The City of Calgary has run two programs to get more secondary suites registered as safe and legal: an incentive program that paid part of the cost of required safety upgrades, and an amnesty program that waives fees for older suites. The incentive is now closed to new applicants, and the amnesty ends on December 31, 2026. Here is what each one means for Calgary homeowners right now, based on the City's own pages.
The quick version
- Secondary Suite Incentive Program: applications closed September 28, 2026. It offered qualifying homeowners up to $10,000 toward required safety elements. New applicants are no longer accepted.
- Secondary Suite Amnesty Program: ends December 31, 2026. For suites built before March 12, 2018, it waives development permit charges and registration fees, and may allow reduced building code requirements.
- Registry: the City says registry fees are currently waived through the amnesty until December 31, 2026.
What the incentive program offered (and why it's closed)
The City's incentive program launched in 2024 and provided up to $10,000 to help homeowners build and register a secondary suite inside the main dwelling (not backyard suites). It reimbursed required safety elements such as egress windows, interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, protected exits, smoke-tight barriers and, where needed, split heating or separate air. According to the City, the number of suites on the registry more than doubled during the program, from 13,000 to about 27,000.
Applications closed on September 28, 2026. The City says homeowners already under review remain in line on a waitlist until funding is disbursed. If you did not apply before the deadline, plan your budget without this incentive.
Who the amnesty is for
The amnesty is for existing suites that were in place before March 12, 2018, when secondary suite rules were added to Calgary's Land Use Bylaw. According to the City's advisory and FAQ, a suite is only accepted as existing if:
- all required elements were in place before March 12, 2018;
- it is a self-contained unit with a sleeping area or bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen with cooking facilities, a living area, and a private entrance separate from the main entry (a shared stairwell is acceptable if it opens directly outside);
- it has stayed essentially the same; fundamental changes must meet the current code;
- the owner signs an Owner Declaration, and a Safety Codes Officer may assess the suite.
The City's guidebook notes that changes such as adding or renovating a separate entrance, removing structural walls or adding walls for more rooms, or adding new windows to increase the number of bedrooms can disqualify a suite from pre-2018 status.
Minimum life-safety requirements
Even under the amnesty, existing suites must meet minimum life-safety requirements. The City lists these as a bedroom window exit, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, a protected exit route from the basement to the exterior, drywall barriers between suites, and drywall barriers in the mechanical room. From the City's advisory documents:
- Bedroom windows: each bedroom needs at least one window that can be fully opened from inside, with an unobstructed opening of at least 0.35 m² and no dimension under 380 mm. Where there is a window well, the City's FAQ calls for 550 mm of clearance in front of the window.
- Separations: dwelling units, exits and the furnace room are separated with at least one layer of 12.7 mm (½ inch) gypsum board or equivalent on each side, and the furnace room needs a solid door.
- Alarms: smoke and CO alarms that are hardwired and interconnected.
Your file manager confirms the exact requirements for your suite when you apply, so treat this list as a starting point.
What happens after December 31, 2026?
The City says the amnesty ends on December 31, 2026, and that its interpretation for pre-2018 suites applies until then, after which the advisory will be reviewed. The City has not published what replaces it. If you have an older suite and want the fee waivers, the safe assumption is to apply before the deadline. Council has extended the amnesty before, but there is no guarantee it will be extended again.
What to do now
- Check whether your suite qualifies as pre-2018 using the City's secondary suites page and guidebook.
- Walk the suite against the life-safety list above: windows, alarms, separations, exits.
- Apply before December 31, 2026 through the City, and expect inspections.
- Plan the upgrades. Window enlargements and electrical or mechanical work need qualified trades and their own permits. Drywall separations, doors, trim and finishing are carpentry work, and that's where we come in. Tell us what your suite needs through the quote form.
Frequently asked questions
Is the $10,000 secondary suite incentive still available in Calgary?
No. The City of Calgary says applications for the Secondary Suite Incentive Program closed on September 28, 2026. Applicants already in the queue stay on a waitlist until funding is disbursed.
When does the Calgary secondary suite amnesty end?
December 31, 2026, according to the City of Calgary.
Does the amnesty apply to a suite I built in 2020?
No. The amnesty is for suites that existed before March 12, 2018. Suites built after that date must meet the current National Building Code – 2023 Alberta Edition.
What fees does the amnesty waive?
The City says homeowners who use the amnesty before the deadline can avoid development permit charges and registration fees. Building permits and inspections are still part of the process.
Sources
- City of Calgary: Secondary suites and backyard suites
- City of Calgary: Secondary Suite Incentive Program
- City of Calgary advisory: Secondary suites existing prior to March 12, 2018 (PDF)
- City of Calgary: Existing secondary suite FAQ (PDF)
- City of Calgary: Secondary Suite Program Guidebook (PDF)
- City of Calgary Newsroom: Suite success
Rules, programs and prices change. Always confirm details with the source before you plan or budget.
