Cochrane basement development / Legal suites
Legal basement suites in Cochrane
A legal suite is a separate home in your basement, approved by the Town and built to code. Get a quote from one licensed builder who builds suites in Cochrane.
- Builder checks whether your address allows a suite
- Permits, fire separation and inspections included in the quote
- One builder contacts you, not a dozen companies
Get a suite quote
Takes about two minutes. One licensed local builder will contact you.
Requirements
What makes a basement suite legal
In Cochrane a suite takes two approvals. First a development permit from the Town’s planning department, with a site plan showing parking and the suite’s floor plan. Then building, electrical and plumbing permits, with a fire safety plan. The Town’s suite checklist and the Alberta Building Code set the details. In general, a legal suite has:
- A smoke-tight fire separation from the main house (drywall throughout, no exposed wood)
- Solid-core, self-closing doors where the separation is crossed
- Smoke alarms in each bedroom and between the bedrooms and the rest of the suite
- An egress window in every bedroom
- Its own ventilation and its own thermostat
- Sound insulation in the shared walls and ceiling
- Its own kitchen, bathroom and living space
If the owner won’t live in the home, the Town requires a licensed contractor to take out the electrical and plumbing permits.
Your builder prepares the drawings and handles the permit applications. Ask any builder to confirm in writing that the price includes permits and inspections.
Typical costs, Calgary area, 2026
Ranges published by local builders and HomeStars. Your quote depends on your home.
Questions
Basement suite questions
Is a basement suite legal in Cochrane?
It can be. In Cochrane a suite needs a development permit from the Town, then building, electrical and plumbing permits, and it has to pass inspection under the Alberta Building Code. A builder can check whether your address allows one.
What does a legal basement suite cost?
Usually $50,000 to $125,000 in the Calgary area, or roughly $70 to $95 per square foot. A separate entrance, a second furnace or an egress window add to the price.
Can I rent out a basement suite?
Once the suite is approved and inspected, yes. Renting an illegal suite can leave you exposed if there’s a fire or an insurance claim.
Find out if your basement can be a legal suite
Send your project details and a licensed local builder will be in touch.