Implementation for The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy launched in 2024. See the progress being made on the Strategy's key measures of success.

In Q1 2025, the number of market homes receiving development permit (DP) approval including secondary suites, saw a notable increase of 55% over Q1 2024. With around 5,300 new market homes approved for DP, Q1 2025 marks the highest quarterly total recorded for Q1 in the past three years.

Similarly, the number of market homes receiving building permit (BP) approval sustained the momentum from Q1 2024 with a 6% increase year-over-year. It is also a record-setting quarterly total since 2022. This is expected to result in over 5,500 new market homes when constructed.

There is a target for 1,000 more market homes over what would normally be built per year. The baseline target for DP is 13,000 units per year and for BP is 14,000. In 2024, the number of proposed units for both were well above these baseline targets.

The number of new non-market homes receiving development permit (DP) approval in the first quarter of the year was record-breaking. The 237 units in Q1 2025 was greater than the combined total from the first quarters in the same period. In comparison to any first quarters over the past three years, Q1 2025 saw drastic increases of 717% (2024), 239% (2023) and 394% (2022).

As projects move from the development permit phase to the building permit (BP) phase, the number of homes proposed in the building permit phase has also risen. This is evident in Q1 2025, where the number of new non-market homes receiving building permit approval increased by 432% year-over-year, the highest recorded quarterly total since 2022.

There is an ambitious target for 3,000 new non-market homes per year. The City is actively supporting non-marketing housing projects through strategic land and asset commitments, funding initiatives, land use policy changes, development incentives, and securing contributions from other orders of government.

In Q1 2025, The City of Calgary has expedited 5 development permit approvals for non-market housing projects. These are expected to create up to 237 new non-market homes. The number of homes proposed through expedited development permit issuance in this quarter is equivalent to 26.5% of the 2024 total.

Since 2020, The City has entered into funding agreements totaling over $300M in federal funding for housing. Since 2023 we’ve leveraged over $16M through the Provincial Government’s Affordable Housing Partnership Program.

Housing need in Calgary has remained relatively constant between 17-18 per cent since 1991, however the absolute number of households in need has doubled as the population has grown. Considering Calgary’s market housing conditions, particularly increases in housing prices and rent, the current level of housing need is expected to be higher. However, this will not be determined until the next federal census in 2026.

In 2024, the number of homes completed and ready for occupancy have considerably increased from previous years for all types of homes. Overall, the housing market experienced an increase of 31.1% in completions year-over-year.

In 2024, multi-family/apartment as well as single-detached homes continue to comprise most of the new housing supply, respectively 31% and 30%.

From 2023 to 2024, completions for duplexes or semi-detached increased the most by 47.7% year-over-year. Followed by the category of ‘Others’ at 33.1%, which includes ancillary secondary suites, dwelling units in care facilities, and/or alternative forms of dwellings. Multi-family and apartments also saw a large influx of supply at 30.4%. Single family posted at 29.2%. Rowhouses and townhouses were not too far behind at 24.4%.

There are several actions in the Housing Strategy that aim to increase the diversity of housing forms including rowhouses, townhomes and duplexes, so that Calgarians have choice and the increased supply can meet demand and ease on affordability.

In 2024, The City will provide $81M in funding to support affordable housing providers and non-profits to increase supply, advance the sector and facilitate positive resident outcomes. This includes funding for the following programs:

• Home, 
• Housing Incentive, 
• Housing Land Fund, 
• One-Window and 
• Downtown Incentive. 

Also $90M in capital funding has been allocated to support new affordable housing development throughout 2024-2026.

In 2024, The City had six programs to support affordable housing providers to strengthen service delivery to Calgarians.

The City delivered the Housing Needs Assessment research report which provided critical data points on the housing need and the severity of the housing crisis. The City also hosted a housing conference which provided opportunities for networking, partnership and the exchange of best practice ideas.

The City continues to provide funding for the creation of City-owned affordable housing projects. Funding is also allocated for maintenance to extend the life of existing City-owned affordable housing supply.

In 2024, The City allocated $29.6M for City-owned and CHC-owned affordable housing supply.

Actions to support this outcome are early in implementation. Data will be reported in future years on the following measures: ​

• ​The City's housing subsidiaries are successfully meeting their goals and stated targets within their respective Strategic Plans.

Actions to support this outcome are early in implementation. Data will be reported in future years on the following measures: 

• Number of homes created or modified through City of Calgary programming to support the housing needs of equity-deserving populations.
• Amount of funding allocated to programs that reduce barriers and increase housing supports for equity-deserving populations.
• The proportion of equity-deserving households in housing need decreases over time.

Actions to support this outcome are early in implementation.  Data will be reported in future years on the following measures: 

• Number of new culturally relevant, affordable and supportive Indigenous homes created in Calgary.
• Percentage of City of Calgary land allocated to Indigenous housing providers as per the policy. 
  
• Number of policy reforms to reduce barriers to building and operationalizing housing for Indigenous housing providers in Calgary.
• The proportion of Indigenous People living in Calgary facing housing need and homelessness decreases over time. 

In 2024, The City awarded two Indigenous non-profit organizations City-owned parcels in the fourth Non-Market Land Sale, valued at over $2M.