The New R-CG Rules: What Changed, What Stayed

When Calgary City Council voted 12 to 3 on April 8, 2026 to repeal citywide blanket rezoning, it did not simply press an undo button. The repeal came with a package of targeted amendments to the Residential Grade-Oriented Infill district, the R-CG zone, that substantially change what can be built on properties that remain in that designation after August 4, 2026.

For homeowners, builders, infill developers, and real estate professionals, understanding the new R-CG rules is just as important as understanding the repeal itself. This blog breaks down every confirmed change to the R-CG bylaw and explains why these distinctions matter for development permit surveys and Land Use Bylaw compliance in Calgary. For the full picture of the repeal, see our companion blog on what the rezoning repeal means for your property.

First: Which Properties Are Still R-CG After August 4?

After August 4, 2026, properties in the R-CG district will be those that: – Were already in R-CG before the 2024 blanket rezoning (individually rezoned in prior years), or – Are exempt from the revert because they received approval for a development permit, building permit, or subdivision application before August 4, 2026; submitted a development permit, building permit, or subdivision application before first reading of the bylaw (April 8, 2026); or completed an owner-initiated rezoning to R-CG after August 6, 2024. Note: applications submitted between April 8 and August 4, 2026 are being processed under current rules but the City is still confirming exactly how these “in-limbo” applications will be handled after August 4.

Properties that blanket rezoning moved from R-C1 or R-C2 into R-CG, with no active permit or application, will return to their prior zone. Check the City’s interactive rezoning map to confirm your property’s future zone.

What Changed: A Complete Summary

1. Maximum Building Height: Reduced from 11 Metres to 10 Metres

Under the 2024 blanket rezoning version of R-CG, the maximum building height was 11.0 metres measured from grade. The amended R-CG district reduces this to 10.0 metres. On a typical 50-foot by 120-foot inner-city lot, this one-metre reduction can meaningfully affect the design of taller rowhouse or multi-unit infill projects, limiting certain three-storey designs that were workable at 11 metres. This change was part of amendments proposed by Ward 2 Councilor Jennifer Wyness during the public hearing process.

2. Maximum Lot Coverage: Reduced from 60% to 55%

Lot coverage is the percentage of the total parcel area that can be covered by all buildings on site, including the main dwelling, garage, and accessory structures. Under the 2024 R-CG rules, the maximum lot coverage at the highest density tier reached 60 percent. The amended R-CG caps this at 55 percent. On a typical 50×120 foot Calgary lot (approximately 557 square metres), the difference between 60% and 55% coverage is roughly 28 square metres of buildable footprint, a significant reduction for developers trying to maximize the site.

A Development Permit Survey from Arc Surveys includes accurate lot coverage calculations to ensure your plans comply with the new limit.

3. Zero Lot Line Developments: No Longer Permitted

A zero lot line development is one where the building is constructed right up to a property line with no required setback on one or more sides. Under the 2024 blanket rezoning rules, this was permitted in R-CG in certain configurations. The amended R-CG eliminates this entirely, restoring the requirement for side-yard setbacks from all property lines.

The elimination of zero lot line development removes a class of compliance complexity but also removes a development pathway some inner-city builders relied on. Our team at Arc Surveys can confirm exact boundary positions, the essential first step before designing any setback-sensitive project.

4. Mid-Block Rowhouses and Townhouses: Restriction Deferred to New Zoning Bylaw

Under the 2024 blanket rezoning, rowhouses were a discretionary use requiring individual development permit approval. The April 8 council decision makes rowhouses a permitted use in R-CG again, the same as before the 2024 citywide rezoning — meaning rowhouses that meet all applicable R-CG rules no longer require discretionary approval.

A mid-block rowhouse restriction was proposed and debated extensively during the public hearing. However, the City of Calgary’s official April 8, 2026 decision summary confirms that restricting rowhouses and townhouses mid-block was deferred to be addressed as part of the new Calgary Zoning Bylaw — it was not enacted as an immediate change effective August 4. Under the R-CG rules taking effect August 4, 2026, eligible R-CG lots may proceed with rowhouse development subject to all applicable bylaw rules, regardless of mid-block or corner location.

The Calgary Inner City Builders Association (CICBA) raised concerns during the public hearing that a mid-block restriction would significantly reduce the financial viability of infill projects in established neighborhoods. This was a contributing factor in Council’s decision to defer the restriction for further modelling and testing rather than implement it immediately.

5. Maximum Units in Rowhouses on Standard Lots: From 4 to 3

Under the 2024 R-CG rules, a standard-sized 50-foot by 120-foot lot could accommodate up to four rowhouse units (plus up to four secondary suites, the four-plus-four model). The amended R-CG reduces the maximum number of principal units on a standard lot from four to three.

CICBA analyzed this change and estimated that reducing from four to three units on a standard lot, while spreading the same fixed costs across fewer units, could add approximately $143,000 in cost per unit for the end buyer. Council also directed Administration to evaluate whether the density maximum should be further reduced from 75 to 60 units per hectare, with any required changes to be brought back at the July 21, 2026 public hearing.

6. Contextual Front Setbacks and the New Zoning Bylaw

The April 8 Council decision directed that contextual front setbacks, which require a new building’s front setback to match the established streetscape, along with several other refinements, be addressed as part of the new Calgary Zoning Bylaw that will eventually replace Land Use Bylaw 1P2007. In the interim, existing front setback rules for R-CG continue to apply.

7. Backyard Suites: Parking Requirement Returns

Under the 2024 blanket rezoning framework, parking requirements for backyard suites were relaxed. The amended R-CG reinstates a parking requirement: tenants must have a dedicated parking stall provided on-site, in addition to any parking required for the principal dwelling and other suites. This is a site-specific constraint that requires accurate measurement of existing structures, driveways, and boundary positions, exactly what a Development Permit Survey from Arc Surveys provides. For more detail on suite rules specifically, see our companion blog on backyard suites after the rezoning repeal.

What Stayed the Same

• Parking minimums for units and suites: No change was made to the minimum parking requirement of 1.0 or 0.5 stalls per unit or suite (depending on transit proximity).
• Single and semi-detached permitted uses: Contextual single detached dwellings remain a permitted use in R-CG. Semi-detached dwellings continue to be allowed.
• Rowhouses on corner lots: Rowhouses that meet all applicable bylaw rules can still be a permitted use on eligible corner lots in R-CG, as was the case prior to the 2024 blanket rezoning.
• Bike parking requirements: The September 2025 amendments to the Land Use Bylaw removed the mobility storage locker requirement from R-CG while maintaining bike parking stall requirements. This remains in effect.
• Child care as a discretionary use: The September 2025 addition of Child Care Service as a discretionary use in existing buildings in R-CG districts continues after August 4.

Before vs. After: R-CG Comparison Table

Why These Changes Matter for Surveys and Compliance

Every one of these R-CG bylaw changes has a direct impact on how survey work is approached for development permit applications and Real Property Reports on R-CG zoned properties.

Height and lot coverage: These are core calculations in any development permit survey. The site plan submitted to the City must show building heights from grade and lot coverage as a percentage. With tighter limits after August 4, any design that was pushing the envelope under 60% coverage or 11 metres height will need to be recalibrated and resurveyed before a new application is filed.

Zero lot line elimination: For new applications after August 4, surveyors must demonstrate setbacks from all property lines. Boundary locations must be precisely established, there is no margin for error when a required setback exists where none previously did.

Mid-block rowhouse restriction: If you purchased a mid-block lot to develop a rowhouse under the 2024 framework, confirm your exemption status immediately. A survey confirming your site conditions combined with a review of your application status will clarify whether your project is protected.

Parking and site layout: Backyard suite applications now require a dedicated parking stall. Whether a site can physically accommodate that stall, given the positions of the house, garage, lane, and property lines, is a question only an accurate site survey can answer.

As-built and compliance documentation: Properties that were built or designed under 2024 R-CG rules and are now subject to stricter post-repeal standards may need As-Built Surveys to document existing conditions and assess compliance with the new rules.

Looking Ahead: The New Zoning Bylaw

The amended R-CG rules described in this blog are not the end of the story. Calgary is developing an entirely new Zoning Bylaw to replace Land Use Bylaw 1P2007. Several items deferred from the April 8 decision, including contextual front setbacks and the question of density reductions, are to be addressed in that new bylaw. The July 21, 2026 Public Hearing will also consider making secondary and backyard suites permitted uses across all low-density districts. Follow the Arc Surveys resource centre and the City’s rezoning page for updates as these changes progress.

The Bottom Line

• Know your property’s zoning status after August 4 by checking the City’s interactive map.
• If your project relies on 2024-era R-CG rules, four-unit rowhouses, mid-block locations, 60% coverage, zero lot lines, consult a land surveyor immediately about your exemption status.
• Commission an up-to-date development permit survey before filing any new applications, so your plans accurately reflect the new bylaw limits.
• Follow the July 21 public hearing outcomes and the new Zoning Bylaw development for further changes.

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.

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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