Secondary Suite

What is a Secondary Suite?

A Secondary Suite is a self-contained dwelling (with its own kitchen, sleeping, and bathroom facilities) contained within a Primary Dwelling Unit.

Do I need a permit to build a Secondary Suite?

Yes, three permits are required for a Secondary Suite development:

1. Development permit - ensures conformance with the requirements listed in the Town of Jasper Land Use Policy and the Interim Policy for Secondary Suites in the Town of Jasper.
2. Building permit - ensures conformance to the National Park Building Regulations and National Building Code – Alberta Edition
3. Occupancy permit - after construction is complete, the final safety codes inspections are received, and the Parks Canada Compliance Officer confirms it has been built in accordance with the permits, an occupancy permit will be issued, and the Secondary Suite may be occupied.

Once all permit conditions are completed, a Certificate of Completion is issued by the Parks Canada Compliance Officer to close out the project and return compliance deposits.

What are the requirements for a Secondary Suite development?

The following table has the development requirements for Secondary Suites:

Interim policy for secondary suites

May I have an example of how to calculate the maximum gross floor area of the Secondary Suite?

An example could be a bungalow style home in which you wish to develop the unfinished basement into a Secondary Suite. The existing bungalow has a total gross floor area (basement and main floor) of 100 m²; therefore, the basement shall not have a Secondary Suite development with a gross floor area exceeding 45 m².

If I add a Secondary Suite in the basement on one side of my duplex, will I need to provide more on-site parking?

When reviewing the on-site parking requirements for a Secondary Suite, the development officer will review the previous permits, and the submitted site plan, to ensure that the existing required parking spaces have been maintained. In your situation, your Two-unit Dwelling was required to have four on-site parking stalls at the time of development, and as you noted, these four stalls are still present.

The requirement for on-site parking for a proposed Secondary Suite is only required if the existing on-site parking falls below one on-site parking stall per total dwellings on the Site. Currently, you have two dwelling units on your site, and with the addition of a Secondary Suite, the total dwelling units would be three. Your existing four required on-site parking stalls exceed the Site’s total dwelling units; therefore, no additional parking is required for your proposed Secondary Suite.

The original requirement of four on-site parking stalls remains unchanged.

What do I need to submit for a Secondary Suite development permit?

A Secondary Suite Development Application Submission Package must include:

1. Development permit application – There is no fee for the development permit application. To apply, please sign and submit Development Application (in the Japer Townsite) (PDF, 195 KB) and include the address, the lessee’s name, the applicant name, and contact information.
2. Secondary Suite submission checklist – Use the Secondary Suite Submission Checklist (PDF, 148 KB) to ensure all required information is included for a development permit. This checklist must be included with your submission package.
3. Written narrative - Paragraph must describe your proposed Secondary Suite and include any construction you are proposing to undertake. You are encouraged to include photos of the Secondary Suite area (if converting a portion of an existing dwelling) and the on-site parking areas. This will provide the development office with an explanation of your project and will also provide a visual illustration.
4. Floor plans – A dimensioned (in metres) and scaled floor plan detailing:
   
   • Primary Dwelling where the Secondary Suite will be located within
   • Gross Floor Area (m²) of the Primary Dwelling (including the Secondary Suite area)
   • Proposed Secondary Suite area demonstrated (outlined)
   • Gross Floor Area (m²) of the proposed Secondary Suite area
5. Site plan – a dimensioned (in metres) and scaled site plan detailing:
   
   1. lot dimensions
   2. existing structures (principal dwelling, accessory buildings, and garage)
   3. existing and proposed on-site parking spaces (minimum 2.7 m wide by 6.0 m length, free of obstruction)
   4. any changes to landscaping (may include new walkway to secondary suite)

Please submit the above to the Jasper Development Office at: jasperdevelopment@pc.gc.ca.

How do I obtain a building permit for a Secondary Suite?

As the proposed development contains life-safety elements, a building permit is required to ensure it meets the National Building Code – Alberta Edition. Once you have obtained a development permit you may begin the process for obtaining a building permit, which can be found on the building permit webpage.

How do I obtain an occupancy permit or completion certificate?

After construction is complete, submit the final safety code site inspection reports to the Parks Canada Compliance Officer. Upon receipt, a compliance site inspection will be conducted to confirm that it was constructed in accordance with the approved development permit. If all requirements are met, an occupancy permit will be issued, and the Secondary Suite may be occupied. Once all the permit conditions have been met, a Certificate of Completion is issued to close out the project and return compliance deposits. Contact the Parks Canada Compliance Officer at jaspercompliance@pc.gc.ca for a final inspection.