Home renovations & basements
Basements, kitchens, bathrooms, windows, and exterior doors, structural and framing changes.
Step 1: Review the rules and fees for your project
When is a permit required?
Typically interior renovations and changes to existing basements do NOT need a permit when the work consists of minor cosmetic upgrades.
In most situations your interior renovation or basement development will only require a building safety approval (building permit). If your design or location does not meet land use bylaw specifications you will also require planning approval (Development Permit).
Fees
Planning Approval - Development Permit (prior to construction) | Permit fee | Advertising fee | Development Completion Inspection | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Planning Approval - Development Permit (prior to construction): Proposed land use bylaw relaxation for a home renovation |
Permit fee: $384 | Advertising fee: $32 | Development Completion Inspection: $163 | Total: $579 |
See the planning applications fee schedule for a complete list of planning application fees.
Building Safety Approval - Building Permit | Permit fee | Safety Codes Council Fee (4%) | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Building Safety Approval - Building Permit: New Basement |
Permit fee: $332 | Safety Codes Council Fee (4%): $13.25 | Total: $345.28 |
Building Safety Approval - Building Permit: Renovation to an existing house or basement | Permit fee: $202 | Safety Codes Council Fee (4%): $8.08 | Total: $210.08 |
See the building permit fee schedule for a complete list of planning application fees.
Building code and bylaw information
New window or enlarging a window
If you are adding or enlarging a window, a building permit is required. If the proposed window is located within a bedroom, egress requirements in the Alberta Building Code must be met. For a comprehensive explanation of these requirements, please see Egress Window Guidelines.
Note: Engineering may be required for structural alterations. Contact our Technical Assistance Centre for more information.
Land Use Bylaw rules
Land Use Bylaw requirements for new windows:
- One side setback must be clear of all projections (cantilevers and bay windows).
- A window well can only project to a maximum of 0.8 m into a side setback.
- Window wells must not project into the 3.0 m side setback required on a laneless property.
- A 3.0 m side setback from the back of walk is required for a corner property.
A development permit may be required if the above rules are not met.
If you will be adding or changing sizes of any windows that face a side property line, you must provide elevation drawings. The elevation drawings must be drawn to scale, show the entire side of the house where changes are proposed and include all the existing and proposed windows. Make sure to include all dimensions of walls and windows. There is a limited percentage of windows allowed on a side elevation, depending on the distance of the house to the property line and the size of the building face. Please note that proposed windows are not permitted within 1.2 m from the property line.
New window or enlarging a window
Building code rules
Windows are generally not permitted in an exterior wall when that wall is closer than 1.2 m (4’- 0”) to any property line.
Roof soffits are not permitted within 0. 45 m (1’6”) of the property line.
Roof soffits within 1.2 m (4’- 0”) of any property line are not allowed to have any openings and must be a non-vented soffit. The soffit material can be either:
- sheet steel
- unvented aluminum
- ½” gypsum soffit or ceiling board
- ½” plywood
- ½” Orientated Strand Board (OSB) or waferboard
- ½” lumber
When adding new exterior windows to your concrete foundation wall, a professional Engineer’s structural review is required when one or more of the following applies:
- The width of a new opening exceeds 1.2m (4’-0”)
- The combined width of all new and existing openings in one wall exceeds 25% of the overall length of that wall
- The width of solid wall which remains between an existing opening and a new opening is less than the width of either of those openings
Refer to Division B, 9.15.4.3. of the 2014 Alberta Building Code for more information.
New basement entry
A new basement entry requires a building permit.
Note: Engineering may be required for structural alterations. Contact our Technical Assistance Centre for more information.
Land Use Bylaw rules
When your proposed entry requires a landing, the landing must:
- Not exceed 2.5 m².
- Not be located in the 3.0 m side setback area required on a laneless property.
- Not be located in a side setback area that is required to be clear of projections unless the landing is accessible from the rear and the front.
Landing example
Building code rules
When adding new exterior doors to your concrete foundation wall, a professional Engineer’s structural review is required when one or more of the following applies:
- The width of a new opening exceeds 1.2m (4’-0”)
- The combined width of all new and existing openings in one wall exceeds 25% of the overall length of that wall
- The width of solid wall which remains between an existing opening and a new opening is less than the width of either of those openings
Refer to Division B, 9.15.4.3. of the 2014 Alberta Building Code for more information.
Smoke and carbon monoxide detector requirements
Smoke detectors are required in all bedrooms and hallways servicing bedrooms. They must be hard-wired and interconnected throughout the house. If there are no hallways servicing bedrooms in your basement, smoke detectors are required within common areas.
Energy efficiency requirements
Your renovation may be required to meet energy efficiency requirements under Section 9.36 of the Alberta Building Code. If the application for the building of the house was submitted on or after Nov. 1, 2016 any new renovations must comply with these energy efficiency requirements. If the application for the building of the house was submitted before Nov. 1, 2016 you do not need to comply with the energy efficiency requirements of Section 9.36 of the Alberta Building Code.
All renovations to your home must include building construction and mechanical components (furnaces, air conditioners, water heaters, etc.) that perform as well as, or better than, any similar existing construction or mechanical components that are in the home or that are being replaced. All changes must also meet applicable Alberta Building Code requirements.
New heating, ventilation, air conditioning and service water heating systems are always required to be properly certified.
New work and replacement of "like for like" mechanical components and systems normally requires building, gas and/or electrical permits. Please see the Alberta Permit Regulation and the Calgary Building Permit Bylaw for details.
When maintaining and repairing building components or mechanical components in homes, replacements are allowed as long as you replace the component with a similar material or part that performs as well as, or better than, what you are replacing. This includes exterior cladding, windows, doors, mechanical systems, etc.
Mechanical/furnace room requirements
Your mechanical/furnace room or laundry room is required a minimum 32". All doorways that lead to this room must also be minimum 32" in width.
Wetbars/kitchens
If you are intending to have a kitchen and bathroom in your basement, you must apply for a secondary suite.
A wetbar may be included in your development but it cannot have a means of cooking (i.e oven, stove, cooktop, microwave).
Step 2: Prepare your application
- Use the Home renovation and basement permit checklist to determine the application and drawing requirements for your project.
- For online applications, review the criteria for information on how to organize your plans and documents.
- Complete plans and collect supporting documents. Review the sample drawings if needed.
Sample drawings
You can use these sample drawings as a reference while preparing your application
Step 3: Apply
In order to get started, create a myID account.
Create a myID account
Businesses can register for a myID business account. A business account is intended for myID services to be submitted on behalf of a business or organization. Please follow the steps outlined on the myID business account page.
In person
Once you have gathered all required documents, you can apply for your permit in person by visiting the Planning Services Centre. To skip the line, book an appointment.
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.
Planning Services Centre
Hours:
Monday - Friday*
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time Zone)
*closed on statutory holidays
Live chat:
calgary.ca/livechat
Call:
403-268-5311
Visit:
COVID-19 Service Changes - Application drop-off
3rd floor, Municipal building
800 Macleod Trail SE
COVID-19 updates:
COVID-19 changes to services
Click before you dig
Always contact Alberta One Call before you dig. Submit a locate request online or call 1-800-242-3447 for more information.