Calgary, AB · Fixed-Price Builder · Licensed + WCB
Basements from $45K. Legal suites from $58K with up to $10K SSIP rebate. Garages from $28K. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Two active City of Calgary programs reimburse a meaningful share of suite construction costs. Both are time-bound. The Backyard Suite Incentive launched March 2, 2026 and is funded by the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. The SSIP has limited months of funding remaining.
For detached structures: laneway homes, garage suites, ADUs in your rear yard. Up to $35,000 reimbursed after final occupancy. Federal HAF-funded. Limited applicant pool.
For suites built within your main dwelling — basement and main-floor secondary suites. Up to $10,000 City of Calgary rebate plus up to $6,250 in energy-efficiency and accessibility bonuses.
December 31, 2026 amnesty deadline. Homeowners with existing unpermitted suites can voluntarily legalize before this date. After, the City moves to active enforcement. Read the legal vs unpermitted suite guide.
OAF Construction is a Calgary licensed builder operating across residential and commercial scopes. Every build is a Fixed-Price Agreement — your number is locked before construction begins.
Fully permitted, SSIP-eligible. Up to $10,000 City of Calgary rebate.
See Legal Secondary Suites details → From $45,000Lifestyle finishes — home theatres, gyms, suites. 8–12 week typical timeline.
See Basement Development details → From $28,000Detached garages on existing pad from $28K. Backyard-suite ready optional.
See Garage Construction details → From $30/sq ftRestaurants, retail, dental, medical, office build-outs across Calgary.
See Commercial Tenant Improvements details →Every OAF build is a contractual Fixed-Price Agreement. Not an estimate, not a ballpark. Your number is locked before a single wall is framed. If we miss something in our scope, the cost sits with us.
Every project is unique, but these are the realistic ranges we see in the Calgary market. Your final number depends on scope, finish level, ceiling height, and whether structural changes are required. Use our calculator below for a property-specific estimate, or book a free on-site visit for a contractual fixed price.
Lifestyle basement (no suite, open layout, 1 bedroom + bathroom + living): $35,000–$55,000. Mid-tier with home theatre, gym, or wet bar: $55,000–$80,000. Full legal suite with separate kitchen + bathroom + egress: $58,000–$120,000. Ceiling under 6’5” that needs underpinning: add $60,000–$130,000.
See basement development scope and finishes · Read the full Calgary cost guide · Run the basement cost estimator
Essentials package — existing separate entrance, no underpinning required: $58,000. Full legal suite from raw basement (side entrance creation + code compliance): $73,000–$95,000. Premium finish + larger footprint: $95,000–$140,000+. Subtract up to $10,000 in SSIP rebate plus up to $6,250 in energy/accessibility bonuses.
See legal suite development details · Read the SSIP grant guide · Check SSIP eligibility (2 min)
Single-car garage on existing pad: $28,000–$38,000. Double garage on existing pad: $38,000–$60,000. Full new build with foundation: $50,000–$95,000. Garage suite (heated upper unit, plumbing, kitchen): $140,000–$220,000+ — backyard suite incentive eligible.
See garage construction details · Read the $35K Backyard Suite guide
Retail / office shell finishing: $30–$60/sq ft. Medical, dental, professional services with plumbing/electrical: $80–$140/sq ft. Restaurant + commercial kitchen: $150–$200+/sq ft. Most landlord TI allowances cover 30–60% of full build-out cost.
Free on-site visit. We walk the space, understand your vision, and assess the scope. No obligation.
No pressure. No cost. Get a Free Quote →You receive a detailed, itemized proposal with a fixed price. What we quote is what you pay.
No surprise costs. Ever.We handle all City of Calgary permits, inspections, and construction. You get weekly progress updates.
Fully permitted. Fully insured.Final walkthrough, punch list completion, and handover with all warranty documentation and permits.
Built beyond code.They quoted us a fixed price for our basement development and stuck to it. To the dollar. The crew was professional, the site was always clean, and they handled every permit and inspection without us having to chase anything.
We had three other contractors quote our legal suite. OAF was the only one who walked us through the full permit process upfront. No surprises during the build, and the final inspection passed first time.
Our garage build came in exactly on the timeline they promised. What impressed us most was the communication. Weekly updates with photos. You could tell they actually cared about getting it right.
OAF Construction has completed projects in over 40 Calgary communities and surrounding municipalities. Below is our highest-volume service area. We also build in Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere, and Okotoks for the right scope.
Three free tools to help you plan before you book. No email required to use them — only required if you want a saved PDF of the result.
Square-footage and finish-level inputs. Returns a Calgary cost range for your specific build.
Open the calculator →Eight yes/no questions tell you if you qualify for the $10,000 grant + how much you could receive in bonuses.
Check eligibility (2 min) →Build cost vs. rental income vs. payback period. Calgary market data, current to Q1 2026.
Calculate suite ROI →Most Calgary basement and suite contractors operate on cost-plus or hourly time-and-materials. The risk of an inaccurate estimate sits with you. Below is how OAF’s Fixed-Price Agreement compares to the Calgary market average.
A fully permitted legal basement suite in Calgary starts at $58,000 and typically tops out at $140,000 depending on whether a side entrance needs to be created, the existing ceiling height, and finish level. SSIP-registered builds qualify for up to $10,000 in City of Calgary rebates.
You qualify if the property is your primary residence in Calgary, you have an active Building Permit (or are applying for one), the suite is built within the main dwelling (not detached), and construction begins after your SSIP application is submitted. Long-term rental only for the first 2 years; no short-term/Airbnb during that window.
The Backyard Suite Incentive Program (launched March 2, 2026) covers detached structures — laneway homes, garage suites, and ADUs. You need a sufficient rear yard, a Building Permit for the detached suite, and a commitment to long-term rental for 5 year per $10K received (max 3.5 years). Up to $35,000 reimbursed after final occupancy.
A standard lifestyle basement takes 8 to 12 weeks from permit approval. Legal suites take 10 to 14 weeks due to additional inspections. Add 4–8 weeks upfront for City of Calgary permit processing. Total timeline from first consult to move-in: 4–6 months for a legal suite.
December 31, 2026. Homeowners with unpermitted secondary suites have until that date to voluntarily legalize them under the City of Calgary amnesty program. After the deadline, active enforcement begins: formal work orders, fines, and potential loss of rental income. Many existing unpermitted suites can be legalized while still being eligible for SSIP funding.
A secondary suite is built within your main dwelling (basement or main-floor) and qualifies for the SSIP grant ($10,000). A backyard suite is a detached structure in your rear yard (laneway home, garage suite, ADU) and qualifies for the new Backyard Suite Incentive ($35,000). Different programs, different builds, different lot requirements.
For most legal secondary suites in Calgary, both a Development Permit and a Building Permit are required. OAF handles the entire permit process — applications, drawings, City of Calgary submissions, all required inspections (framing, plumbing, electrical, insulation, final), through to final occupancy approval.
Yes — and it is contractual, not marketing language. The price on your signed Fixed-Price Agreement is the price you pay. No change orders, no allowance overruns, no "we did not expect this" invoices. If we miss something in our estimate, the cost sits with us. We carry $5M commercial general liability insurance and are WCB-covered.
OAF builds across all Calgary quadrants and surrounding communities, including Bridgeland, Killarney, Inglewood, Bowness, Marda Loop, Mount Pleasant, Hillhurst, Acadia, and 30+ other communities. We also take on projects in Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere, and Okotoks.
Book a free 20-minute consultation. We will walk through your project, your space, and your budget. Within 5 business days you receive a detailed line-item Fixed-Price Agreement — no obligation, no hidden fees. Most projects we book a free on-site visit within 1 business day of your form submission.
Tell us about your project. We'll call within one business day to schedule your free consultation.
Get the 2026 Calgary Basement & Suite Cost Guide. Real ranges per finish level, SSIP and Backyard rebate qualifying scenarios, what to budget for City of Calgary permits, and the December 2026 amnesty deadline checklist.
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