Add a Legal Suite. Keep the Garage.
A garage suite gives you a self-contained secondary unit above your detached garage — income-generating, multi-generational, or a proper space for an adult kid who needs somewhere to land. It’s one of the more practical additions you can make to a residential property in Edmonton, and when it’s permitted and built correctly, it adds real long-term value. We’ve built them. We know the rules.
What’s Included
A complete garage suite project with Landry Homes covers both the garage structure and the suite above it:
- Zoning and lot eligibility review before any design work begins
- Development permit and building permit applications
- Secondary suite registration with the City of Edmonton
- Garage structure: foundation, framing, doors, and exterior
- Suite structural framing above the garage
- Fire separation assembly between garage and suite (code-required)
- Separate electrical sub-panel for the suite
- Plumbing rough-in: kitchen, bathroom, laundry
- Dedicated HVAC or mini-split heating system
- Interior finishing: kitchen, bathroom, flooring, paint
- Exterior staircase with covered landing, designed for Edmonton winters
Why it matters in Edmonton
Edmonton’s rental market has been tight for a while, and a legal garage suite in a good neighbourhood can generate $1,200 to $1,800 a month depending on location, size, and finish level. That’s meaningful income off a property you already own. But it only works if the suite is permitted, registered, and properly built — an unpermitted suite creates insurance problems and complicates your sale when the time comes.
The climate piece matters here too. A suite above a garage has a unique thermal challenge: the floor sits over an unheated garage space, which means it has to be insulated properly or it will be cold in winter and expensive to heat. We spec the floor assembly for this specifically — minimum R-28 between the garage ceiling and the suite floor. The exterior staircase also has to be designed for freeze-thaw conditions: proper drainage, non-slip surface, covered if possible.
Edmonton’s Zoning Bylaw 20001 limits garage suite floor area to the lesser of 40% of the main dwelling’s floor area or 75 square metres. Lot size and zone determine eligibility. We check all of this before you spend money on drawings.
Our Process
Eligibility & Design Consult
Permits & Approvals
Construction
Frequently Asked Questions
Most lots zoned RF1 through RF3 in Edmonton allow garage suites, but lot size and existing structures affect eligibility. We review your specific property before any design work begins.
Roughly $120,000 to $220,000 for the suite component alone, depending on size and finish level. The garage below adds $35,000 to $70,000 depending on size. We can walk through a realistic estimate for your situation.
Yes — if it’s permitted and registered as a secondary suite with the city. An unregistered suite has insurance and liability implications. We handle the registration as part of the build process.
A garage suite is above a detached garage. A garden suite is a standalone structure in the backyard not attached to a garage. Both are permitted in most Edmonton residential zones — the right choice depends on your lot and how you want to use the space.