If secondary suites are listed as discretionary in your district, or your design or location does not meet land use bylaw specifications, you will also require planning approval (development permit).​ To find out if you need a development permit, search your address using the tool in where are you building?

• There can only be one secondary suite within each dwelling unit.
• A backyard suite and a secondary suite cannot be located on the same property
• You must indicate on your plans:
  • The location of the amenity space for the suite
  • The location and size of parking being provided for the suite

If you have questions or need clarification on the Land Use Bylaw rules, or have general permit questions, please contact the Planning Services Centre.

There must be a minimum floor to ceiling height of 1.95 m for basement suites.

• Ceiling heights can be reduced to 1.85 m where ductwork and beams make drop ceilings necessary.
• Doors within the suite may be reduced to 1.89 m where required.

Preventing the spread of smoke and fire is essential for safety. The building code requires the installation of a smoke tight separation between the main residence and suite, in any common spaces and/or the furnace room.

Doors installed in common spaces, furnace room or between dwellings must be solid core wood at least 45mm thick and have a self-closing device on the door.

Smoke-tight separation means

• Installing a minimum of 12.7 mm (½") thick drywall on the ceiling and on both sides of wall studs that separate a suite from main residence. All drywall joints must be taped and filled with drywall compound to provide a smoke tight joint.
• Installing a minimum 12.7 mm (1/2”) thick drywall on the ceiling and on both sides of wall studs of the mechanical room. All drywall joints must be taped and filled with drywall compound to provide a smoke tight joint, and any penetrations must be appropriately sealed.

Additional requirements for smoke-tight separation

• The mechanical room must have a solid door with a self-closing device. The path of travel to an exit door cannot pass through a mechanical room.
• Any services such as pipes or ductwork, which pass through a protective separation, need to be tightly fitted and sealed with drywall compound or sealant.
• In retrofit situations, existing mechanical rooms may have obstructions that make a smoke-tight separation difficult to construct. One option may be to remove all existing HVAC ducts to ease the installation of 12.7 mm (½”) drywall. Once the separation is constructed, new holes may be cut where required to install ductwork.
• Double wall (B-Vent) chimneys will require minimum 25.4 mm (1”) clearance to ½” drywall and tightly fitted sheet metal fire stop to maintain the smoke separation.
• Single wall vent connectors will require minimum 152.4 mm (6”) clearance to ½” drywall.

Sound proofing

Each dwelling must be separated and constructed using sound proofing materials to minimize noise transfer between units including:

• Filling joist spaces with sound-absorbing material of no less than 150mm nominal thickness.
• Filling stud spaces with sound-absorbing material, ensuring there is a resilient channel on one side of the separation spaced 400 or 600 mm o.c.
• Having no less than 12.7 mm thick gypsum board on the ceiling and both sides of the walls .
• Providing an STC rating of not less than 43, (refer to NBC-AE) or a separating assembly and adjoining constructions, which together provide an ASTC rating of not less than 40.

Smoke alarms

• Must be installed at, or near, the ceiling of each floor level in both the primary dwelling and secondary suite.
• Are required in each bedroom, common space and any supplementary spaces including mechanical (furnace) rooms.
• Must be permanently wired to the electrical panel through a circuit that contains lighting or a mix of lighting and receptacles, if that circuit is protected by an arc fault circuit interrupter and/or a ground fault circuit interrupter, the smoke alarms must contain an integral battery (10-year battery) as a secondary supply source.
• Must be interconnected, so the activation of one smoke alarm will cause all units in the secondary suite and a minimum of one smoke alarm to sound in the main residence.

Carbon monoxide alarms

• Should be centrally located in the primary dwelling, the secondary suite, common spaces and mechanical room.
• Should be installed at the height specified by the manufacturer and located within 5 m (16’5”) of any bedrooms.
• Must be permanently wired to the electrical panel through a circuit that contains lighting or a mix of lighting and receptacles, if that circuit is protected by an arc fault circuit interrupter and/or a ground fault circuit interrupter, the carbon monoxide alarm must contain an integral battery (10 year battery) as a secondary supply source.
• Must be interconnected, so the activation of one carbon monoxide alarm will cause all units in the secondary suite and a minimum of one carbon monoxide alarm to sound in the main residence.

An electrical permit is required if installing additional wired smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms.

The main residence and suite must have at least one exit that leads directly outside. This may be a door that leads to an exterior stair or a door to a common set of interior stairs that is separated from both the main residence and suite.

• A stairway used in an exit requires a minimum width of 860 mm and must have at least one handrail.
• Handrails should be mounted between 865 mm and 1070 mm above the stair. The height is measured vertically from the front edge of the stair tread.
• At least one light fixture that can be switched both on and off at the top and bottom of the stairs is required.
• A landing must be provided at the top and bottom of all stairs. The landing must be at least 860 mm long and at least as wide as the stairs.
• Doors serving the exit are required to be a minimum of 810 mm wide and 1.89 m high. Utility rooms, laundry rooms, furnace rooms and all other doors leading to the exit must also be at least 810 mm wide. 

Each bedroom must have at least one window that can be fully opened and used to escape during an emergency, such as a fire. Information about the window, including if it is existing, proposed, the size and type must be included on your plans.

• The windows must be openable without the use of keys, tools, or special knowledge and without the removal of sashes or hardware.
• The window must have an unobstructed opening of 0.35 m2 (3.8 ft2) in area and no dimension less than 380 mm (15").
• If a casement-type window is used, it must swing open a full 90 degrees.
• Refer to Building Advisory A19-005 - Egress Window Guidelines for more details.

Casement windows​

Casement windows must open a full 90 degrees when a window is required.​

Horizontal sliding window

You must ensure your suite tenants can safely exit in the event of a fire or emergency. There are additional requirements to consider when the only exit for a suite is served by an exterior staircase, where a window or opening is located directly above the stairway:

• Option A: Installing glass block or wired glass in fixed steel frames on the windows of the primary home.
• Option B: Constructing a roof over the entirety of the exterior exit stair out of solid material such as wood, metal or concrete.

Option A

If you install glass block or wired glass:

• Windows that are less than 3 m horizontally and less than 10 m below or less than 5 m above the exit stair need to be protected.
  
• Windows on the primary entrance that do not expose to the stairwell do not need protection.
  
• Only fixed, non-operable windows can be protected in this way.
  
• Bedroom windows must be operable.

Option B

Option B shows an exterior stairwell with a roof providing protection from the window above it.

More information on unenclosed exterior stairs can be found on the  protection of openings near unenclosedexterior stairs and ramps advisory.

The National Building Code (Alberta Edition) requires all foundation footings in Calgary to have at least 1.2 m of ground cover for protection.

• New exterior exit stairs must include a shallow foundation design by a registered professional engineer since stairwell excavation impacts the required frost cover.
• Retaining walls required alongside the new staircase opening often retain greater than 1 m of soil. In these cases, the retaining wall may be required to be included in the engineered design. 

Secondary suites must have:

• A supply of hot water and at least one kitchen sink, bathroom sink, toilet and a bathtub or shower.
  
• A back-flow prevention device on the branch drains of the sanitary sewer line.

For more information, refer to the following advisories:

• Secondary suites, backwater valves, and protection from backflow
• Secondary suites, shut off valves, and potable water distribution systems

A common electrical panel can serve both suites, provided there are no shared branch circuits between the suites. It is recommended the electrical panel be in a common area, or that each tenant has access to the electrical panel. 

• Use the secondary suite electrical load calculation sheet to ensure your current electrical service is adequate.
  
• Before an electrical permit rough-in inspection occurs, the form should be emailed to us.
  
• If the main electrical service must be increased from 60 amps, 100 amps, or 200 - amp service, please have your Contractor contact ENMAX.

On a property located inside the airport vicinity protection area (AVPA), the suite must be located in the basement of an existing single family development.

Chat with us, or contact the Planning Services Centre at 403-268-5311 for more information about secondary suites in the AVPA.

An independent heating and ventilation system that includes independent ductwork is required for secondary suites.

Several heating systems can be used:

1. A second forced air furnace may be installed for the suite. Electric baseboard heaters or hydronic radiant heating may be installed with an independent ventilation system, like a heat recovery ventilator.
2. If a single boiler is being used for both units, separate zone controls are required for each unit. Heating equipment must include easy access to compartments for inspection, maintenance and cleaning.
3. A mechanical permit is required if you are installing a new furnace and/or heat recovery ventilator to provide separate ventilation for the suite. 

Plans

Sample drawings have been provided to assist you with completing your requirements – you should provide everything listed on the checklist as shown on the Sample Drawings.

1. Site plan
   • Tip: You can modify a Real Property Report (RPR) to use as your site Plan.
   • You must note where the suite amenity space, parking and suite entrance are located
2. Floor plans
   • You will need to provide floor plans for each floor of your house (i.e. basement, main floor, second floor, etc)
   • Label the purpose of how each room is used (i.e. kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc)
   • Size, type and operation of windows for the suite
   • Label the area of the secondary suite (in square feet or square meters)
3. Elevations
   • An elevation drawing is a 2D view of the exterior walls of the house
   • Indicate the locations and dimensions of all windows, doors and exterior stairs
   • You will need to provide elevation drawings of each side of the house

Supporting documents

1. Abandoned well declaration
   • A map of the subject property showing the presence or absence of Abandoned Well Locations on GeoDiscover Alberta’s Map Viewer must be included with the form.
   • Reference the user guide to finding abandoned wells for more information on how to locate your property.
2. Public tree discolsure statement
   • Indicate yes or no if there is a public tree on the City lands within six meters of and/or overhanging your property.
   • If there are public trees, show these trees on your site plan and complete the rest of the form.
   • If you are not sure if there are public trees, you can use the city’s Tree Map (may not be up to date for your property) or contact 3-1-1 for a development tree inquiry.

Plans

Sample drawings have been provided to assist you with completing your requirements – you should provide everything listed on the checklist as shown on the Sample Drawings.

1. Site plan
   • Tip: You can modify a Real Property Report (RPR) to use as your site Plan.
   • You must note where the suite amenity space, parking and suite entrance are located
2. Floor plans
   • You will need to provide floor plans for each floor of your house (i.e. basement, main floor, second floor, etc)
   • Label the purpose of how each room is used (i.e. kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc)
   • Size, type and operation of windows for the suite
   • Label the area of the secondary suite (in square feet or square meters)
3. Elevations
   • An elevation drawing is a 2D view of the exterior walls of the house
   • Indicate the locations and dimensions of all windows, doors and exterior stairs
   • You will need to provide elevation drawings of each side of the house