Suite success: how homeowners created thousands of homes through Incentive Program

Thousands of Calgarians now have safer, legal housing options through The City of Calgary’s Secondary Suite Incentive Program, which committed $45 million in federal and municipal investments so far to help homeowners build, improve and legalize secondary suites.

“This is an achievement owned by Calgarians who stepped up, utilizing incentives that resulted in thousands of new housing options in our city,” says Josh Howes, Suites Manager, Development, Business and Building Services. “Giving renters confidence that their home has been reviewed and approved by The City is an important outcome, as all Calgarians deserve to feel safe in their home.”

The incentive program, which provided qualified homeowners up to $10,000 to cover a portion of construction costs, significantly contributed to the expansion of safe housing in Calgary, doubling the number of suites on the Secondary Suite Registry from 13,000 in 2024 to 26,000 today.

“We started with just 431 registered suites in 2015. Today, new registered secondary suites represent a quarter of all new units added in Calgary over the past three years. That growth shows homeowners are choosing to meet safety standards, complete inspections and provide renters with a suite that is legal and safe,” says Cliff De Jong, Manager of Programs and Services, Development, Business and Building Services.

The Secondary Suite Incentive Program is part of Home is Here, The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy.

“At less than $10,000 per door, this program has been the most efficient and cost-effective way to create thousands of new homes across Calgary,” says Reid Hendry, Chief Housing Officer. “By helping homeowners add safe, legal secondary suites, we’ve vastly increased the supply of market-affordable rental homes in established communities where people already have access to services and amenities.

While the Secondary Suite Incentive Program applications are wrapping up, homeowners under review are still in line to receive funding. The waitlist remains open until applications are reviewed, and all funding is disbursed.

The Amnesty Program remains open until December 2026. Owners of suites constructed prior to March 2018 must ensure their existing suites meet the minimum life safety requirements.

Renters searching for a safe, legal suite can look for The City’s official Registered Secondary Suite sticker in the window and visit the Secondary Suite Registry.

Background:

• 50 per cent of suites added to the Secondary Suite Registry in Calgary were incentivized through this program.
• Approximately 7,000 secondary suites will have benefited directly from the incentive program (once all contracts are fulfilled and money handed out in mid-to-late 2027).
• The Secondary Suite Registry will grow to 30,000 suites by 2027.

Courtesy: The City of Calgary Newsroom