Purchasing or converting your home to a secondary suite in Saskatoon
It can be a great way to generate additional rental income or provide housing for family members. However, before purchasing a secondary suite, there are several factors that you should consider. In this blog post, we will discuss what to consider when purchasing a secondary suite.
What is a secondary suite?
A secondary suite is a self-contained dwelling unit located within a one-unit dwelling where both dwelling units constitute a single real estate entity.
Can I develop a secondary suite in my house?
All one-unit dwellings are allowed to have a second suite except for one-unit dwellings on group dwelling sites.
Secondary suites are not allowed in a two-unit or semi-detached dwelling
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A secondary suite is only permitted within a single family detached house.
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No more than one garden, garage or secondary suite accessory to a one-unit dwelling shall be
allowed per site. Not more than one secondary suite is permitted in any house.
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The gross floor area of the house, including the basement, must be greater than 100 sq m (1075
sq ft).
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From the suite entrance to a public land or street, there is a pathway that is at least 860 mm (34
in) wide.
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Where a secondary suite has an entrance which is separate from that of the principal dwelling,
the entrance may only be located on a side or rear wall of the principal dwelling.
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An interior landing is required at the entrance to the suite.
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Only one secondary suite, garden suite, or garage suite is allowed per site. Please contact
Development Services and Building Standards for more information on garden and garage suites.
What are the zoning requirements?
Size- Can not exceed 80m2 or be more than 40% of the gross floor area of the dwelling.
Parking- One suite & one principal unit parking spot must be provided on site.
Design- The Principal dwelling unit shall have direct access to the mechanical room without to go through the secondary suite.
What are the building code requirements?
An Entrance is required to provide direct access to the suite without having to go through the principal dwelling unit.
A continuous smoke-tight barrier is required between the both dwelling units & their common spaces
Each dwelling must have their own separate ventilation system
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A secondary suite shall have no more than two bedrooms.
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A secondary suite may not be larger than 80m2 (861ft2) of floor area and cannot occupy more
than 40% of the gross floor area of the building.
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One off street parking space shall be provided for the secondary suite. This is in addition to the
required off street parking spot for the main dwelling unit.
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The principal dwelling shall have direct access to the mechanical room without having to access
the secondary suite.
Ventilation and Heating
Can the furnace heat both dwelling units?
No. Air cannot move from one dwelling unit into the other as this would negate the smoke-tight walls and ceiling. A separate heating source is required for the suite. Suites will have electric baseboard heaters, in-floor heating & a separate furnace are all coming heating solutions for the suite.
If the house already has an HRV. Do I need to install another HRV for the suite?
The ventilation of the suite must be separate from the principal dwelling unit ventilation. There are many ways that the ventilation of the suite can be achieved; however, HRV’s are commonly used as the principal exhaust fan and supply air fan. You should discuss your options with your mechanical contractor.
General Room Design, Doors, and Windows
What is the required height of basement?
Rooms must be at least 1.95 m (6’-5”) high. Under beams and duct work, the height may be reduced to 1.85 m (6’-1”).
Please see Section 5.0 for the headroom required over stairs.
What is the required width of hallways?
The minimum finished width of a hallway is 860 mm (34”).
Are there any requirements to what door I use?
Doors within a smoke-tight barrier do have special requirements. Please see Section 3.0 Smoke- Tight Barriers & STC Rating.
All doors are required to be at least 1.89 m (6’-2 1⁄2”) high when the ceiling height is 1.95m (6’-5”). If the ceiling height is 2.1 m (7 ft) or higher, the door is required to be 1.98 m (6’-6”).
Usually, interior doors are 760 mm (30”) wide. Utility room doors, and any doors in the path to the exterior from the utility room are required to be at least 810 mm (32”) wide.
What is the required size of a bedroom window?
One window in each bedroom is required to have an unobstructed opening size of at least 0.35 sq m (3.8 sq ft). The minimum dimension of this window is 380 mm (15”).
Does that mean an 18”x18” window meets these requirements?
No. The opening a person would climb through must be at least 0.35 sq m (3.8 sq ft). If the actual opening size of the window was 450 mm x 450 mm (18”x18”), the area would only be 0.20 sq m (2.25 sq ft).
What if the bedroom window opens to a window well?
The window well is to have a minimum of 760 mm (30”) clear space in front of it, when the window is open. The well must be wider than the window. If there is a deck over the window, a height of at least 760 mm (30”) is required to an open public thoroughfare.
If you have any questions, please contact Bird Realty
Jill 306.221.1350
Cam 306.221.0654
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