Services / Secondary suites
DP + BP · Suites
Secondary suites, legal and registered.
New suites, existing suites that need to be legalized, and pre-purchase reviews for homes with a suite.
What a legal suite needs
Every new secondary suite needs a building permit. Depending on your zoning, a development permit may also be required. A legal suite has to meet building code requirements for:
- Fire separation between the units
- Egress windows and exits
- Interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Heating and ventilation
- Ceiling heights and room sizes
Legalizing an existing suite
Many homes have a suite that was never permitted. We visit the site, document what is there, identify what has to change to meet code, and prepare the drawings to permit it. In Calgary, once the suite passes its inspections, it can be added to the City's Secondary Suite Registry.
Buying a home with a suite?
Before you make an offer, we can review the existing suite and tell you what permits it would likely need and what work stands between it and a legal suite.
What we prepare
- Floor plans for each level involved
- Fire separation, egress and alarm details
- Development and building permit applications, as required
How it works
Three steps from idea to issued permit.
Information collection
We gather the information we need, such as your Real Property Report and photos, and sometimes conduct a site visit.
Drawings and review
We prepare your drawings, typically within 5 to 10 business days, and send you a draft to review and approve before anything is submitted.
Submission and approval
We submit the application on your behalf and handle the municipality's questions and revisions until your permit is issued.