Calgarians Support Development of New Regulated Secondary Suites

Calgary, AB - A new Ipsos poll reveals that Calgary residents are supportive of the development of new regulated secondary suites in their city and would also be okay with a next door neighbour building a legal suite. Most residents want to see new secondary suites compliant with building and fire codes, as well as having separate entrances and off-street parking. Residents also want more information about secondary suites from The City of Calgary.

Approval

Three-quarters (76%) of Calgary residents say they support greater development of new secondary suites in Calgary, subject to regulations (21% strongly, 56% somewhat). One-quarter (24%) say they oppose this development (8% strongly, 16% somewhat).

• Support is well above majority levels across all city quadrants, both genders and all age groups. However, support is slightly lower among older Calgarians (69% among 55+ years vs. 81% among 18-34 years, 78% 35-54 years).

Acceptance Next Door

The same percentage of Calgarians that support new secondary suites, also say they would accept one next door. Three-quarters (76%) of residents agree that `as a homeowner, I would accept my next door neighbour building a legal suite, subject to regulations' (26% strongly, 49% somewhat). One-quarter (24%) disagree that they would accept this next door (9% strongly, 15% somewhat).

• Acceptance is well above majority levels across all city quadrants, both genders and all age groups. However, as with support, acceptance of a new suite next door is lower among older Calgarians (61% among 55+ years vs. 80% among 18-34 years, 82% 35-54 years).
• Acceptance is also slightly higher among current renters (81%) than among current homeowners (73%).

Desired Conditions/Regulations

Eight-in-ten (80%) Calgarians say that it is important to them that The City ensures new secondary suites are compliant with building and fire codes. A majority also say that it is important to them that City approval of new suites includes a requirement for a separate entrance (56%) and on-site (off-street) parking (56%). Only about three-in-ten (29%) residents say it is important to them that City approval includes restrictions on the size of the suite.

Information from The City

The vast majority of Calgarians are looking for more information from The City on this topic. Nine-in-ten (89%) agree `I would like The City of Calgary to provide citizens with more information about secondary suites' (31% strongly, 58% somewhat). Only 9% disagree they want more information from The City (2% strongly, 9% somewhat).

These are the findings of an Ipsos poll of 507 adult City of Calgary residents conducted online using Ipsos' national online household panel between June 18 and 23, 2015. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional, age and sex composition reflects that of the actual City of Calgary population according to 2011 Census data. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/- 5.0 percentage points had all City of Calgary adults been surveyed. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Jamie Duncan
Vice President
Ipsos Public Affairs
(587) 952-4863
[email protected]

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks third in the global research industry.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of e1,669.5 ($2,218.4 million) in 2014.

With offices in 87 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across five research specializations: brand, advertising and media, customer loyalty, marketing, public affairs research, and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

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