ADU Questions, Answered

An accessory dwelling unit: a second, self-contained home on the same lot as a house, with its own kitchen, bathroom, sleeping space and entrance. In Winnipeg the official name is a secondary suite, attached or detached.

Mostly who it's for and where it sits. A granny suite is built for a parent, a garden suite sits in the back yard, and a laneway home faces the back lane. In Winnipeg all three are usually detached secondary suites under the same rules.

One secondary suite per single-family house, attached or detached. The 2025 infill by-law allows up to four homes on some R1 and R2 lots, which is a different route with its own rules.

If the lot is zoned R1 or R2, is at least 3,500 sq ft, has a single-family house on it, has room in the rear yard 10 ft back from the house, and has space for two off-street parking spots, it's a good candidate. Lots that miss one of those can sometimes go through a hearing.

Between 350 and 600 sq ft of floor area, up to 15 ft tall on its own or 25 ft above a detached garage.

Yes. A development permit and a building permit, plus plumbing and electrical permits. A detached suite also needs a site servicing plan from a Manitoba land surveyor or civil engineer.

Only if the suite doesn't meet the zoning by-law as written and needs a variance or conditional use. We check this before you pay for full drawings.

No, but it helps. With a lane, a detached suite can sit 5 ft from the back property line instead of 25 ft.

As ballparks: a legal basement suite about $60,000 to $150,000, a detached backyard suite about $200,000 to $320,000, and a suite over a new garage about $250,000 to $380,000, plus design, permits and servicing.

Not many. The federal $80,000 suite loan was cancelled in 2025 before it opened. CMHC-insured refinancing up to 90% of the finished value and the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit are both available. Manitoba's own suite program has strict rent conditions, so check its status first.

Usually. The property gets reassessed with the suite, so the assessed value and the tax bill go up.

About 9 to 14 months from the first visit to move-in for a detached or garage suite, and four to seven months for a basement suite. Permits and the season you dig in make the biggest difference.

Not as a permanent home. In Winnipeg a backyard home has to be a detached secondary suite on a permanent foundation, at least 350 sq ft.

Often, for finishing work like painting or landscaping, if it's agreed in the contract. Anything that needs a licensed trade or an inspection stays with the trades.

Yes, a legal secondary suite can be rented long-term. It can't be sold separately from the house. Short-term rentals have their own rules, and CMHC's suite refinancing excludes them.

A legal, well-built suite can appeal to buyers who want a mortgage helper or a family suite, but not every buyer wants to be a landlord. Treat it as something you build for your own use, with resale a possible bonus.

The City doesn't allow a secondary suite to be used for a home-based business, a care home or a rehabilitation facility.