Backyard Suites in Calgary After the Rezoning Repeal

Backyard suites, also called garage suites, garden suites, laneway houses, or carriage houses, became one of the hottest topics in Calgary residential development after blanket rezoning took effect in 2024. The expanded rules made them easier to build and, for a time, allowed homeowners to combine a backyard suite with a secondary (basement) suite on the same property.

Then Calgary City Council voted on April 8, 2026 to repeal blanket rezoning. As of August 4, 2026, the zoning rules for most properties will revert to their pre-2024 state, and the backyard suite landscape changes significantly along with them.

This blog explains exactly what the rules look like right now, what changes on August 4, and what property owners need to know. For more context on the overall repeal, read our companion blog What Calgary’s Rezoning Repeal Means for Your Property. For official City guidance, see the City of Calgary’s secondary suite permit page.

What Is a Backyard Suite?

A backyard suite is a self-contained living space that is physically separate from the main home on a property. It must have its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area, and is built on the same lot as the principal dwelling. Common forms include suites built above a detached garage (garage or carriage house suites) and standalone ground-level structures in the backyard (garden suites).

Backyard suites are distinct from secondary suites, which are contained within the main home, most commonly a basement suite. Both are regulated under Calgary’s Land Use Bylaw 1P2007, but the rules differ meaningfully between them. See the City’s guide to adding a new secondary suite for comparison.

Current Rules (In Effect Until August 4, 2026)

Until August 4, 2026, Calgary’s current 2024 zoning rules remain in place. Under the R-CG base zone that applies across most established residential areas:

• Both a backyard suite AND a secondary suite were permitted on the same property, provided the property did not contain a rowhouse or townhouse.
• In R-CG districts, backyard suites were a discretionary use, meaning they required a development permit review and neighbours had the right to appeal.
• In R-G districts (developing suburban areas), backyard suites were a permitted use, if the application met bylaw rules, it would proceed without discretionary review.
• Development permits for backyard suites currently carry a $0 fee , a waiver put in place as part of the City’s housing supply effort that remains in place through 2026.
• A development permit is always required before any building permit for a backyard suite, regardless of district. There is no shortcut to a building permit the way there sometimes is for secondary suites.

What Changes After August 4, 2026

Once the repeal takes effect, the pre-2024 zoning framework applies to most properties. For backyard suites, this means three significant changes on lots returning to R-C1, R-C2, R-1, and similar low-density districts:

1. Backyard Suites Become Discretionary Again in Most Low-Density Districts

Under the pre-2024 framework, backyard suites in low-density zones such as R-C1 and R-1 were typically discretionary uses, and that status returns after August 4. A discretionary use means the Development Authority exercises judgment. Even if the application meets all the bylaw rules, approval is not automatic.

Neighbours also receive formal written notice and a 21-day window to appeal the decision to the Calgary Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB). An SDAB appeal filing costs $200 and can add significant time to a project. Visit the City’s rezoning page to understand how your property’s district is changing.

2. The ‘Both Suites’ Rule Ends for Most Properties

One of the most impactful changes from the 2024 blanket rezoning was the ability to have both a backyard suite and a secondary (basement) suite simultaneously on a single-detached or semi-detached property. That rule disappears after August 4 for most lots reverting to pre-2024 districts.

Going forward, homeowners on those lots will generally have to choose one or the other , not both. This is a real constraint for investors who had been counting on the combined rental income model of a basement suite plus a garage suite on the same lot.

3. A Parking Requirement Returns for Backyard Suites

Under the 2024 blanket rezoning, parking requirements for backyard suites were relaxed in certain situations. After August 4, the pre-2024 requirement returns: one additional parking stall must be provided for the backyard suite tenant, in addition to the parking required for the principal dwelling. The stall must meet minimum dimensions of 2.5 metres by 5.9 metres when not adjacent to a structure. See the City’s suite permit requirements page for full dimensional rules.

This is not a trivial constraint. On narrow or tight inner-city lots, fitting one more dedicated parking stall can affect site layout, setbacks, and whether the project is feasible at all. A Development Permit Survey from Arc Surveys is the starting point for understanding whether the parking requirement can realistically be met on your specific property.

Who Is Protected? The Exemption Rules

Not everyone is subject to the August 4 revert. Properties that meet any one of the following three conditions keep their current zoning status, including the more permissive 2024 backyard suite rules:

• Approved permit: You received approval on a development permit, building permit, or subdivision application under R-CG, R-G, or H-GO zoning before August 4, 2026.
• Application filed before first reading: You submitted a complete development permit or building permit application before April 8, 2026.
• Owner-initiated rezoning: You personally applied for and received a rezoning of your lot after August 6, 2024.

If your application is filed but not yet approved, contact your City file manager immediately. The City is still determining how in-progress applications not approved by August 4 will be treated. See the City’s rezoning update page for the latest guidance.

A Silver Lining: Suites Headed Toward Permitted Use

As part of the April 8 repeal decision, Council directed Administration to bring forward amendments to the Land Use Bylaw that would make secondary suites and backyard suites permitted uses in all low-density residential districts, not just discretionary ones. These amendments are scheduled to come before Council at the July 21, 2026 Public Hearing.

If approved, this would be significant: if your application meets the bylaw rules, it must be approved, no neighbourhood appeal, no Development Authority judgment call. However, this has not passed yet as of May 2026. Property owners should plan based on what is actually in effect today, while staying informed about what is coming.

The Development Permit Process: Step by Step

Whether you are filing under current rules or planning ahead, here is the standard process for getting a backyard suite approved in Calgary:

• Step 1, Confirm your zoning: Check your property’s current and future zoning using the City’s interactive map. Determine whether your district allows backyard suites as a permitted or discretionary use.
• Step 2, Commission a Development Permit Survey: An Alberta Land Surveyor at Arc Surveys prepares a scaled, dimensioned site plan showing your property boundaries, existing structures, proposed suite location, setbacks, and coverage , required for the City’s Complete Application Requirement List (CARL).
• Step 3, File the development permit application: Submit your application with the survey, architectural plans, and other required documents. The $0 DP fee waiver remains in place through 2026 for suite applications. See the City’s suite permits page for the full application checklist.
• Step 4, Wait for DP review: Allow approximately 60 days for development permit review, longer if your application is discretionary and subject to an appeal period.
• Step 5, Apply for building permit: Once the development permit is approved, apply for a building permit with construction drawings. The current base building permit fee for a backyard suite is approximately $1,302.08, plus separate electrical, plumbing, gas, and mechanical permits.
• Step 6, Register the suite: Once construction is complete and inspections are passed, register the suite through the City’s Secondary Suite Registry. The registry fee is waived under the Secondary Suites Amnesty Program through December 31, 2026.

What a Surveyor Needs to Prepare Your Development Permit Survey

Getting a development permit survey right the first time avoids costly delays and resubmissions. To prepare your survey efficiently, an Arc Surveys Alberta Land Surveyor will document:

• Legal property boundaries and lot dimensions
• Location and dimensions of all existing structures, including house, garage, sheds, and decks
• Setback distances from all structures to all property lines
• Location of utility right-of-ways and easements on title
• Lane access, parking areas, and driveway locations
• Lot coverage calculations for existing and proposed development

This information also directly supports your Real Property Report , the legal document required for real estate transactions in Calgary. Our resource centre has more information on how RPRs and development permits work together.

The Bottom Line

• Right now, the 2024 rules still apply. You can still file under the more permissive R-CG framework, including the option to combine suites, if your lot currently sits in R-CG.
• After August 4, 2026, the rules get stricter for most properties. Backyard suites become discretionary again, the ‘both suites’ rule ends, and parking requirements return.
• If you want to act under current rules, the clock is ticking. Commission your development permit survey as soon as possible.
• Watch the July 21 public hearing. If Council approves making suites a permitted use citywide, the post-August picture improves significantly. Follow the City’s rezoning updates page for the latest news.

Ready to Order Your Survey? Contact Arc Surveys Today.

Whether you are a homeowner trying to understand how the zoning changes affect your property, a developer racing to get a permit in before August 4, or a real estate professional navigating a transaction in a shifting regulatory landscape, Arc Surveys is here to help. Browse our resource centre for more guides, or get a free quote today.

Our licensed Alberta Land Surveyors provide Real Property Reports, Development Permit Surveys, Infill Construction Surveys, Subdivision Planning, and more across Calgary and surrounding municipalities. We work with the City of Calgary daily and stay current on every bylaw change so our clients don’t have to.

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