REGINA - The City of Regina is now accepting applications for those developing backyard suites in the community.
According to a news release issued this week by the city, applications are now available through the City of Regina online permit portal.
Those looking to apply for a backyard suite permit in Regina can apply at Regina.ca/build, which also includes a map of the tax exemption boundary for areas offering a 25 per cent exemption for those builds.
Backyard suites, also known as laneway or garden suites, are secondary suites located on residential lots.
The City of Regina had already approved backyard suites as a permitted use at its council meeting on June 15.
Previously, the city had given the go-ahead to three pilot projects in specific areas of the city: those projects included the Greens on Gardiner, Harbour Landing, and infill neighbourhood projects.
Those pilot projects proved successful enough that the decision was made at council to expand the backyard suites option to the entire city.
At the June 15 meeting, feedback was presented to council indicating there was widespread support for the move, as backyard suites were seen as providing building options, and could reduce sprawl and increase walkability and public transportation use.
The city is offering a 25 per cent tax exemption for five years for backyard suites located in the core and certain inner-city areas, provided the unit is used for long-term rental purposes and is not an Airbnb or for commercial or personal use.
“Backyard suites are a great option to foster density and ensure diverse housing types for people of all stages of life, incomes and abilities,” said Ben Mario, Manager, City Planning, in a news release.
“Based on the interest the City has heard so far, we anticipate as many as 50 backyard suites to be built throughout Regina in the next two years.”
The city has cited benefits of backyard suites, including as an alternative to secondary suites/basement suites with more natural light and privacy, allowing multi-generational families to live on the same property, offering extra income for property owners, increasing safety in alleyways, and more customers near local businesses.
