Build a Secondary Legal Suite — Earn Rental Income. Add Property Value.
Urban Square Developments builds City of Calgary-approved Secondary Legal Suites from permit to final inspection.
What Is a Secondary Legal Suite in Calgary?
A secondary legal suite in Calgary is a self-contained residential unit within a single-detached home — typically in the basement — that meets all City of Calgary Land Use Bylaw and Alberta Building Code requirements. Legal suites require a separate entrance, fire separation between units, egress windows in sleeping areas, and a full kitchen and bathroom. When properly permitted and built, a legal suite can generate $1,400–$1,800/month in rental income and increase your home's appraised value.
Secondary Legal Suite services are becoming a popular source of additional income for many homeowners across Calgary & Alberta. A Legal Basement Suite can be a great use of unused space. It also has reliable long-term investment potential with respect to increased property value & rental income throughout ownership of the home. Having said this, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when considering a Registered Legal Suite in Calgary. There are By-Law requirements needed to ensure any home would be approved for Secondary Suite Development and placed on the City of Calgary's Secondary Suite Registry. At Urban Square Developments we are an experienced Secondary Legal Suite Contractor in Calgary, Airdrie, Okotoks & Chestermere. If you are considering a Basement Legal Suite project we would welcome you to get in touch. We would be happy to schedule a convenient time to meet & discuss your project & help with advice to make the process as simple & straightforward as possible. We can handle all the paperwork & City of Calgary permit applications to make the process much easier for homeowners.
Secondary Legal Suite Requirements In Calgary
City of Calgary Permit Filing
We prepare and submit the development permit and building permit applications on your behalf.
Fire Separation & Egress
Code Compliant fire-rated assemblies between units and egress windows in all sleeping areas — required for legal suite approval.
Separate Entrance Construction
New exterior door, stairwell, and landing built to code for a private, safe, Legal Suite entrance.
Full Kitchen & Bathroom Build-Out
Complete kitchen with cabinetry, countertops, and appliance rough-ins, plus a full bathroom with tile, vanity, and fixtures.
Separate Hvac & Heating
A separate heating source where tenants can control their own temperature is required for all Secondary Legal Suites in Calgary.
Mechanical Room Access
The City of Calgary requires that Homeowners & Tenants both have access to the mechanical room in case of emergency & yearly maintenance.
Basement Legal Suite Cost In Calgary
When it comes to total Basement Secondary Legal Suite cost in Calgary there is no doubt that the initial investment will be higher than a standard Basement Development project. The specific requirements to meet safety & Building Codes are different & should be thought of as such. It should also be kept in mind that you are essentially building a self contained apartment in a basement. All the procedures, safety measures & materials used to build your main floor must be duplicated downstairs. This means kitchen/appliance components, laundry components, heating/ventilation components, bed & bath components etc. Now having said that, if completed correctly & with a little forward thinking a basement rental suite can be an excellent source of both short term & long term investment potential. The average new build has a 10-15% ROI long term property value increase & whatever rental income collected in the short term. It’s a win-win by most standards. Choices of finishings are the main factor in total development costs for any Legal Suite project. The questions a homeowner should consider when trying to estimate a budget are personal preference in almost every case: Does the homeowner want the kitchen to have an island..? What type of appliances are being considered..? Stone or Laminate countertops..? Is there a seperate entrance existing or is one needed..? There are so many variables that make each Basement Legal Suite unique. Typically a full Secondary Legal Suite with all required permits & completed correctly can cost between 60k-80k+ and above for higher end finishings or large basements. Again you have to remember, you are building a fully contained apartment in a basement. These average costs consist of new kitchen cabinets, countertops, appliances, separate heating system, separate entrance, labour, permits, materials & required licensed trades (ie electrical, plumbing, gas, hvac etc) To assess any type of accurate project cost on a Registered Basement Legal Suite project, we would welcome to schedule a time to view the space & discuss the ideas or requirements a homeowner may be considering.. We view each project with objectivity, discuss options, and give our best advice to help with the most important decisions that need to be made. Many homeowners are surprised when discussing what the City of Calgary requires to develop a legal rental unit & we are happy to help homeowners with the information needed to make informed decisions & make any project run smoothly. Although there is some red tape that come with these projects, the process is relatively straightforward & can be completed fairly easy if you know the process & what the City of Calgary inspectors will require to meet all building code requirements.
Secondary Legal Suite FAQs
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