What is the permit timeline for a legal secondary suite in a basement in Beddington from application to final occupancy?

For a legal secondary suite in Beddington, expect 8-12 weeks total from application to final occupancy, assuming no complications with inspections or required corrections.

The process involves both development and building permits through the City of Calgary, plus multiple trade permits and inspections. Since Beddington is within Calgary city limits, you'll work directly with the City's planning and building departments.

Development Permit Phase (4-6 weeks)

Your first step is applying for a development permit through Calgary Planning at calgaryplanningpermit.ca or in person at the Calgary Planning Commission office. Secondary suites require development approval even though they're permitted city-wide under current zoning. The application includes site plans, floor plans showing the suite layout, parking arrangements, and confirmation that the suite meets Alberta Building Code requirements for ceiling height (minimum 1.95m/6'5"), separate entrance, and egress windows in bedrooms.

Processing typically takes 4-6 weeks, though straightforward applications in established neighborhoods like Beddington often move faster. The City will review compliance with setback requirements, parking (you need one additional parking space for the suite), and ensure the suite doesn't exceed maximum floor area ratios.

Building Permit Phase (2-4 weeks)

Once your development permit is approved, you can apply for the building permit along with electrical, plumbing, and HVAC permits if you're adding or modifying these systems. The building permit application requires detailed construction drawings showing fire separation details (drywall to underside of main floor subfloor), smoke alarm interconnection, insulation, and structural modifications.

Building permit processing takes 2-4 weeks for secondary suites. The City will review compliance with Alberta Building Code requirements including fire separation, egress, ventilation, and structural adequacy.

Inspection Schedule (2-4 weeks)

After permits are issued, you'll need multiple inspections scheduled through the City of Calgary at specific construction milestones:

• Rough-in inspections: Framing, electrical rough-in, plumbing rough-in, HVAC rough-in (if applicable)
• Insulation inspection: Before drywall installation
• Final inspections: Electrical final, plumbing final, building final

Each inspection must pass before proceeding to the next stage. Failed inspections requiring corrections can add 1-2 weeks to your timeline, so ensure your contractor understands Alberta Building Code requirements for secondary suites.

Calgary-Specific Considerations

Beddington homes were primarily built in the 1970s-1980s, so you may encounter electrical panel upgrades (many homes still have 100-amp panels that need upgrading to 200-amp for suite electrical loads) and potential foundation or structural modifications for proper egress windows. These older homes often have good basement ceiling height, but verify you meet the 1.95m minimum after installing new ceiling finishes and fire separation.

Interconnected smoke alarms are mandatory throughout the entire house when adding a secondary suite - not just in the suite itself. This often requires running new wiring to connect existing main floor smoke alarms with new basement suite alarms.

Professional Guidance

Secondary suite development requires coordination between multiple trades and strict compliance with fire separation requirements. Hire experienced contractors familiar with Calgary's secondary suite requirements and Alberta Building Code fire separation details. Electrical and plumbing work must be done by licensed contractors and inspected by accredited Safety Codes Officers under the Safety Codes Council of Alberta system.

Next Steps

Contact Calgary Planning at 311 or visit calgaryplanningpermit.ca to start your development permit application. Gather your house plans (or hire a designer to create them), confirm your basement ceiling height meets requirements, and identify your proposed separate entrance location. Budget 8-12 weeks minimum, and consider starting the process in spring or early summer to avoid potential weather delays for exterior entrance construction.

Find experienced secondary suite contractors familiar with Calgary requirements in our verified contractor directory to ensure your project meets all code requirements and stays on schedule.