Legalizing Existing Suites

A Smart Investment in Compliance and Safety


If you own or are considering purchasing a property with an illegal suite built before March 2018, now is the perfect time to make it legal. We specialize in guiding homeowners through the legalization process, ensuring your suite meets city regulations while enhancing its safety, marketability, and long-term value.


How the Legalization Process Works


We begin by conducting a site review to determine if your suite qualifies under the city's building advisory for legalizing suites built before 2018. Our team will assess what upgrades are required to meet current regulations, focusing on key areas such as kitchen/cooking facilities and egress windows. We’ll also advise on necessary changes to meet smoke separation and safety codes.


Typical Challenges with Illegal Suites:

Many illegal suites have common deficiencies, such as:

  • Egress windows that are too small.

  • Incomplete smoke separation in mechanical rooms.

  • Lack of solid core doors for smoke separation.

  • Missing interconnected, hardwired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.


Why Legalizing Your Suite is Worth It


Legalizing your suite under the Secondary Suite Amnesty Program is much more affordable than building a new one from scratch to current standards. In addition to the savings found under the Amnesty Program, legalization developments also qualify under the Secondary Suite Incentive Program resulting in up to $10,000 of additional funding from the City of Calgary.

A legal suite not only adds value to your property, but it also ensures safety for tenants, eliminates future bylaw risks, and makes your property more marketable.

Curious how much extra income your basement could generate? Use our Basement Suite Income Calculator to estimate your potential monthly earnings. Simply input a few details, and we’ll help you see how turning your basement into a legal suite can boost your property's value while providing a steady income stream. Whether you’re a homeowner or an investor, this tool offers an easy way to assess the financial benefits of developing a basement suite.


Discover our Comprehensive Suite Development Solutions