A secondary suite is a separate dwelling unit located within a detached dwelling that has its own living, cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities. A suite may be created through the development or conversion of a basement or other interior space within a house, accessed without passing through the principal (main) dwelling, such as through common interior space, or directly into the suite from outside.

In Strathcona County, only a Master Electrician is eligible to obtain an electrical permit and carry out the required electrical work in a secondary suite to ensure safety and efficiency throughout the project.

• For secondary suites, a complete  is required to be submitted alongside the electrical permit application (734.2 KB)  to ensure the electrical service provision to the property is adequate for the proposed development. When the Electrical load calculation form is complete, please email to buildingregulation@strathcona.ca or submit by mail or in person at our office at 2001 Sherwood Drive, Sherwood Park, AB, T8A 3W7.
• In the event that the service to the property is insufficient and needs to be increased, the project electrician will be required to contact Fortis Alberta to address this matter prior to carrying out the project.  
• Each secondary suite is recommended to have its own electrical panel with access directly within the dwelling unit.

A minimum of two inspections are required for electrical projects in secondary suites. These are typically done at the rough in and completion stages.
 

Rough-in requirements

• All wiring and interior of outlet boxes must be readily visible.
• Vapour barrier and insulation must be removed where it is covering any wiring. Exception: where wiring is fished into walls.
• All wiring must be supported.
• Outer sheath of wiring must be removed and all wiring into outlet boxes and fixtures must be terminated.
• All splices must be completed and all grounding must be completed in outlet boxes and fixtures.
• All wiring and terminators must be visible and no devices (plugs, switches) should be secured to outlet boxes.
• Cables may be terminated into the panelboard, but wires must not be on breakers.
• Exposed wiring must not be energized.
• Access must be provided to all areas where electrical work has been completed.

Final requirements

• Live, energized wiring must not be exposed.
• All devices, receptacles and light fixtures must be installed.
• Any open outlet boxes or unfinished wiring must be properly secured and installed in a junction box with an approved splice cap and a junction box cover.
• All breakers must be installed, terminated and energized.
• Complete the panelboard breaker directory with all breakers labeled correctly.
• Access must be provided to all areas where electrical work has been completed.