Secondary Suites

Safety standards for secondary suites

Secondary suites are self-contained living units created within single-family homes. These suites include a kitchen, bathroom and a separate entrance, and provide Albertans with an affordable housing option.

Following extensive public consultation, new safety standards for secondary suites will come into effect in Alberta.

Building code standards for new suites took effect December 31, 2006, while fire code standards for existing suites will take effect December 31, 2008. These dates ensure that new suites constructed meet the safety standards, while providing owners of existing suites with two years to bring their properties into compliance with the new code requirements.

Municipalities will continue to choose whether to develop bylaws allowing secondary suites in their communities, as well as deciding which areas may be zoned to permit secondary suites.

We worked with municipal governments, fire and building code-enforcing authorities, social organizations, the building industry, and Albertans like you to develop these new standards for the safe construction and maintenance of secondary suites.

Click here to read the Alberta Building Code Amendment Regulation (secondary suites)

Click here to read the Alberta Fire Code Amendment Regulation (secondary suites)

Click here to see how implementing the standards might look.

For more information about secondary suites, contact the Municipal Affairs Safety Services branch toll-free at 1-866-421-6929.

Related links:

STANDATA

MLA committee's final report (pdf)
Template Bylaw for Adopting Secondary Suites (pdf)
Fact sheet (pdf)
Questions and answers
News release announcing new standards (November 22, 2006)
News release announcing final public consultation (March 9, 2006)