Secondary Suites

Secondary suites help provide Edmontonians with a diverse range of housing choices.

A secondary suite is a separate dwelling located within a single-detached, semi-detached, or row house with its own living, cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities.

A suite may be created through the development or conversion of a basement or other interior space within a house, accessed without passing through the principal (main) dwelling, such as through common interior space, or directly into the suite from outside.

A secondary suite is not permitted in an apartment or a boarding/lodging house. No subdivision is fundamental to the use and definition of a secondary suite. A secondary suite remains subordinate—secondary—to the principal dwelling or suite.

To see if your property is zoned for a secondary suite, check your property’s zoning designation. Visit maps.edmonton.ca to see if secondary suites are listed in your zone.

Secondary suites are typically allowed in zones where single detached, semi-detached, duplex or row houses are allowed. You can also consult a Development Officer at the Edmonton Service Centre.

Important Information About Permits

For detailed information regarding secondary suite design requirements and considerations, including Suite Rough-in provisions, please refer to the Secondary Suite Design Guide .

Plans for heating and ventilation, plumbing, gas or electrical systems are not reviewed prior to the issuance of permits, as code compliance is audited during inspections. Homeowners and/or contractors are responsible for ensuring that design and construction meet code.

Inspections may be required at various stages of your project. Review your building permit conditions to understand when to request inspections.

Projects may require both a development permit and a building permit. Separate permits are required for heating and ventilation, plumbing, gas, and electrical work.

Any Secondary Suite, regardless of the construction year, that exists without the required Development Permit is subject to double the regular application fees.

Who can apply for permits?

A certified trade contractor is required to apply for heating and ventilation, plumbing, gas, and electrical permits when the home shares any wall or floor/ceiling with a neighbour.

Homeowners must live in their single-detached house in order to apply for homeowner heating and ventilation, plumbing, gas, and electrical permits for that house.

Application Requirements

Site Plan

The site plan shows the entire existing property. City staff need the site plan to understand where tenants and firefighters will enter the suite.

A site plan must include:

Property address
Suite entrance location
The distance between the house and fence on both sides of the house (side setback measurements)

Drawing Tips

There are different ways to make a site plan:

Real Property Report with markups — Sample Site Plan
Aerial photo with markups — Sample Site Plan
Hand drawn - Sample Site Plan

Floor Plan

City staff need a detailed floor plan to make sure your application follows the zoning bylaw and building code requirements.

The secondary suite floor plan must include:

The layout of the suite, including stairs, doors, and windows
Room labels (such as bedroom, kitchen, living room, storage, and other rooms)
Bedroom window labels including dimensions and window style (for example awning windows, sliders, basement hopper windows)
Utility and mechanical room details including furnaces, baseboard heating, heat recovery ventilators, and other details (primary and secondary heating and ventilation sources)

City staff might ask for a main floor plan if they need more information about how the main floor connects to the secondary suite.

Drawing Tips:

Sound Separation

Sound absorbing material (batt insulation or cellulose fill) must be installed in walls and in the ceiling between the secondary suite and the main dwelling, as well as between the suite and any common area where noise may be generated.
Sound separation construction intentions must be declared on the:

Sound Separation Declaration within a House with Secondary Suite, OR
On the floor plan in clear terms

Pictures of the outside of the house (Exterior Photographs)

City staff need pictures to understand how the fire department will access the secondary suite in the event of a fire.

In the application, please include pictures of the:

front of the house
left side of the house
right side of the house
back of the house

Please see the Sample (front, left, right and back) pictures for reference.

Elevation Drawings

Elevation drawings are required if you are making changes to the outside of the house. (eg. enlarging windows, adding windows, adding exterior doors). Elevation drawings show four sides of the house and the types of exterior finishing materials.

Elevation drawings must:

Show existing exterior walls and proposed alterations, including any windows and doors, and their dimensions
Specify finishing materials for walls (e.g., brick, stucco), roof (e.g., asphalt shingle, concrete tile), fascia, soffit, etc
Provide dimensions of:
- grade to top of finished main floor
- top of the finished main floor to the eave
- eave to roof ridge (highest point)
- see the Zoning Bylaw for definitions and diagrams
Provide sufficient detail about the intended changes, the materials involved, methods of installation or construction, and any supporting documentation for materials not found in Alberta Building Code

Structural and Engineering Documents

If there are changes to the structure of the house (beams, posts supporting beams, load-bearing walls, floors, wall opening enlargement or new openings in foundation walls), engineer stamped drawings are required.

Submit Your Application

Fees

Most projects require a development permit and a building permit. City staff will determine which permits and fees apply.

Starting work without permit(s) is subject to penalties.

Each application is unique. Typical applications involve the following fees:

Fixed Price Application Fees Effective January 1, 2023
Permit Type	Permit Fee	Safety Codes Fee	Total
Development Permit	$335	-	$335
Gas Permit	$115	$4.60	$119.60
Plumbing Permit	$115	$4.60	$119.60
Heating, Cooling or Ventilation (HVAC) Permit	$115	$4.60	$119.60

Building Permit Fee 2023 fees effective January 1 2023
Construction Value	Building Permit Fee	Safety Code Fee	Total
$0 - $10,000	$115	$4.60	$119.60
$10,001 - $50,000	$365	$14.60	$379.60
$50,001 - $100,000	$1015	$40.60	$1,055.60
Over $100,000	$1,975	$79.00	$2054.00

Electrical Permit Fee

Consult the 2023 Building and Trade Permit Fees for details on electrical permit fees

Construction Value: total cost of materials and services.

Construction Value does not include: landscaping, parking lots, sidewalks, furnishings, appliances, interior window coverings, temporary service connections, insurance or bonding, interim financing, permit fees, professional consulting fees, GST.

See the 2023 Residential Permits and Fees (effective January 1, 2023) for more information. Additional fees may apply.
There are several ways to make a payment.

Online Application Checklist

Required For All Applications:

Site plan
Floor plan
Sound Transmission Confirmation Form
Exterior Pictures

Additional documents required for specific cases:

Elevation Drawings (for adding / changing the exterior windows and doors)
Engineer-stamped drawings (for making changes to the structural components)

File Instructions:

Name files to describe contents and project address (Example: “Site Plan - 321 45 Street NW)
One combined file or multiple files are accepted
Ensure the project address is included within every file

In-Person Application Checklist

To apply in person, complete the following documents and visit the Edmonton Service Centre located in the Edmonton Tower Building. There are several ways to make a payment.

Required For All Applications:

Home Improvement Permit Paper Application Form
Site plan
Floor plan
Sound Separation Declaration within a House with Secondary Suite
Exterior Pictures

Additional documents required for specific cases:

Elevation Drawings (for adding/changing the exterior windows and doors)
Engineer-stamped drawings (for making changes to the structural components)

File Instructions:

Ensure the project address is included on every file
Do not include personal information on site plans or drawings

After You Apply

Application Processing

City staff will review your application to ensure your project complies with the City of Edmonton Zoning Bylaw and applicable Safety Codes.

Processing Times

Overall application processing times can be found on the development and construction application processing times web page. Applicants can also check the status of their specific application by visiting their project dashboard at selfserve.edmonton.ca.

Building Permit Queue Times

See up-to-date queue times for building permit applications.

More Information Requests

City staff may request additional information at various stages of the Development Permit and Building Permit process. To learn how to reply to a more information request in selfserve.edmonton.ca, see the More Information Requested (MIR) Guide.

Changing Your Application or Permit

Changes and revisions can be submitted at various stages of the process.

To make changes:

Before a Home Improvement Permit is issued, consult with the City staff assigned to your file.
After a Home Improvement Permit is issued, request revisions by visiting the project dashboard on selfserve.edmonton.ca.

Additional charges may apply for revisions.

To cancel your application, email the Cancellation/Refund Request form to the City employee handling your application.

Scheduling Your Mandatory Inspection

The Building Permit holder should request inspections online at selfserve.edmonton.ca.

To learn more, visit Safety Codes Inspection Services.

Construction Site Management

Consult the Working With Neighbourhoods page for a listing of resources and tips for best practices for building.

Temporary use or crossing of the road right-of-way for demolition, deliveries, and construction requires On-Street Construction and Maintenance (OSCAM) Permits. This is to ensure you are not damaging the boulevard, sidewalk or City-owned trees while you access your site. You should apply for your OSCAM Permit once your Demolition or Building Permit applications have been submitted.

For More Information

Development and Building Permits
2nd floor, Edmonton Tower
10111 - 104 Avenue NW
Edmonton AB T5J 0J4

Telephone	In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
TTY	780-944-5555
Email	developmentservices@edmonton.ca

Important Information About Permits

Who can apply for permits?

Application Requirements

Elevation drawings must:

Submit Your Application

Electrical Permit Fee

After You Apply

Processing Times

Building Permit Queue Times

More Information Requests

Grant Funding for Secondary Suites

Secondary Suite Registry

Frequently Asked Questions

For More Information

Secondary Suites

Important Information About Permits

Who can apply for permits?

Application Requirements

Elevation drawings must:

Submit Your Application

Electrical Permit Fee

After You Apply

Processing Times

Building Permit Queue Times

More Information Requests

Related Documents

Secondary Suite Design Guide

Related Links