Where one fits depends on lot size, existing setbacks and servicing, all governed by City of Saskatoon Zoning Bylaw 8770, which requires a building permit before either option counts as legal. Joel Dyck evaluates a specific lot's layout before telling a seller or buyer what is actually possible. A basement suite is usually the lower-cost option because it uses an existing foundation and roof, while a detached garden suite needs its own foundation and its own utility connection, so the two are not interchangeable once actual cost enters the picture.
Lot depth and existing structures like a garage or a mature tree line often decide the question before zoning even does, since a detached suite needs enough clear yard space to meet setback requirements on all sides.
A legal, well-placed secondary suite adds real income potential to a property, but only once it clears both the zoning question and the construction question. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.