Do homes need a special permit for an in-law suite?

Laws regarding permitting for in-law suites vary from one city to another, and the zoning codes are sometimes confusing, according to Forbes. Some jurisdictions do not allows the building of units for relatives that could later be rented to non-relatives, while others encourage it.

Typically, a special permit is required to build any unit for a relative that could be rented to a non-relative, whether that unit is called an in-law suite, a granny flat, a kangaroo apartment or a guest cottage. However, it is usually permissible to move a family member into one's home or to rent out a room for a relative's caretaker with no special permits, as Forbes explains.