2025, 5½ months on site
Two-storey garden suite, framed in five weeks
A compact two-storey suite on a 25-foot lot. Stacking the bedroom above the living space left the owners most of their yard.
Backyard suites and carriage houses in Calgary
A backyard suite is a small, self-contained home on the same lot as your house. Some are single-storey garden suites; others sit above a new garage off the lane, which most people call a carriage house.
Changes to Calgary's land use rules mean far more lots can now add one. Before you spend anything on drawings, we'll look at your lot and tell you what's realistic: size, setbacks, servicing and a rough budget.
Book a site visit
What’s included
- Lot and zoning check
- We review your land use district, lot size, lane access and utility locations, then tell you plainly what can go where.
- Design and drawings
- Floor plans that make a small footprint work: storage, light, privacy from the main house and a layout that suits renters or family.
- Permits
- Development permit (when needed) and building permit applications prepared and submitted by us, with revisions handled if the City comes back with questions.
- Servicing
- Water, sewer, power and gas run from the main house or the lane. This is often the biggest cost variable, so we price it early.
- Construction to occupancy
- Foundation through finishes, inspections and final occupancy, with a fixed schedule you can plan a tenant around.
How long it takes
Plan on roughly 2 to 4 months for design and permits, then 5 to 7 months of construction.
Related projects
2024, 7 months on site
Loft suite under a vaulted roof
The upper floor of a new carriage house, finished with a tongue-and-groove ceiling and tall windows facing away from the main house.
Questions about backyard suites
We also do home renovations and basement suites and custom homes.
Does my lot qualify for a backyard suite?
Many Calgary lots do now, but it depends on your land use district, lot dimensions and lane access. Send us your address and we'll check before you commit to anything.
How much does a backyard suite cost in Calgary?
It depends mostly on size, whether there's a garage below, and how far services have to run. After a site visit we give you a realistic range, then a fixed price once drawings are complete.
Can I rent it out?
Backyard suites are built as independent dwellings, so they can be rented long-term once they pass final inspection. Short-term rental rules are set separately by the City; we'd recommend checking them for your situation.
Do I need a lane?
Not always, but lane access makes servicing and construction simpler and usually cheaper. We'll walk through the options for your lot.
Tell us what you’re thinking of building.
We'll come out, look at the house or lot, and give you an honest read on scope, timing and cost. No charge for the first visit.