Making a difference: Planning & Development
The City's Planning & Development department is about building Calgary for everyone. We’re gathering feedback, examining great ideas and removing roadblocks to support Calgarians and development in our city.
What's new
- Our Community Outreach on Planning & Development Toolkit is now available for anyone interested or involved in the community outreach related to development projects.
- We accept online applications for:
- We've updated our online development map to make it easier to search and find information on development applications.
- Council approved changes to allow cannabis stores to request an extension on their commencement date to accommodate the AGLC license restrictions.
- Our new Digital criteria page will help you prepare for your online application.
- The 2019 Master Development Agreement (MDA) has been improved to meet the needs of industry, business and communities. One improvement is the acceptance of surety bonds as an alternative to letters of credit.
- Earlier this year Council approved amendments to the Land Use Bylaw related to urban food production. The updated bylaw includes a new section on Urban Agriculture use, new parameters for local food sales, the addition of insect farming to the Food Production use, and minor amendments to support breweries, wineries and distilleries.
What's coming
- More functional improvements to our online development map - fall 2019.
- By year-end of 2019, a decision from Council on allowing secondary suites in semi-detached dwellings (duplexes).
Past Improvements
Simplified permit fees for home renovations
In January 2019, we made it easier for customers to complete their Residential Improvement Projects (RIP) with a simplified fee structure.
We previously calculated RIP fees based on the renovation cost. Because costs vary, our customers and staff negotiated permit costs, making this a complicated calculation for a routine permit. We now offer standard fees:
| Project | Cost |
|---|---|
| Project: Carport, hot tub, swimming pool, interior renovation, fireplace, retaining wall, deck, existing secondary suite or porch | Cost: $202 |
| Project: Basement, garage, addition under 400 square feet | Cost: $332 |
| Project: New secondary suite | Cost: $402 |
| Project: New backyard suite or addition over 400 square feet | Cost: $1,312 |
Simplified certificate of compliance when selling a home
In 2019, we launched an all-in-one service for customers who request a certificate of compliance when selling their home. Previously, customers would bring in their Real Property Report (RPR), which we review to ensure all buildings are within property setbacks. If there are issues, we asked the customer to apply for a relaxation and pay another fee - a second process and a second fee.
Now, this is consolidated into one process. Customers pay one fee and make one application. We review the RPR and if needed, we automatically transition the file to a relaxation request at no extra cost.
Obtain a business licence online
As of July 2018, customers can apply for a business licence, update their business details and apply for permits using a single online application. We were the first Canadian municipality to enable small business customers to start and manage a new business online.
Providing timeline certainty and transparency with online metrics
As a developer, we know you need some certainty in terms of timelines to help run your business. To that end, The City has launched regular updated online metrics on nine application review processes, providing you with both target and actual timelines.