If your goal is to start construction on your home in the spring or early summer, the work begins a long time before the snow starts to melt. In Calgary, you always require permits when you’re building a new home or renovating, and the application and approval process can take months.
Having your custom home design permit-ready and your builder involved can save time, money, and frustration while keeping you on track to see construction start in the spring.
At Ellergodt Design, our expert team of custom home designers helps you be prepared for everything that comes with the permit process.
Key Takeaways
- Start Early: Begin permit applications in winter to ensure spring construction.
- Know Your Permits: Building permits are always required; development permits often are too, and may take 3-4 months.
- Work with Experts: A custom home designer ensures plans meet codes, and involving a builder early prevents delays.
- Engage Neighbours: Community support can smooth the development permit process.
- Be Thorough and Responsive: Submit complete applications, pay fees, and reply quickly to City requests.
- Plan for Timing: Winter prep gives the City time for approval, so you’re ready to build once the weather turns.
What Permits Are Required to Build a New Home in Calgary?
Building a new home in Calgary will require at least a building permit—every time. Building permits ensure that new structures meet the requirements of the National Building Code – Alberta Edition and are required for every new home.
Additional permits, most notably development permits, are often required as well, and for single-unit homes, the City of Calgary estimates it will take between three and four months.
What’s the Difference Between Building Permits and Development Permits?
Every new home will require a building permit, and many will also need a development permit.
Once approved, your building permit is good for 180 days, and a single construction permit includes the required trade permits for plumbing, electrical, gas, and HVAC, as well.
Development permits are required when:
- You’re building in a developed area
- You’re requesting a relaxation of the Land Use Bylaw
- Your parcel doesn’t have existing city services
- The proposed development is listed as discretionary in the Land Use District
Why Going Through the Permit Process in Winter Is Best
For many Calgarians who are eager to get started on building a new custom home, it’s ideal to start construction in the spring. Why? Mostly because it allows builders months of warm, hopefully dry weather that’s ideal for them to lay the foundations for your home and get a head start on construction.
Development permits, if required, can take up to four months to get approved. That means if you’re hoping to get shovels in the ground on your new custom home by mid-April, you’ll want to submit your plans for permit approval to the City of Calgary’s Planning & Development Department by the end of the previous year.
If you’re allowing for possible revisions, it’s advisable that you submit even earlier. The City of Calgary had more housing starts than any other municipality in Canada in the first quarter of 2025, so there’s a lot of volume for city staff to get through. Patience is needed, but ensuring you have your custom home design ready and permit applications submitted gives the City the time it needs for approval so that construction can begin.
What to Do for a Smooth Permit Approval Process
We’ve established why it’s smart to submit your permit applications early, allowing the City of Calgary to complete them within a couple of winter months and grant you approval. But there are a few key things you can do even earlier to avoid delays and frustration.
Work with a Custom Home Designer
Custom home designers have years of experience working with the City of Calgary and have a deep understanding of the permit process. They can help guide your decisions, particularly when it comes to the relaxation of certain bylaws in the development permit process.
When designing your home, they’ll ensure the plans they create meet the requirements of the National Building Code – Alberta Edition, which should make the building permit process straightforward, as well.
Involve Your Builder Early
Once you get permit approval, you’ll likely want to get started with construction as soon as you can.
Having a builder involved during the design process is helpful on many levels, but even if you decide to choose a builder after you’ve submitted a permit application, using the winter to get them on board and ready to start on construction means there won’t be a delay once the City of Calgary gives you the thumbs-up to proceed.
When working with Ellergodt Design, we bring builders into the process in the early stages to help with alignment.
Speak with Neighbours
Whether you’re looking to build a new single-family or multi-family home, community engagement can be an important part of getting new projects approved. There are no strict requirements for reaching out to your neighbours before you build a new home.
The city recommends connecting with your “surrounding neighbours, community association, or relevant members-based organizations and area Councillor” early in the process to discuss development ideas.
Showing you’ve done that can have real benefits when you apply for development permit approval.
Ensure Your Application Is Complete
This may sound obvious, but it’s the first recommendation the City of Calgary provides for applicants. Ensure that you have all the required documents and plans submitted and that your fees are paid before submitting. This will help avoid delays.
Respond to Notifications Promptly
City staff may try to get in touch with requests for more information, and it’s important that you get back to them as soon as possible. It may not always be possible to drop everything if you receive a call, but it will save time if you or your custom home designer is available whenever the city does try to connect.
Tracking your application through the City of Calgary’s online portal and regularly checking your e-mail is helpful, too.
Use Winter Wisely with Ellergodt Design
A new custom home is something to be excited about, but there’s no rushing the permit process with the City of Calgary. Submitting applications that are detailed, complete, and realistic about bylaw relaxations can help the process go smoothly, but it can still take months. If you’re looking to start building in the spring, it’s critical that you use winter wisely.
Working with Ellergodt Design’s talented and experienced team of custom home designers can help, as our familiarity with the intricacies of the permit process will give your application the best chance of being approved.
Get your project started on the right foot by contacting us today.
FAQs
How long does it take for a custom home to get built?
This depends on several factors, including the size and complexity of the projects. Design typically takes around 3 months for a single-family home, with the permit process lasting 3-4 months and construction taking 10-14 months.
When is the best time to start building a new home in Calgary?
Construction is a year-round business, but ideally, you would start construction in the spring when you are likely to get 4 or 5 months of nice weather, avoiding delays due to extreme cold.