Stormwater & Housing Impacts Project (SHIP)
Stormwater & Housing Impacts Program
Supporting housing and stormwater infrastructure delivery
Program background
We want to make it easier for developers to build homes while also improving City stormwater systems. By connecting stormwater and housing requirements, we can create more housing options, reduce flood risks, and enhance our stormwater infrastructure.
Builders, developers, consultants and The City all work together to build homes and ensure stormwater and drainage is managed during and after construction. This work is connected to realizing outcomes of three strategies:
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Home is Here, The City of Calgary's Housing Strategy 2024 - 2030
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The City of Calgary’s 2023 Stormwater Management Strategy
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Established Area Growth and Change Strategy
Under these strategies, the Stormwater & Housing Impacts Program (SHIP) wants to help create more homes and improve the stormwater system.
Program Overview
There are four active projects, click below to learn more:
On-site Stormwater Funding Pilot
About the On-site Stormwater Funding Pilot
The On-site Stormwater Funding Pilot is part of Calgary’s broader Stormwater & Housing Impacts Project (SHIP). It supports residential developments in the Established Area by reimbursing costs for:
- Onsite stormwater management infrastructure
- Stormwater main extensions
The objective is to provide financial reimbursement for mandatory stormwater infrastructure.
Application process
Three phases:
- Phase 1: Confirmation of Eligibility
- Phase 2: Securing Commitment and Construction
- Phase 3: Final Reimbursement Request
Eligibility criteria:
- Projects with 3+ primary housing units
- DSSP required via DART process
- Must meet 50 L/s/ha onsite storage requirement
Application paths
| Path | Description | When to use | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Path 1 | DSSP Approved & Storage Constructed | Project complete & inspected | Immediate reimbursement review |
| Path 2 | DSSP In Progress/Approved, Storage Pending | Project approved but incomplete | Secure funding for up to 1 year[LU1] |
Required documentation
| For Path 1: | For Path 2: |
|---|---|
*Request for inspection can be found here. More information about the inspection can be found on the DSSP webpage. |
|
Developers can apply for reimbursement of construction costs up to $50,000 for on-site stormwater storage. Eligible developments are multi-residential, or mixed-use with multi-residential components, with on-site stormwater storage in compliance with City requirements. More details can be found in the On-site Stormwater Funding Pilot Phase 1 Rules & Guidelines.
For more information or to submit a pre-approval or reimbursement application, please email Stormwater@Calgary.ca with the subject line “OSFP:”
Stormwater Extension Pilot
Managing stormwater in Calgary requires infrastructure both on private sites and on public land. When redevelopment happens where there isn’t an existing stormwater main, an extension to the nearest stormwater main must be built. While these costs are the developer’s responsibility, they can be costly for a builder, which means they can impact the price of the homes or reduce the viability of the project.
A pilot is in place to explore better ways to collect these funds and build the required stormwater main extensions, making it easier for more homes to be built. The current phase of the pilot covers required storm extensions for residential applications submitted since October 2023, and provides up to $2,100 for each meter of pipe and up to $1 million per eligible project. Projects which don’t need extra pipes but benefit nearby properties will be considered.
For more information or to submit a pre-approval or reimbursement application, please email Stormwater@Calgary.ca with the subject line “extension pilot:”
Plug & Play On-site Stormwater Designs
Currently, on-site stormwater storage is only required when developing multi-residential housing with three or more units. Building on-site stormwater storage can be both expensive and technically challenging, leading some developers to avoid building multi-residential housing. This means both fewer homes and less stormwater infrastructure are built.
We are working with industry partners to prepare "plug & play" designs for on-site stormwater storage. These are pre-made, ready-to-use designs which meet regulatory requirements. These designs will be publicly available, and will make it simpler, less time consuming, and less costly to build multi-residential developments.
New Community Stormwater Pilot
Like in established areas, housing built in new communities must also follow stormwater requirements. In consultation with industry partners, this pilot is being developed to help build more housing in new communities by reducing costs and challenges related to stormwater management.
As the Stormwater & Housing Impacts Program progresses, we will be providing updates on this page. For more details on the overall program or any of the active project components, contact stormwater@calgary.ca.