Calgary's Secondary Suite Incentive Program has helped nearly double the number of legal secondary suites in the city, growing the Secondary Suite Registry from 13,000 suites in 2024 to 26,000 today. The program, backed by $45 million in combined federal and municipal funding, offered qualifying homeowners up to $10,000 to help cover the cost of building, upgrading, or legalizing a secondary suite.

Once every application is processed and all funding is paid out — expected in mid-to-late 2027 — the city estimates about 7,000 suites will have benefited directly from the program, with the registry expected to reach 30,000 suites by 2027. About half of all suites added to the registry so far came through this incentive.

"This is an achievement owned by Calgarians who stepped up, utilizing incentives that resulted in thousands of new housing options in our city," said Josh Howes, Suites Manager with the city's Development, Business and Building Services division. He said the registration process gives renters more confidence that their unit has been reviewed and meets safety standards.

Cliff De Jong, the city's Manager of Programs and Services for the same division, noted the registry has grown substantially since it started with just 431 suites in 2015, with newly registered suites now accounting for a quarter of all new housing units added in Calgary over the past three years.

Reid Hendry, the city's Chief Housing Officer, pointed to the program's cost — a few thousand dollars shy of $10,000 for each new suite — as evidence it's been one of the cheapest ways the city has found to grow its housing stock. He said the approach has meaningfully boosted the supply of affordable rentals in neighbourhoods that already have the services and amenities people need.

Corey Hogan, Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation, tied the program's results to the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, saying secondary suites are one way communities can add housing more quickly by making use of existing infrastructure.

While new applications for the incentive program are winding down, homeowners already under review remain eligible for funding as their applications are processed. Separately, the city's Amnesty Program — which applies to suites built before March 2018 — remains open until December 2026 for owners to bring older suites up to minimum safety standards. Renters looking for a legal suite can check for the city's official registration sticker or search the Secondary Suite Registry online.