Project Description

In support of the Affordable Housing Principled Action Plan passed by Council in June 2023 and in response to increasing demand, City Administration has been reviewing the Land Use Bylaw in regards to Accessory Suites and are proposing a number of amendments.

These changes aim to make it easier for homeowners to add extra living spaces, while ensuring neighbourhoods have clear rules and adequate parking. See the proposed bylaw at www.airdrie.ca/accessorysuites

The proposed changes go to public hearing on December 17, 2024.

Proposed changes include:

  • "Dwelling, semi-detached" was added to the proposed bylaw as an eligible structure for secondary suites, meaning residents can now build a secondary suite (like a basement apartment) in a semi-detached home, not just single-family houses.
  • Secondary suites would now be allowed in more residential districts, allowing more areas in Airdrie to have secondary suites and providing residents with more housing options.
  • Parking requirements for secondary suites have been updated. If you add a secondary suite, you’ll need one extra parking spot, plus whatever parking is required for the main house.
  • If passes, garage suites will be allowed in more areas subject to development permit approval, making it easier to build garage suites (living spaces above or attached to a garage).
  • The proposed bylaw includes new minimum area and width requirements for garage and garden suites, meaning your property must meet certain size requirements to qualify for building these types of suites.
  • Restrictions were added for suite entrances in zero-lot-line developments. If your home is on a zero-lot-line (very close to the property edge), the suite entrance can’t be on the side with the shared maintenance area.
  • Garage suites and garden suites changed from discretionary to permitted uses in some districts. Building garage or garden suites in certain areas would no longer require special permission—it’s automatically allowed if it meets Land Use Bylaw requirements.
  • Rules for tandem parking were clarified. If two parking spots are arranged one behind the other, they meet parking requirements.
  • Garage widths now affect how parking spaces are calculated. To count as two parking spaces, your garage needs to meet a specific width. Narrower garages might only count as one space.
  • Rules for having accessory suites alongside other land uses, like home businesses, were simplified. If passed, you could now combine a secondary suite in the same property as certain types of home-based businesses if parking requirements are met.
  • The bylaw now uses clearer, more consistent wording to avoid confusion.

What We Heard - June 2024 Project Update

Administration presented to Council on June 18 to share the findings from the public engagement survey, the "What We Heard" report, about accessory suites. We also shared findings from our comparative research and internal coordination.

Any feedback received from Council on June 18 has also being considered for recommended updates to the Land Use Bylaw regulations. These updates will be presented to Council at a public hearing for deliberation and decision on December 17,2024. Stay tuned for more updates!

Learn more

Types of accessory suites

Types of Accessory Suites

A secondary suite is a form of accessory suite. A secondary suite is a small home located within the principal residence. It has a kitchen, bed and bathroom separate from the principal home.

A garage suite is a form of accessory suite. A garage suite is a small home above a garage or attached to it. It has its own door, separate from the vehicle entrance and has a kitchen, bed and bathroom separate from the principal home.


A garden suite is a form of accessory suite. A garden suite is a small home separate from the principal residence, usually in a backyard. It has a kitchen, bed and bathroom separate from the principal home.

About the review


Supporting the Affordable Housing Principled Action Plan passed by Council in June 2023, and in light of the increasing number of accessory suite applications received by the City, City Staff have been tasked with reviewing the regulations for accessory suites.

The review aims to identify barriers associated with creating accessory suites, and recommend updates to the regulations in the City's Land Use Bylaw to reduce those barriers in appropriate locations city-wide.

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    Ultimately, reducing identified barriers has the potential to increase in the supply of accessory suites thereby increasing the housing choices available within Airdrie. This also serves to meet the growing demand of residents interested in these types of housing options.

Current guidelines

Sections 6.22.1 to 6.22.3 of the Land Use Bylaw outline the regulations that apply to accessory suites. However there are several key regulations that determine if your property can accommodate an accessory suite:

  • Allowed Land Use
    • The land use district of your property lists a garden, garage and/or secondary suite as either a permitted or discretionary use.
  • Single, Detached Dwelling
    • The suite must be located within or on the same property as a single, detached dwelling. They are not allowed with a duplex, townhouse or other types of residential units.
  • No other conflicting uses
    • The property must not already contain a bed and breakfast, child care facility, supportive housing facility, another suite, or a home business that interacts with clients at the property.
  • Parking
    • There must be two parking spaces provided for the main dwelling/house, plus one space per bedroom (up to a maximum of two) for the accessory suite in accordance with Section 4.4 of the Land Use Bylaw. All parking must be located on the property. On-street parking is not counted as parking for the purpose of an accessory suite application.
  • Size of property
    • In the case of Garage and Secondary suites, the property (not the house) must be at least 13.0m (42ft) wide and must be at least 400m² (approx. 4,300ft²) in area.
    • In the case of a Garden suite, the property (not the house) must be at least 600m² (approx. 6,500ft²) in area.

Variances

In situations where the above Land Use Bylaw standards can’t be met, the City is able to determine whether the standard can be relaxed (which is called a “variance”) to allow for a garage suite, garden suite, or secondary suite application to be approved.

There are two important tests to determine if a variance can be granted:

  • The variance cannot allow the development of the accessory suite to negatively affect the amenities of the neighbourhood or neighbouring properties.
  • The variance must be something that is unique or specific to the property (i.e. why should the variance grant an exception to the rule?)

Why accessory suites?

A priority of City Council is to “offer a full range of integrated below–market housing options that will allow residents to access housing that is achievable on their income."

Many factors influence housing affordability - and the Affordable Housing Principled Action Plan identifies availability of accessory suites as a contributing factor to increase diverse housing types which in turn improves affordability of housing in the city.

Potential benefits of accessory suites include:

  • Entry to home ownership
  • Supplemental income for homeowners
  • Diverse and inclusive housing opportunities
  • Multi-generational living
  • Housing for in-home care
  • Affordable rental options
  • Serves our local labour force
  • Encourages sustainable development and growth
  • Efficient use of infrastructure and land
  • Aligns with urban development goals