Ward 4 has many secondary suites, and often my office receives emails asking about secondary suites and how to create one. The link has a wealth of information for those that are thinking about making a secondary suite in their home, and want to know what kind of support the city is able to provide.
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The Secondary Suite Incentive Program supports safe housing for all. The program will provide qualifying homeowners with up to $10,000 to build and register a secondary suite.
The incentive applies to suites built within the main dwelling, not for backyard or detached suites. Applications are limited to one per person, and you must own the property through the entire process.
Qualifying homeowners can apply for the program if they have an active building permit for a secondary suite. You can get a building permit at apply.calgary.ca.
You will qualify for reimbursement for the cost of installing all required safety elements that aren’t in the space when you apply. The program will not fully fund construction of a secondary suite. The qualifying safety elements are outlined in the table below.
| Safety element | Cost* |
|---|---|
| Egress window(s)
|
$1,500 |
| Hardwired and interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms | $1,000 |
| Protected exiting | $1,000 |
| Smoke tight barrier | $4,000 |
| Split heat/separate air (Not required for all secondary suites) | $6,000 |
* Maximum eligibility for safety items is $10,000 per home.
