The trigger is the permit, not the construction itself. An unpermitted basement conversion can sit unassessed for years simply because the city has no record of it, but that also means it cannot be counted as legal income by a lender or an appraiser, which is a worse trade than the tax increase.
The size of the increase depends on the suite's finished area, a full bathroom, proper insulation and a separate heat source, the same features an appraiser checks under the City of Saskatoon's 2026 assessment cycle. A suite with its own entrance and full kitchen is valued higher than a single added bedroom without one.
Most owners find the added assessed value is a fair exchange for a legal, financeable suite rather than a reason to skip the permit. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.