Calgary's registered secondary suites double to 26,000 in two years

Calgary's registry of legal secondary suites has doubled from 13,000 in 2024 to around 26,000 today — a shift that's reshaping how the city adds rental housing.

The growth stems from two city moves: a $10,000 incentive program that helps homeowners cover construction costs, and the elimination of development permits that previously added weeks and expense to projects. Contractors say the change is tangible. The Basement Renovators, which specializes in secondary suites, now draws about half its business from them — up sharply from before.

Josh Howes, the city's suites manager, said Calgary spent the past decade removing barriers. "Secondary suites have always been around, but the city is really taking a proactive direct approach making sure that the process to build safe legal suites was supported," he said.

The city has created what housing officials call an efficient approach to secondary suite development. Over the past three years, newly registered secondary suites represent a quarter of all new housing units added in Calgary.

As of June 24, the city stopped accepting new applications until more funding becomes available. Officials expect the registry to reach 30,000 suites by 2027.

Homeowners with suites built before March 2018 can still register them under an amnesty program that expires December 31, 2026, without facing penalties. Council unanimously voted to extend that deadline from its original 2023 expiry.