Demolitions
This information is for residential and commercial projects that require building demolition or removal.
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Step 1: Review the rules and fees for your project
When is a permit required?
A demolition permit is required whenever you are demolishing or moving a building from a site. This can include a partial building demolition as well as reducing a building to its foundation and rebuilding. In most cases, a demolition permit is not required for the removal of a detached residential garage
Interior commercial or interior residential demolitions require a building permit instead of a demolition permit.
Fees
Building Safety Approval - Building Permit | |
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Building Safety Approval - Building Permit: Demolishing or moving a building | undefined: Please use the Building permit fee calculator - Demolition to estimate your fee. |
Online submissions – deposit process
For online submissions with large permit costs, there is a deposit process in place that limits the amount paid online. For building permit fees over $10,000, only 25% of the base permit fee will be charged as an initial deposit, up to a maximum of $10,000. The remaining total building permit fee must be paid prior to permit issuance. In order to pay the remaining total please choose one of the following payment methods and reference your permit number:
By Phone (only available by credit card):
In order to make payment over the phone by credit card please call 403-268-5311.
By Mail (only available for cheques):
The City of Calgary
Attention: Planning Cashiers- 8108
PO BOX 2100 STN M
Calgary, AB T2P 2M5
By Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT):
If you would like to pay by Electronic Funds Transfer you will select the payment option upon application. No fees will be processed at the time of the application intake. The Planning Cash Office will contact you the next business day and provide you with instructions to complete the EFT payment.
Additional information
Utility disconnection
Determine which utilities will be disconnected. For the water, electrical, and gas utilities a separate approval signature is required on your service disconnect request form. For more information regarding the various utilities’ procedures and applicable fees, please contact that particular utility office.
Doing work to a building that requires shut-offs with no demolition planned requires calling each individual utility provider to ask for their services to be disconnected. If only the services will be shut off, no demolition permit is required.
Asbestos removal requirements
As a part of the demolition application, the applicant must submit the Asbestos Abatement Form prior to starting demolition. Before demolition, the building must be inspected by a professional asbestos removal company. The applicant must either obtain confirmation that there is no asbestos or have the asbestos professionally removed.
Visit the government of Alberta’s website for information about Occupational Health and Safety.
Tree protection policy
You must submit a Public Tree Disclosure Statement with your application regardless of the proximity of public trees to your demolition site.
Tree protection during demolition is important, as often times injured trees will not show signs of decline until as late as 10 years after the damage. A tree protection plan is required when a public tree is within six meters of the demolition. If you do not have a public tree within six meters of the site, please indicate ‘No’ on the Public Tree Disclosure Statement.
For more information about tree protection plans, visit calgary.ca/treeprotection.
Heritage designation
All demolition and moving applications will be reviewed by a heritage planner. This review occurs after the application has been submitted and must be approved prior to being issued.
Construction site contact information sign
A construction site contact information sign must be attached to the security fence and visible from the street. If you do not have your own sign, The City can provide one after issuing the demolition permit at the Planning Services Centre. The sign must be posted any time a construction activity, including demolition, poses a potential public hazard. The property owner is required to ensure public safety around the construction site.
Demolishing a detached garage
If you are demolishing a detached garage or accessory buildings over 10 square meters in addition to the main building, you must include it on the site plan and in the demolition area calculations. The property assessment and property taxes will be impacted.
If you are demolishing only a detached residential garage:
A demolition permit is only required for removing detached residential garages and accessory residential buildings that are over 10 square metres if:
- The garage or accessory building is independently serviced, or
- The garage or accessory building has the primary utility meters/connections for the residence.
You do not require a demolition permit for detached residential garages and accessory residential building if:
- The garage or accessory building has no utility services, or
- The garage or accessory building will be demolished and replaced with another garage or accessory building (the demolition of the existing structure is included in the permit for the new structure).
If you are only demolishing a detached residential garage and not replacing it with another garage, contact Property Assessment.
Step 2: Prepare your application
Utility Disconnection
Review the checklist and determine which utilities require disconnection. Follow the Utility disconnection instructions and obtain the required signatures for water, electrical and gas services on your Service Disconnection Request Form before applying. The time it takes to receive each signature depends on each utility provider.
See all Water Service Disconnection Changes effective July 2021.
Prepare your application
To prepare your application, complete the remainder of the demolition checklist.
All applicants are required to fill out an asbestos abatement form regardless of when the building was constructed. All applicants must also fill out a public tree disclosure form whether or not public trees are nearby.
Step 3: Apply
To apply online, you need a myID account. Create a myID account
Apply in person
Drop off your application at
3rd floor, Municipal building
800 Macleod Trail SE
See COVID-19 Service Changes - Application drop-off for payment options.
We are currently not accepting appointments.
Complete Application Requirement:
An application for a permit may be refused if, within ninety (90) days from the date of receipt, adequate information and documentation is not supplied as requested by the Safety Codes Officer. Should a permit be considered for refusal the applicant will be given notification in writing and 30 days to resubmit the missing information. For more information, please review Building Advisory A19-002 Building Permit Complete Application.
Step 4: Inspections and managing your permit application
- Visit Residential Inspections to learn about inspection bookings, inspection outcomes, inspection types and more.
- Visit Manage your permit application for information on how to revise, cancel, and alter your permit.
Contact us
Planning Services Centre
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Live chat: calgary.ca/livechat
Call: 403-268-5311
Web: Planning Services Centre
Development Approvals Review Team
Find Development Approvals Review Team staff to contact about specific applications.