Suite success: how homeowners created thousands of homes through Incentive Program

Thousands of Calgarians now have safer, legal housing options through The City of Calgary’s Secondary Suite Incentive Program , which committed $45 million in federal and municipal investments so far to help homeowners build, improve and legalize secondary suites. “This is an achievement owned by Calgarians who stepped up, utilizing incentives that resulted in thousands of new housing options in our city,” says Josh Howes, Suites Manager, Development, Business and Building Services. “Giving renters confidence that their home has been reviewed and approved by The City is an important outcome, as all Calgarians deserve to feel safe in their home.” The incentive program, which provided qualified homeowners up to $10,000 to cover a portion of construction costs, significantly contributed to the expansion of safe housing in Calgary, doubling the number of suites on the Secondary Suite Registry from 13,000 in 2024 to 26,000 today. “We started with just 431 registered suites in 2015. Today, new registered secondary suites represent a quarter of all new units added in Calgary over the past three years. That growth shows homeowners are choosing to meet safety standards, complete inspections