Can I legally rent out my basement in Edmonton?

To rent your basement out as a separate home, it generally has to be an approved secondary suite. A finished basement with a kitchen isn't automatically one. This guide covers the basics and isn't legal advice, so confirm your situation with the City.

What counts as a secondary suite

The City of Edmonton describes a secondary suite as a separate dwelling within a single-detached, semi-detached, backyard or row house, with its own living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. It has its own entrance, from a shared indoor landing or directly from outside. It can't be separated from the main home by a condominium conversion or subdivision.

Check your zoning first

Look up your property's zone on maps.edmonton.ca to see whether secondary suites are listed, or ask a Development Planner at the Edmonton Service Centre.

Rules are changing. In October 2026, the Government of Alberta directed the City to amend Zoning Bylaw 20001 by January 22, 2027. The change focuses on the RS Small Scale Residential Zone and covers uses, density, height and on-site parking. If you're planning a suite, check the rules in force when you apply.

Permits and code

• A development permit (zoning approval) and a building permit.
• Separate trade permits for heating and ventilation, plumbing, gas and electrical work.
• Independent heating and ventilation for each unit.
• Smoke-tight separation, solid self-closing doors, and interconnected smoke and CO alarms.
• Code-sized bedroom windows and an exit leading directly outside.

The full list, with the numbers and how each town differs, is in our legal suite requirements guide.

Outside Edmonton

Each municipality has its own rules. Fort Saskatchewan, for example, notes that a regular basement development is for your own use and that renting it out needs a separate suite approval. In Spruce Grove, a self-contained suite needs permits even when a family member lives there.