A new bylaw on secondary suites has been approved by Foothills County Councillors.

After a few open houses and mail-out surveys residents in the area were able to get their voices heard and secondary suites on certain parcels of land will be approved.

Foothills County Reeve Larry Spilak says thanks to feedback the bylaw was approved yesterday.

"We had two open houses and we had to go to tenants and residents for that. Some good ideas came out and we actually gave the second and third readings on secondary suites yesterday (April 17)."

Currently two types of suites are approved - principal secondary suites which are attached to the principal dwelling unit or above an attached garage, and accessory secondary suites - which would be a suite located in an accessory building on the land or a detached garage.

Spilak says what you're allowed depends on the how your land is zoned.

"The country residential parcels will be allowed to have a secondary suite, but not a separate building. As far as property that is zoned agriculture they are allowed to have a separate building as a suite."

Also addressed in this bylaw, is existing secondary suites, which Spilak says owners will have two years to obtain permits for.

"Something that we are giving owners of existing secondary suites, is two years to come in and get permitted for them. To get permitted of course you have to meet the safety code. They would have to make changes where applicable, maybe some suites don't need them and then they'll get a permit for existing suites today."

Not included in this phase of the bylaw are secondary suites in hamlets like Cayley and Blackie.

For more information on secondary suites head to the Foothills County Website.

 

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