The City of Calgary has announced its Secondary Suite Incentive Program, aiming to enhance the safety as well as the availability of housing. This initiative offers up to $10,000 per qualifying property owner to assist with the construction and registration of secondary suites. Although applications are not yet open, an announcement will be made once the program is available. It should be noted that backyard suites do not qualify for this funding at this time.
Encouraging Safe Secondary Suites
The City noted that some property owners were avoiding building or renovating registered secondary suites due to renovation costs. The Secondary Suite Incentive Program provides financial support to qualifying property owners, helping them to build and register a safe and legal secondary suite, although not all costs would be covered.
A key focus is to subsidize safety elements that may be lacking in the suite space, to encourage safer, better housing. The maximum incentive amount for safety items is $10,000 per home.
Elements Covered
Property owners may qualify for specific upgrades to upgrade a secondary suite to a safer standard; incentive maximums apply for each element.
Egress Windows – Up To $1,500
Each bedroom must have one window that can be fully opened for escape during emergencies, and must open without the use of keys, tools, or special knowledge, and without removing sashes or hardware. The window must provide an unobstructed opening of 0.35 m² with no dimension less than 380 mm. Suites that do not meet egress requirements qualify for this safety item.
Smoke-tight Barrier – Up To $4,000
A smoke-tight barrier requires certain building specifications to ensure a smoke-tight seal. Suites that do not meet these specifications qualify for this safety item.
Hardwired and Interconnected Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms – Up To $1,000
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms must be installed appropriately in each bedroom, common space, and supplementary spaces, including mechanical (furnace) rooms. The alarms must be permanently wired to the electrical panel through a circuit containing lighting or a mix of lighting and receptacles and must be interconnected. The activation of one smoke alarm must trigger all alarms in the secondary suite and at least one alarm in the main residence. Single-unit smoke and carbon monoxide alarm devices are acceptable if a carbon monoxide alarm is within 5 metres of a bedroom. Property owners without the required alarms or with non-hardwired or non-interconnected alarms qualify for this item.
Protected Exiting – Up To $1,000
Property owners must ensure safe exit routes in case of fire or emergency. If a suite’s only exit is via an exterior staircase with a window or other opening above it, this exit must be protected. Property owners without protected exiting will qualify.
Split Heat/Separate Air – Up To $6,000
New secondary suites require an independent heating and ventilation system with separate ductwork. property owners lacking a separate heat source and planning to install one qualify for this safety item.
Additional Funding for Accessibility and Energy Efficiency
Property owners may also receive an additional $1,250 for ENERGY STAR-certified egress windows and split heat/separate air equipment. Up to $5,000 is available for creating accessible spaces for individuals with common mobility issues.
Permitting and Construction
Permits should be obtained before starting construction. Qualifying amounts may be lower than expected if work is completed before applying and verifying the missing components.
Property owners can apply for their own building permits and complete the work themselves. Suites with older permits are also eligible, as any suite with a building permit qualifies. The amount received will depend on the elements that are identified as missing during the incentive application review.