The City of Saskatoon regulates both under its zoning bylaw and requires a building permit before either counts as legal, covering egress windows, minimum ceiling height, fire separation between the units and, in most cases, a separate entrance.
The distinction that matters most is legal status, not layout. A basement with a kitchen and its own door can look exactly like a legal secondary suite and still fail every code requirement, and only a 2026 permit on file with the City of Saskatoon tells the difference.
Whether adding one makes sense for your specific property depends on the lot, the zoning and the cost to bring the space to code. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.