Building safety approval timelines
The City of Calgary has a team of dedicated professionals that play a key role in making sure anything built in Calgary meets the code requirements outlined in the National Building Code – Alberta Edition and The Safety Codes Act.
Our staff review construction plans and permit applications for new buildings and additions, changes to existing buildings, demolitions and special event structures to ensure all relevant building safety standards are followed.
Partial permits are issued for below-grade foundations on single, semi-detached and duplex dwellings in the Developed Area, as defined by the Land Use Bylaw. Development permit approvals are required prior to obtaining a building permit.
| Building safety | Target (calendar days) | Per cent of decisions within target (April 2023 - March 2024) | Average days (April 2023 - March 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Single, semi-detached & duplex dwellings |
|||
| Infill (permissions to start construction) | 14 | 83% | 12 |
| Infill (permit issued) | 30 | 78% | 25 |
| Greenfield (permission to start construction) | 1 | 99% | 1 |
| Greenfield (permit issued) | 7 | 87% | 4 |
|
Multi-family |
|
||
| New project - low complexity | 49 | 73% | 44 |
| New project - high complexity | 120 | 70% | 112 |
| Improvements | 28 | 81% | 20 |
|
Residential |
|||
| Improvements - low complexity | 7 | 83% | 10 |
| Improvements - high complexity | 21 | 89% | 17 |
|
Commercial/Non-residential |
|||
| Improvements - low complexity | 30 | 81% | 25 |
| Improvements - high complexity | 35 | 75% | 35 |
| New/Additions - low complexity | 28 | 62% | 38 |
| New/Additions - medium complexity | 90 | 82% | 60 |
| New/Additions - high complexity | 105 | 70% | 134 |