondary suite in Calgary after the rezoning repeal?
Yes. The repeal took effect August 4, 2026 and returned about 99% of parcels to their previous districts, but Bylaw 26P2026 made secondary suites a permitted use in all low-density residential districts. You still need a building permit, electrical (and usually plumbing) permits and registration; a development permit is needed only if the suite is discretionary, doesn't meet the bylaw, or parking can't be provided.
Can I have a basement suite and a backyard suite?
Not on the same lot since the repeal. Backyard suites are permitted only in R-G and discretionary elsewhere (they always need a development permit), and backyard suites need parking again.
Is the Calgary suite grant still available?
No. The Secondary Suite Incentive Program (up to $10,000) and the Backyard Suite Incentive Program both closed to applications on September 28, 2026.
How many legal suites are there in Calgary?
The City's registry lists 28,057 approved secondary suites as of October 29, 2026, including 4,458 completed so far in 2026.
Related
Sources
- City of Calgary — Rezoning for housing: repeal of city-wide rezoning (old districts reinstated) (effective August 4, 2026). Checked .
- City of Calgary — Land Use Bylaw 1P2007 (consolidated, effective Aug 5, 2026; Bylaw 26P2026 suites) (effective August 5, 2026). Checked .
- City of Calgary — Build a new secondary suite: permits and building code requirements. Checked .
- City of Calgary — Build a backyard suite (development permit always required). Checked .
- City of Calgary — Suite permit costs and timelines (2026) (effective January 1, 2026). Checked .
- City of Calgary — Secondary suites: amnesty to Dec 31, 2026; incentive programs closed Sept 28, 2026 (effective September 28, 2026). Checked .
- City of Calgary — Secondary Suite Incentive Program (closed) (effective September 28, 2026). Checked .
- City of Calgary — Suite Registry Bylaw 11M2018 (registration required) (effective January 1, 2018). Checked .
- City of Calgary (Open Data) — Secondary Suites registry, dataset jwn6-r58y, Open Government Licence – City of Calgary (effective October 29, 2026). Checked .
- CMHC — Refinance to add a secondary suite (fact sheet): 90% of as-improved value, under $2M, 30 years (effective January 15, 2025). Checked .
- Department of Finance Canada — Mortgage insurance rule changes to help homeowners add secondary suites (effective January 15, 2025). Checked .