Why Aren't More Calgary Secondary Suites Registered?

Official title: Secondary Suites Registration Feedback

Closed Policy & Studies Housing & Communities
Calgary wanted to understand why many basement suites aren't registered with the city. They asked homeowners and renters about barriers to registration—things like cost, paperwork, or fear of inspections. The feedback is now being used to improve the registration process.

Why This Matters

Rent a basement suite? This affects whether your home meets safety standards. Own one? The city's trying to make registration easier and cheaper. Unregistered suites can mean fire hazards, no tenant protections, and headaches if something goes wrong.

What Could Change

Calgary is using this feedback to improve registration incentives and reduce barriers. The Secondary Suite Incentive Program may offer grants or streamlined approvals. Expect changes to inspection processes and support for homeowners wanting to legalize existing suites.

Key Issues

  • What barriers prevent homeowners from registering their secondary suites?
  • What challenges do renters face in unregistered suites?
  • How can the city improve incentives and processes for registration?

How to Participate

  1. This consultation has concluded. Review the What We Heard Report to see what participants shared.
  2. See the What We Are Doing Report to learn how Calgary is responding to feedback.
  3. Visit the Secondary Suite Incentive Program for next steps and current supports.

What Happened

The online engagement ran from November 6 to December 15, 2023. The project page received 7,687 views from 4,740 unique visitors. A total of 762 contributions were submitted by 332 homeowners with registered suites, 190 homeowners with unregistered suites, and 206 renters. The feedback identified barriers to registration and is being used to improve processes, supports, and incentives.