What is a carriage house?

The short definition

A carriage house is a self-contained dwelling — its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance — built in the rear yard of a property that already has a house on it, usually facing a lane. The City of Calgary's term for this is a backyard suite.

Put the living space above a garage and people call it a carriage house or laneway home. Keep it at ground level and it's usually called a garden suite. All of them are backyard suites as far as the City's rules are concerned.

How it differs from a secondary suite

A secondary suite is inside the existing house — most often a basement suite. A backyard suite is a separate building in the rear yard. That distinction matters in Calgary because of what changed with the rezoning repeal:

• Since August 4, 2026, a property may have one of a secondary suite or a backyard suite — not both.
• Backyard suites are not allowed on semi-detached properties.
• The parking requirement returned.
• Backyard suites are permitted in R-G. In other zones they are discretionary and require City verification.

The longer comparison lives in the guide: backyard suite vs secondary suite.

What a carriage house is used for

• Long-term rental accommodation on an existing lot.
• Housing family members close by while keeping separate front doors.
• Downsizing in place — living in the suite and renting the main house.
• A workspace or studio with full living amenities.

A backyard suite sits on the same title as the main house. It is not a separate property and cannot be sold on its own.

Adding density without changing the street

Because backyard suites face the lane and sit behind an existing house, they add homes to established neighbourhoods that already have roads, transit, schools and utilities in place, without altering the streetscape.

Next steps

Read the Calgary rules, screen a lot with the feasibility tool, or look at the design approaches that fit Calgary lots.