Adding a suite to your home
Getting your suite up to code
CMHC incentive program

A "suite" thing for Red Deer:

What is a secondary suite?

A secondary suite is generally defined as any self-contained dwelling unit that is located within a primary dwelling unit, where both dwelling units are registered under the same land title.

A dwelling unit means a self contained building or a portion of a building usually containing cooking, eating, living, sleeping and sanitary facilities and used as a permanent residence by a household.

Where are secondary suites allowed?

Secondary suites are allowed on a discretionary basis in single family homes located in a R1, R1A, R2, R3 and C1 residential district.  In new neighbourhoods developed after the secondary suite Land Use bylaw amendments, secondary suites will be permitted subject to some location criteria.

Discretionary permits are circulated to adjacent landowners and are subject to appeal.

Regulations for secondary suites

♦ One suite per detached dwelling.
♦ Suites must have a seperate entrance door or a single entry door providing access to an enclosed shared landing area.
♦ Must provide one additional parking space if the suite has two or less bedrooms in addition to the parking requirements for the main dwelling.  Tandem parking is allowed.
♦ Must provide two additional parking spaces if the suite has more than two bedrooms in addition to the parking requirements for the main dwelling.

The Building Code appplies to:

♦ A new dwelling unit with secondary suite included at the time of construction. 
♦ An existing dwelling unit with an unfinished space being converted to a seconday suite.
♦ An existing dwelling unit with a finished space being converted to a secondary suite.

Changes to the Alberta Fire Code will also impact secondary suites.  Homeowners with an existing suite will be required to upgrade their suite to meet the Alberta Fire Code.  Both the Alberta Building Code (for new suites) prescribe specific requirements for secondary suites that include:

♦ room and unit seperations

♦ heating and ventilation systems

♦ minimum bedroom openable window size

♦ separate entrance

♦ habitable room height

♦ interconnected smoke alarms

What permits do I need?

A secondary suite permit is required for all new and existing secondary suites.  Applications are reviewed to ensure they comply with the Land Use Bylaw and either the Alberta Building Code or the Alberta Fire Code before issuing the permit.

This information has been brought to you by The City of Red Deer.  If you have an existing suite or want to develop a new suite, call inspections and Licensing or visit The City of Red Deer website for more information.

Inspections & Licensing
The City of Red Deer
Box 5008, Red Deer, AB
T4N 3T4
Ph# 403-342-8190
inspections@reddeer.ca