Backyard suites in calgary
Thinking about building a backyard suite, but don't know where to start? Calgary Backyard Suites can help! ​We are Calgary's only non-profit, education and advocacy based organization that promotes the development of Backyard Homes. We hold educational workshops and suite tours in Calgary so that homeowners can understand the rules, regulations, design considerations, costs, financing options, and benefits of backyard suites. ​
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What is a Backyard suite?
Simply put, a Backyard Suite is a home...in a backyard.
Backyard Suites are a form of infill housing that offers social, environmental, and economic benefits to owners, renters, and the city as a whole. They are becoming increasingly popular in cities across North America.
A backyard suite is a second residence that is in a building located behind or beside the primary residence. They are sometimes referred to as laneway houses, carriage houses, garden suites or garage suites.
- City of Calgary, Backyard Suite How-to-Guide
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Benefits of backyard Suites
People choose to build Backyard Suites for many different reasons.
Whether it's to house aging parents close to home, generate a rental income, or plan for your future, Backyard Suites are a flexible form of housing that can help meet you and your family's changing needs. ​
rental incomE
Build a suite, rent it out and make some additional income. Use your suite as a mortgage helper, investment, or retirement income.
Downsize & Age in place
With Backyard Suites, long-time residents can downsize and age in their community when their main home becomes too much work.
affordable housing
Building a suite in your backyard can help add to Calgary's affordable housing stock.
Healthy communities
Backyard Suites help create more walkable, compact, and attractive communities that support physical and mental health.
Multigenerational Living
Backyard Suites can enable multigenerational living, where aging parents or young adults can live close to their families, while still have privacy and independence.
building in instead of out
As a form infill, Backyard Suites help Calgary build in instead of out, which promotes fiscally, environmentally, and socially responsible development.
Attend a workshop or tour, ask us a question, get involved.
Calgary Backyard Suites is a non-profit organization that helps Calgarians who are thinking about building a Backyard Suite. We host Backyard Suite Workshops and Tours, and connect citizens with industry experts. We provide you with all the information you need to build the suite of your dreams, while advocating for policy changes that reduce the barriers to infill development.
We have a vision for cities that provides it's residents with a mix of housing choices that meet diverse and evolving needs. Backyard Suites will help us achieve this vision.
Have a Backyard Suite-related question? Ask away! Want to stay updated? Join our mailing list!
Get in touch
Make sure to subscribe to our mailing list (below) so that you receive our newsletters. They contain information on upcoming workshops, tours, and events, as well important Backyard Suite news. Subscribers also have access to pre-sale tickets for our events!