Are you interested in developing a secondary suite in Calgary? Here`s everything you need to know to make sure your basement apartment is legal! All existing apartments built before 2018 must meet the minimum life safety requirements set out in the Alberta Building Code, including: During Calgary`s current economic downturn, it`s very tempting for some homeowners to make things a little easier by adding an apartment to the basement and attracting potential tenants. Rental income is a great source of income for first-time homeowners. Seniors may also want to stay in their home, but no longer need all the space in the house. Creating a basement suite allows them to stay in their favorite neighborhood of the city. A backyard suite is a self-contained residence separate from the main residence. These include garage suites, garden suites or alley houses. For example, R-C1 neighbourhoods allow both single-family homes and secondary apartments. A landlord may choose to convert their basement to a legalized apartment, which offers more choices of apartments in the community, but does not increase the number of main units on the property. – When the main suite and the basement suite are separated by full fire protection. You can use a sprinkler or drywall in the mechanical room (if possible), under the stairs and adjacent ceilings.
RentFaster.ca worked with the City of Calgary to allow landlords and managers to mark their listing as a certified secondary apartment simply by providing their licence number. An icon will appear in the corresponding entries showing updated city information. For landlords, owning a legal basement apartment can be profitable: Currently, landlords who wish to legalise an existing basement apartment on land may not apply for a development permit (DP) under the DP exemption program if the dwelling meets the rules of the Land Use Ordinance. Each district has different rules. To find out if basement apartments are allowed in your neighbourhood, enter your property address in the Property Information Tool. The building permit application process is similar. He ensures that the cellar complies with the legal requirements of the Code. The City of Calgary requires that you provide an exterior site plan showing outdoor living space and parking for each unit, as well as separate entrances for each unit.
The City of Calgary will send officers to verify if any outstanding work needs to be done on your property to comply with the Fire Protection Act. If this is the case, you will need a permit to account for safety considerations under the 2014 Alberta Fire Code for a basement. However, all this only happens if your property is located in RC-1 zone. In this case, the City of Calgary requires you to have a development permit. If the basement is not registered with the City of Calgary and is considered illegal, the following questions arise: Can I make changes to my secondary apartment after the building permit has been approved? Investing in a legal secondary suite is usually worthwhile. At a recent Partners in Planning meeting organized by the Federation of Calgary Communities, several questions were asked to understand the impact of follow-up in an established field. We recommend that you affix the stickers at the entry point of the suite. This informs current and future residents that the suite is part of the city`s registration program. Are you planning to develop a legal basement on a property located in an area designated for secondary apartments? To apply for a building permit, follow these steps: – If the smoke detectors between the basement and the primary unit are connected, wired or connected via Bluetooth. The reason for this is that fire alarms in both units are triggered at the same time if there is a fire in one of them. In addition, the team checks the mechanical room, the hallway, if it is the common area of the unit and each room to be inspected for smoke and/or CO2 detectors.
The registry is intended to educate Calgarians about the importance of public safety and the security features of a secondary legal package. City-inspected suites that meet the requirements of Alberta`s safety regulations provide the necessary measures to protect lives. Do you want to buy or sell a property with a basement apartment in Calgary? It is important to know if the sequel is considered legal or illegal. To confirm whether the suite is legal, it must be registered on the City of Calgary`s website, the Secondary Suite Registry. A basement suite requires at least one exit door, although this may lead to an entrance hall or a shared exit area with the rest of the property. Doors can be opened inwards or outwards and must be at least 198 cm x 81 cm long. There are also specific rules for basement stairs. These must be at least 86 cm free and have at least one continuous handrail at a height between 80 cm and 96.5 cm. Platforms must be at least 90 cm long and the same width as stairs.
Call before digging. As a landlord, make sure you know if a building permit is required before building your basement apartment. Even if you hire a contractor who claims that a building permit is not required, you will be held liable if you are fined. The City will investigate all complaints, if it is determined that your secondary suite no longer meets Alberta safety codes, your suite will be removed from registration. On September 28, 2015, the City launched an online program for the Secondary Suite Registry and Registered Stickers. This allows individuals to verify that a basement apartment meets the requirements of the Alberta Building Code at the time of a city inspection. Are dwellings included in the density calculation of the Municipal Development Plan (MMP)? While this may seem like an easy solution to generate extra income in the short term and add long-term value to your home, there are many things to consider. Just because you have an existing suite in your basement or the ability to turn your ground floor living space into a tenant suite doesn`t mean it`s necessarily legal. Density is calculated based on the number of main dwellings on a lot and does not include backyard or secondary apartments. These apartments do not increase the number of units primarily occupied on a property, as they are created either in the existing house or in the backyard. A suite must be approved with a primary residence. These are not separate residential units, which means that these suites cannot be divided or sold separately from the main house.
Keep in mind that owning a legal basement suite pays off by allowing you to rent out your suite and increase the value of your property. A legal basement can be a major selling point for tenants and buyers, as it means the unit meets all the requirements of Alberta`s Safety Codes Act. A building permit is required for all secondary suites, regardless of when they were built. Registered secondary suites are listed on the city`s website and receive a numbered sticker that can be affixed to the suite`s main entrance. Landlords can use the registration and sticker to promote their apartment to current and future residents. If an operational suite does not appear in the registry, you can contact customer service to file a complaint. Individuals can enter the address, community or property registration sticker number to determine if a basement apartment is legal. Owners who register their second legalized suite can also get a registered sticker that they can use to market their suite to potential tenants.
For a map of all verified basements, click here. Are taxes levied on suites located in the established area? A checklist for second homes can also be found at Legal basement apartments are only allowed in detached single-family homes in certain parts of the city.