Regina city council approves developing backyard suites city-wide

In a unanimous vote, Regina city council has given the go-ahead for backyard suites to be built anywhere in the city.

Backyard suites are housing units that are separate from the primary housing unit on a residential lot. They’re expected to be regulated similarly to secondary suites and will be typically located above a detached garage in the back of someone’s lot.

These suites aren’t particularly new; the city piloted three separate projects since 2013 in specific parts of the city to garner how well they would be perceived.

A backyard suite in Regina’s Lakewood neighbourhood. (City of Regina agenda)

The first pilot involved allowing approval to develop detached secondary suites on 11 properties in the Greens on Gardiner area.

In 2014, the city allowed the development of 20 properties in Harbour Landing as a second pilot project.

And in 2016, the third pilot project involved six different properties in a few different neighbourhoods throughout the city.

Each project saw some slight differences in how each suite was built.

“Not all properties in these pilots have been developed with backyard suites. However, the ones with functioning backyard suites allow administration to learn from the experiences and perceptions of the homeowners, renters, and surrounding community,” the city’s agenda read. 

A backyard suite in Regina’s Harbour Landing neighbourhood. (City of Regina agenda)

Generally, two-storey backyard suites will resemble those of the third pilot project. And single-storey, ground-oriented backyard suites will resemble any other accessory building like garages, but will be fully equipped as a living space.

The motion passed 9-0 by council on Wednesday also allowed a five-year, 25 per cent tax exemption for council-approved suites to residents in the areas shown in the graph below.

The tax incentive for people interested in developing a backyard suite. (City of Regina agenda)

According to the report, the backyard suites received a positive response from the communities they were built in.

City council says 43 people indicated interest in applying in the next two years and a total of 66 in the next seven years.