We’d all like to save money on home renovations. Luckily for you, the City of Calgary just made that possible. They announced Secondary Suite Incentive Program in June 2024 which allows qualifying homeowners to be reimbursed for up to $10,000 when they build and register a secondary suite. We’ve put together all the details you need to know.
Am I eligible for Calgary’s Secondary Suite Incentive Program?
There’s a few requirements for the Secondary Suite Incentive Program:
Your project must have a building permit
Only suites within the main dwelling unit are eligible (i.e., no garage or garden suites)
Homeowners must complete an e-learning course here
Homeowners must apply directly; contractors cannot do this on their behalf
You can make an application on the City of Calgary’s website here.
What kind of costs can I be reimbursed for?
You can be reimbursed for safety elements that are not already part of your home. You can get a maximum of $10,000 in total. Here’s the full list:
Suite Feature | Maximum Amount |
Egress window(s) | $1,500 |
Hardwired and interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms | $1,000 |
Protected exiting | $1,000 |
Smoke tight barrier | $4,000 |
Split heat/separate air (Not required for all secondary suites) | $6,000 |
Why is the City of Calgary offering reimbursements?
The program is aimed at increasing housing supply, especially in suburban Calgary. It encourages homeowners to build legal basement suites and therefore make more places available to rent. A key goal is to improve housing affordability and offer more choices of housing options.
The reimbursement program is also intended to ensure that rental suites are constructed in accordance with the building code. It is specifically aimed at offsetting the cost of safety elements so that Calgarians can live in safe housing.
Where does the money come from?
The City of Calgary’s program budget comes from the Housing Accelerator Fund. That is a $4 billion federal program that supports municipalities. It is administered through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. In total, Calgary was awarded $228.5 million across seven initiatives.
Do I need to apply before I start building?
Applications can be submitted after you have a building permit (when you work with us, we will handle the permitting process or you!). While you’re not required to do so, it will be much easier if you apply before you begin construction. This makes it possible to verify that the elements for which you will be reimbursed are not present in your home already.
Can a contractor like Sunurban Developments apply for me?
Unfortunately not! Only the homeowners can apply for the permit. Fortunately, it is a very simple process. You can submit an application here.
How long does approval for the program take?
The City estimates that it will take 5 to 7 business days to process most applications.
How do I get reimbursed?
When you apply to the program, you will be given a pre-approval amount based on your suite. To be reimbursed, you need to submit receipts or paid invoices related to the cost of your secondary suite costs. Any costs coming from the completion of your secondary suite can be submitted as proof.
If you’re doing work on your own, you’ll need to hold onto all that paperwork to send to the City. If you’re working with a contractor like us, then the invoices we send you for your suite will do the job!
When does the program close?
While no deadline has been announced, the Housing Accelerator Fund itself will close on September 1, 2026. Therefore, you should plan on getting this done before the end of 2026!