Secondary Suite

Basement apartment / accessory dwelling unit

A self-contained second unit within a house.

A secondary suite is a self-contained second dwelling within a house, such as a basement apartment, with its own kitchen, bathroom, and entrance. It can turn a home into an income property, but a legal suite must meet zoning, building-code, and fire-safety requirements and, in many places, be registered. An unpermitted suite is a liability, not a bonus, so confirm a suite is legal before you count on the rent it produces.

General information only, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and vary by province; confirm the current details with the relevant authority before you rely on them.