Secondary Suite
Learn about secondary suites in Canadian housing — what they are, their benefits, and the legal requirements for adding one.
June 27, 2025
What is a Secondary Suite?
A secondary suite is a self-contained residential unit within a single-family home, often in a basement or accessory building, designed for rental or extended family use.
Why Secondary Suites Matter in Real Estate
In Canadian housing, secondary suites help increase housing supply, provide rental income, and support multigenerational living.
Key features:
- Private entrance and living space
- Full kitchen and bathroom facilities
- Separate heating and ventilation systems (often required)
Secondary suites must comply with zoning, building, and fire safety codes to be legal. They may also impact mortgage qualification and insurance.
Understanding secondary suites helps buyers, owners, and investors assess income potential and regulatory compliance.
Example of a Secondary Suite in Action
The homeowner added a legal secondary suite in the basement to generate rental income and help qualify for a larger mortgage.
Key Takeaways
- A self-contained unit within a home
- Provides rental or extended family housing
- Must meet legal and safety standards
- Boosts property value and income potential
- Affects financing and insurance
Related Terms
- Rental Suite
- Zoning
- Building Code
- Permit Compliance
- Rental Income
CMHC
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501 W Georgia Street (1), 595 W Georgia Street (2), and 388 Abbott Street (3) in downtown Vancouver. / Henriquez Partners Architects, Holborn Group
A rendering of the rooftop amenity space between the South Tower (left) and North Tower (right) planned for 501 W Georgia Street. / Henriquez Partners Architects, Holborn Group
A ground-level rendering from the corner of Richards Street and Dunsmuir Street. / Henriquez Partners Architects, Holborn Group
A rendering of the public plaza at the corner of Seymour Street and W Georgia Street (left) and the retained heritage Randall Building (right). / Henriquez Partners Architects, Holborn Group
A rendering of the three-level observation deck and restaurant at the top of the 68-storey hotel planned for 595 W Georgia Street. / Henriquez Partners Architects, Holborn Group
A rendering of the 63-storey North Tower planned for 501 Georgia Street (left) and the 68-storey hotel planned for 595 W Georgia Street. / Henriquez Partners Architects, Holborn Group
The ground-level layout planned for 501 W Georgia Street and 595 W Georgia Street. / Henriquez Partners Architects, Holborn Group
A rendering of the 38-storey social housing tower planned for 388 Abbott Street in Vancouver. / Henriquez Partners Architects, Holborn Group 
A ground-level rendering of the tower planned for 388 Abbott Street in Vancouver. / Henriquez Partners Architects, Holborn Group 
Renderings of the Indigenous art gallery (left) within the 38-storey social housing tower planned for 388 Abbott Street. / Henriquez Partners Architects, Holborn Group 
Attorney General and former-Minister of Housing Sean Fraser spoke about the launch of Build Canada Homes at a media event in Nova Scotia. / Sean Fraser, Twitter