Buying a property is exciting, especially if it’s your first time. The possibilities can feel endless. But just because you buy land in Calgary, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve got a blank canvas to do whatever you want. Even with recent changes to the city’s zoning rules, it isn’t a guarantee that you’ll be able to build a multi-unit home on your property just because the zoning says so.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy land in Calgary, though. There are just a few important things to consider before you make the purchase. At Ellergodt Design, we help property owners build their dream homes, invest in designing multi-unit properties, and renovate their houses.
Whatever your plans, there are a few key things to consider before you buy land in Calgary.
What Are Your Goals for Buying a Property in Calgary?
This is an important first question to ask yourself. Are you looking for a property that:
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- Is Move-In Ready? If you’re buying a home for you and your family to live in and love the house that’s on your property, the process is likely going to be pretty simple.
- Will Be Re-Built? If you’re looking to tear down and build a new house after you buy land in Calgary, you’ll need to make sure you familiarize yourself with zoning regulations and bylaws before making your purchase.
- Will Become a Multi-Family Home? If, on the other hand, you’re looking to buy land in Calgary with the intention of building townhomes or rowhouses, don’t assume that just because the city’s blanket rezoning allowed for multi-unit housing in more areas, you’ll automatically get your project approved.
The decision to buy land in Calgary is a big one. Before you proceed with a purchase, make sure you’re clear about what you’re looking to do with your property.
3 Steps to Complete Before Buying Land in Calgary
1. Understand Zoning Restrictions
Regardless of why you’re looking to buy land in Calgary, make sure you understand the zoning for your property. The city’s zoning determines what type of housing is allowed in each district.
That can include secondary suites, backyard suites, and all sorts of multi-unit housing.
How to find yours: You can find your zoning information on the City of Calgary’s MyProperty website, where you’ll get almost all the information you need about a property by typing in your address.
Why it’s important: It’s vital to understand the zoning district in which a property is located, as it informs everything from building heights to usage and will dictate what modifications or additions are allowed on a property.
In addition to zoning, it’s also important to review the City of Calgary’s policy plans, which outline long-term planning goals and can impact redevelopment potential. You can explore these using the City’s Policy Map.
2. Review Bylaws
It’s imperative that before you buy land in Calgary, you understand the zoning bylaws for the property and what they allow. The city’s zoning bylaws can affect everything from the type of housing that’s allowed on a lot to setbacks, heights, and privacy requirements.
What are bylaws? They are the rules and regulations the city uses to maintain the health and safety of its communities, and they can be updated regularly and vary from neighbourhood to neighbourhood.
The City of Calgary’s website offers extensive information on what its bylaws entail and allow. Before you buy land in Calgary, you should make sure you understand how the bylaws will affect your decisions for a new home or multi-family development.
There are a few key things to remember:
- Bylaws change and differ: Just because something was allowed on a neighbour’s property, that doesn’t mean it will get approved on yours. What was allowed 10 years ago isn’t always relevant to what will get approved today.
- Certain allowances are usually permitted: If you’re building a new home or multi-unit dwelling, you’ll need a development and building permit. The City of Calgary may allow a few minor exceptions to the bylaw, but asking for too many can result in everything getting denied. That’s where working with a custom home designer who has experience with the process can help.
- There’s no need to make assumptions: The City of Calgary’s bylaws can be dense, but they’re thorough. Everything from where a driveway is allowed to whether secondary suites are permitted is covered, so if you have questions, the bylaws generally have answers.
3. Understand the Permit Process
If you buy land in Calgary and are planning on making substantial changes, you will need to go through the permit process. Many different types of permits can be required for a new build or an addition, and it’s essential to understand that the approval process can take time.
There are two main types of permits to be aware of:
- Development permits are the city’s way of making sure new homes and renovation projects meet the requirements of the land-use bylaws. For single-family homes, the development permit process often takes three to four months, while it can be four to five months for multi-unit developments.
- Building permits ensure that construction and renovation projects comply with building safety regulations that are outlined in the National Building Code (Alberta Edition. It can take around a month for building permits to be approved for single-family homes and two months for multi-unit developments.
Working with a custom home designer can help you navigate the permit process and avoid costly and time-consuming delays.
How a Custom Home Designer Can Help When You Buy Land in Calgary
Speaking with a custom home designer at Ellergodt Design gives potential new homeowners a secret weapon before they buy land in Calgary. Having designed beautiful homes across the city, from single-family homes to multi-family projects and renovations, our custom home designers have developed a deep understanding of zoning, bylaws, and the city’s often complex permit process.
Instead of trying to navigate it all alone or assuming you can’t have your dream home, Our team can help you unlock the possibilities of a property when you buy land in Calgary while avoiding costly pitfalls.
Get the Home of Your Dreams When You Buy Land in Calgary
While there are a lot of things to consider before you buy land in Calgary, that shouldn’t scare anyone off from purchasing property and designing a custom home. It’s essential to buy land in Calgary that allows you to make the additions your family needs or design the perfect home, but a custom home designer like Ellergodt Design can help.
We have been helping Calgarians design and ultimately build their dream homes for 21+ years. For more information, call us at (587)874-5748 or fill out the contact form.
FAQs About Buying Land in Calgary
Is it worth buying a property in Calgary?
Calgary is a vibrant, growing city that is generally more affordable than other Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. While there are restrictions on what can be built on lots across the city, that’s true everywhere. It’s just important to know what is and isn’t allowed before you make a purchase.
What is the nicest area of Calgary to live in?
This is entirely a matter of opinion, as Calgary is full of distinct neighbourhoods that have their own character. When you buy land in Calgary, you should consider what you value, whether that’s easy access to the mountains, downtown living, or anything else that matters to you.