While Calgary’s much-publicized blanket rezoning has sped up the process of getting new homes built and allows for multi-unit properties across the city, getting single-family or multi-family homes approved can still be a challenge at times. Land-use bylaws, current policies, and building codes need to be followed, while community support can help push a project forward.
Working with a custom home designer with expertise in navigating zoning and building codes can help you avoid time-consuming delays caused by rejected permit applications. It can also help you sidestep disapproval from neighbours, since the city is pushing public consultation as an important step in building new developments.
Let’s look at a few ways to increase the likelihood of your project gaining approval.
How Working with a Designer Gives You a Headstart
For anyone looking to get a custom home or multi-family development built in Calgary, it makes sense to read the city’s land use bylaw to understand what is and is not allowed. If you don’t have the time or will to comb through online resources and interpret them for your unique project, working with a custom home designer can help.
We provide a deeper resource for understanding those bylaws and what might or might not be approved and/or relaxed throughout the process. Some bylaws are often relaxed, while others are best to avoid at all costs. We have experience helping design homes in Calgary to know which is which.
Multi-Family Homes
That’s particularly true regarding multi-family homes, which can sometimes face community opposition and be more complicated to build. Ellergodt Design has been designing tasteful, community-appropriate multi-family homes in neighbourhoods across Calgary for more than two decades and can guide you through the process.
What to Consider When Seeking Approval
What Permits Are Required?
Development Permits
A development permit is required for new custom homes and ensure they meet the City of Calgary’s Land Use Bylaw, the Alberta Building Code, and other policies or plans, including area redevelopment plans.
Building Permits
Every home built in Calgary requires a building permit, whether a multi-family or single-family house. The City of Calgary provides a detailed breakdown of what permits are required.
A building permit ensures a new home meets the National Building Code – Alberta Edition. Additional permits may be required for plumbing, electrical, and gas.
Multi-Family Homes Can Be More Complex
While Calgary’s blanket rezoning does allow for multi-unit homes to be built in neighbourhoods across Calgary, that doesn’t necessarily mean that every project is going to get approval. Just because the city now allows for rowhouses and townhomes in every neighbourhood, there are still mechanisms in place to ensure that multi-family properties meet bylaw requirements and applicable policies that override the zoning.
There is still, at times, a negative perception of multi-family developments and their impacts on adjacent homes and community character. A community association does not approve or not approve a development permit, but can provide letters of support or non-support, which could, in some cases, impact the city administration’s decision on whether or not a project should be approved.
It’s important to understand what the City of Calgary requires of a development permit application and to meet all their criteria for redevelopment. Working with our team can help because of our particular knowledge of land bylaws, experience, and expertise in working with the city’s planning department.
The Push for Public Engagement
Community engagement is an important part of getting new homes and multi developments approved, which the City of Calgary understands can be difficult. With that in mind, they’ve created a community outreach kit to help.
Outreach is beneficial in many ways, especially as it helps identify potential sources of conflict early in the process and allows for them to be addressed. While there are no minimum requirements for public outreach, the city recommends connecting with “surrounding neighbours, community association, or relevant members-based organizations and area Councillor” early in the process to discuss development ideas.
Meet Your Neighbours
Speaking with your neighbours about the plans for your home isn’t just polite; it’s something the City of Calgary actively encourages.
With blanket rezoning across Calgary becoming a hot-button political issue earlier in 2024, there may be trepidation from neighbours about how a new multi-family home will affect them. That can be true of new single-family homes, as well, and reaching out, discussing plans, and taking their plans into account early can be a highly effective way of avoiding issues.
Issues like parking, building height, privacy, and even the impact your property will have on the natural light a neighbour’s home receives can and often should be addressed. Good neighbours communicate, and consulting with the people who live near or next to your property is a smart way of getting the relationship off to a healthy start.
Engage with Your Community
People and organizations in the community where you’re looking to build your custom home or new multi-family project will have the opportunity to offer feedback about your plans. However, that doesn’t mean they get the final say over its approval. That decision lies with the City of Calgary.
Approved permits are posted online by the City, and there’s a 21-day period during which Calgarians can file an appeal to the appropriate board. This is generally the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.
Engaging with community associations can be a great way of articulating why your project should receive their support, even if they don’t have the ability to directly block a new custom home from being built.
Holding an information session about your project can be a great way of building trust and goodwill, and getting written support from the community can strengthen applications.
Get Approved & Start Building!
With experience building single-family and multi-family homes in Calgary for over two decades, Ellergodt Design understands the ins and outs of getting custom homes built in the city and how to avoid the pitfalls that can arise throughout the permit approval process.
Whether it’s designing your dream home, connecting you with the right builders, or helping you navigate the permit process, our team of talented custom home designers will help bring your project to life.
Use our contact form or call us at (587)802-2304 to get started on your new project.