With all of the news about our Housing Crisis here in Canada (and specifically in Atlantic Canada) a lot of attention has been paid to the role that builders and developers play in the solution. But recently, a number of municipalities have relaxed or changed their regulations around adding apartment suites to single family homes in efforts to encourage homeowners to create new rental units on their properties. This not only will help with adding housing, but it creates a tremendous opportunity for homeowners to generate passive income, and even reducing mortgage costs.

What’s the Difference between a Secondary and a Backyard Suite? Essentially, the difference is whether it’s attached to your primary residence or not. A secondary suite is an apartment unit that is a part of the primary residence, while a backyard suite is a separate structure on the same land. Here are a couple of examples:

A number of Municipalities have eased restrictions on putting in these type of rental units – including Halifax, Moncton and many other locations in Atlantic Canada. This easing means that homeowners can simply apply with a building permit, rather than having to request a Variance (Change) to what Zoning would allow in an area of single family homes.

In addition to just easing restrictions – there are lots of new Government grants that are available for homeowners looking to add in these types of units to their properties. Moncton has a grant program that provides up to $10,000 for the addition of a suite, while the amount in Nova Scotia is up to $25,000.

There are still rules around the size of the unit that you can build, and how far back from the side of your lot it must be, as well as other building requirements that have to be met, but if you are a homeowner and looking to either reduce your monthly cost, or simply add in some rental revenue to your investment plans, the addition of a Secondary suite is a great option!