Are you looking to increase your revenue by adding a suite to your basement? Or your next home you would like a ready made suite to balance your books at months end?
There are MANY considerations.

June 2008 - new Land Use Bylaw is passed: secondary suites became legal. IF..
- created before 1970, it could be non-conforming use
- 1970-1983 it could have a kitchen though no stove, no 220V wiring, etc.
- 1983 requires full compliance: fire separation wall, separate heating systems, separate entrance, etc.
- if it went unoccupied for 6 months or more you may no longer have a non-conforming suite--the City would not grandfather in the existing use
- suites are to be under 70m2 (753 sq ft)
- it could be considered a duplex at 71m2 & over
- houses currently zoned R-C1 (the old designation was R-1) with lots that are minimum 15.2m (50’) frontage & a total lot area of 400m2 could request a zoning change to R-C1s
 - R-C1s, a new zoning designation, could be approved for a basement suite, or even to develop a suite over your garage. Areas like McKenzie Towne & Garrison Woods have examples of legal suites over their garages (if you notice a 2 story garage, now you know what it could be).

For further details on the new zoning bylaw, you can call 311 or check it out online at http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/dba/land_use_bylaw_review/bylaw_1p2007.pdf
- R-C1s: see Divison 3, pages 299  
- For ’suites’ information : see Part 6, Division 1, section 573 (page378)

This is a long document on the City of Calgary’s website, Part 1 is 736 pages, part 2 is a further 290. I found it faster to ask than search, though you now have the sections gleened from my phone call.

Call today to see houses, suited or not!