NEWS - Calgary Secondary Suites

Looks like anyone with an illegal suite can legalize it to fire code standards rather than building code standards, as long as your suite was built before March 12, 2018.

http://www.calgary.ca/PDA/pd/Documents/building/advisories/BR-Advisory-Secondary-Suites-FAQ.pdf

This will be in effect for the next two years, after that they will need to be legalized to building code standards.

What does this mean for investors in Calgary?

1. For owners of illegal suites - you really need to find a way to legalize them within the next two years as it will cost a lot more to do so after June 2020.

2. For investors looking to buy more rental properties - there is a window of two years to go and build a portfolio of legal secondary suites for much less of a renovation expense than there has ever been in Calgary. This is the city cleaning up the secondary suite situation and shrewd investors can take advantage! After two years we're back to where we have always been... but for the next two years you can buy pretty well any illegal secondary suite for sale and legalize to fire code standards rather than building code.

For those investors with JV partners that have been lukewarm this is a great way to re-engage with them!

Great share, thanks. Now, if we can subdivide lots front to back in the inner city for laneway homes...

On Friday I toured a client's new development: three separately titled row houses each with their own legal one bedroom suite in the basement. So six units. 3 parking stalls on site. standard sized lot, R-CG in Killarney. Great development opportunities out there if you know what to look for

Matt Crowley said:

Great share, thanks. Now, if we can subdivide lots front to back in the inner city for laneway homes...

Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing it is very informative...

Thank you so much Brett!

Any recommendations on who to hire that is familiar with the fire code standards?


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anyone keeping up with the latest rules? i heard it is now required to bring it up to ABC 2019 and the fire code is not sufficient anymore regardless of the year, can anyone shed more light on this? my basement suites for my duplex is are up to fire code, but I do not have the requirement for the extra funace/venting which is required now I heard.