1. Confirm zoning
Look up the property's land use district on the City's Zoning Map. If it's R-CG, R-G, R-1s, R-2, R-C1, R-C2 or similar, a secondary suite is allowed as a permitted or discretionary use. If it's in a district that doesn't permit suites, you'll need a land use redesignation first — a far longer process.
2. Development Permit (DP)
A DP confirms the use of the property (adding a second dwelling unit) complies with the Land Use Bylaw. In most residential districts the suite is a "permitted use" and the DP is a formality; elsewhere it's discretionary and can be appealed by neighbours.
3. Building Permit (BP)
The BP covers the actual construction: framing, fire separation, insulation, sound attenuation, ceiling heights. Drawings must show egress windows, smoke and CO alarm locations, and the fire separation assembly between suites.
4. Electrical, plumbing & gas permits
Each trade pulls its own permit and books its own inspections. Separate breaker panels, dedicated laundry circuits and correctly vented dryers are common inspection items.
5. Inspections
Expect at least a framing inspection, an insulation/vapour-barrier inspection, a final building inspection, and a final for each trade permit. The suite cannot be occupied legally until every permit is closed.
6. Registry listing
Once the Building Permit's final is passed, the City automatically adds the address to the Secondary Suite Registry. This is when the suite becomes marketable as "legal" in a real estate sale.