For the requirements that apply to your property, start with the City of Calgary suite guidance and the official suite registry.
- Secondary suite
- A self-contained dwelling within a residential building, with its own cooking, bathroom and sleeping facilities. Calgary's requirements depend on the building and approval route; a separate entrance alone does not establish legal status.
- Backyard suite
- A separate dwelling on the same property as the main home, such as a garden or garage suite. Check Calgary's backyard-suite process for the address and proposed design.
- Development permit (DP)
- Approval of a proposed use or development under the land use rules. Whether a suite needs one depends on the district, proposal and any required relaxations. It does not replace a building permit.
- Building permit (BP)
- Approval for the proposed construction under the applicable requirements. An issued permit and completed inspections are different milestones; ask about the file's current status.
- Land use district
- The zoning rules assigned to the parcel. Check the current address-specific district and suite rules rather than relying on a neighbourhood description or an old zoning map.
- Legal non-conforming
- A technical planning term that needs a property-specific explanation. A listing's use of it does not prove a suite is approved, exempt or safe. Ask the City what status and records apply; age alone is not approval.
- Egress window
- A window that provides an emergency escape route where required. Size, opening, location and window-well conditions need assessment under the requirements for the project; a large-looking window is not enough.
- Fire separation
- Construction intended to limit fire spread between spaces. The required assembly, openings and penetrations depend on the applicable approval route. Have the design and existing condition assessed rather than applying one universal rating.
- STC (Sound Transmission Class)
- A rating of how an assembly reduces airborne sound. Ask the designer which acoustic requirements apply and how the complete floor or wall will meet them. The rating alone does not describe impact noise or everyday privacy.
- Secondary Suite Registry
- Calgary's public lookup for registered secondary and backyard suites. Match the address and record to the home, then investigate later changes, permit completion and current condition separately.
- R-CG / R-G
- Examples of Calgary residential land use districts. Read the current rules for the actual parcel and proposal; the district name does not prove that an existing suite is approved.
- HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator)
- Equipment that exchanges indoor and outdoor air while recovering some heat. A qualified designer should establish the required ventilation approach; the presence of an HRV does not certify the suite.