Neighbourhood speed limits
As of May 31, 2021 the default unposted 40 km/h speed limit is in effect. This change will affect the speed limit on both residential and collector roads in neighbourhoods, but there will be no changes to speed limits on higher classification roads (e.g. Deerfoot Trail, Bow Trail, Anderson Road, Memorial Drive) or playground zones.
Enter your address below to see what the speed limit on your street is.
Speed limit look-up
- Type your address into the field above, select your address from the list provided, and click Check speed limit.
- Do not include your unit/apartment/suite number when entering your address.
- When entering a street number that includes a letter, ensure there is no space between the number and letter (eg. 707 4A ST NW).
- The following abbreviations are used in the address list: BV for boulevard, AV for avenue, VW for view.
How we got here
Speed, and the perception of speeding, is a consistent concern The City has heard from residents. There are an average 9,100 collisions per year on streets inside Calgary neighbourhoods. An average of 550 of those result in serious injury or death.
By reducing the unposted speed limit to 40 km/h on residential roads, we can all contribute towards making our neighbourhoods safer no matter whether you are driving, walking, riding a bike.
At the February 1, 2021 Strategic Meeting of Council the City of Calgary Standard Speed Limit Bylaw was passed. This bylaw, and the detailed technical analysis and cost benefit analysis that was done, demonstrate that a small reduction in driving speed can reduce the chance of collisions. Travelling at a slower speed gives a driver more time to react, broadens their field of vision, and reduces how severe crashes are when they happen. It also gives others, including cyclists and pedestrians, more time to react to an approaching vehicle.
The full report from the February 1, 2021 meeting included:
What roads will have new speed limits?
Changes to speed limits in neighbourhoods will only apply to residential and collector roads. There are no proposed changes to playground zones or higher classification roads (e.g. Deerfoot Trail, Bow Trail, Anderson Road, Memorial Drive etc.)
- Residential roads are the roads in front of most houses, typically have no center line, and have less traffic.
- Collector roads have residences, schools, businesses, green spaces, typically have a center line, and are often bus and snow routes.
To determine if it is safe for a collector road to have a 40 km/h speed limit there were a number of factors considered such as, how long the road is (including playground zones), if traffic calming has been installed on the road (e.g. speed humps, or cushions) if the average speed (measured by a speed study) is consistently below the current speed limit, whether the road has low traffic volume, and whether the road is a bus route. See the criteria we used for collector roads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has The City reduced speed limits on neighbourhood streets?
Speed, and the perception of speeding, is a consistent concern The City has heard from residents. There are an average 9,100 collisions per year on streets inside Calgary neighbourhoods. An average of 550 of those result in serious injury or death.
We expect the change to neighbourhood speed limits will reduce collisions in neighbourhoods, and have a high rate of compliance with Calgarians. This change is the first stop first step in a long term plan for road safety in Calgary, for everyone who uses our streets.
When do new speed limits come into effect?
The new unposted speed limit of 40 km/h comes into effect on May 31, 2021.
What roads will have a new speed limit?
The changes to speed limits only apply to residential and collector roads. There are no proposed changes to playground zones, or higher classification roads like Deerfoot Trail, Anderson Road, Memorial Drive, or Bow Trail.
Residential roads are the roads in front of most houses, and typically have no centre line, and have less traffic. Collector roads also have residences, schools, business, and green spaces, and also typically have a centre line. Collector roads are often bus routes and snow routes. We encourage you to use the search tool above, to see where speed limits are changing in your neighbourhood.
How did The City decide if a collector road would be 40 km/h?
To determine if it is safe for a collector road to have a 40 km/h speed limit there were a number of factors considered such as, how long the road is (including playground zones), if traffic calming has been installed on the road (e.g. speed humps, or cushions) if the average speed (measured by a speed study) is consistently below the current speed limit, whether the road has low traffic volume, and whether the road is a bus route.
Will all residential roads have 40 km/h signs?
Most residential roads in the city currently do not have speed limit signs. As this change is to the default unposted speed limit, The City will not be installing new signs on most residential roads. Collector roads which have been reduced to a 40 km/h speed limit will have new speed limit signs installed. Also, collector roads that currently do not have speed limit signs, will have 50 km/h speed limit signs installed. We encourage you to use the search tool above, to see where speed limits are changing in your neighbourhood.
Will there be more enforcement if the speed limit is reduced?
Similar to when The City harmonized school and playground zones, The City will be working with Calgary Police Services on an education and awareness campaign. Many collector roads will remain at 50 km/h, and we will be taking an education first approach when the new speed limit comes into effect on residential roads.
Does this impact playground zones?
No. All existing playground zones will remain in place with a 30 km/h speed limit between 7:30 a.m. and 9 p.m.
What’s the cost for lowering the speed limit?
The cost to install 50 km/h signs on collector roads, which do not currently have signs is $2.3 million. All of the costs related to implementation will be covered under existing budgets. With this change, we anticipate there will be 90 to 450 fewer collisions on neighbourhood streets. The estimated costs of collisions on our roads is $1.12 billion, annually.
Will this increase my commute time?
Because the changes to speed limits are on residential and collector roadways, the impact for most Calgarians’ will be under two minutes. We encourage you to use the search tool above, to see where speed limits are changing in your neighbourhood.
Will there be impacts to transit?
There are no anticipated impacts to existing transit routes, with these changes. Calgary Transit does not have many routes on residential roads, and many collector roads will remain at 50 km/h, so there is a minimal impact to existing route trip times.
View the full map
View the city-wide map with all changes to speed limits. Search by ward, community or address to what has changed.
More information
Background Council documents
February 1, 2021 Strategic Meeting of Council
- Minutes of the February 1, 2021 Strategic Meeting of Council
- Cover report
- Summary of previous council direction
- Potential questions for a vote of the electors
- Previous report including technical and cost-benefit analysis
- Proposed bylaw
- Framework for lower speed limits on collector roads (deferred until Q2 2022)
Project background
The Residential Speed Limits Review aims to improve traffic safety for all users by reviewing operating speeds on Calgary’s residential streets. Learn more about The City's traffic safety programs.
In Calgary, traffic collisions account for a total societal cost of approximately $1.2 billion a year which include medical costs, first responder costs, property damage and lost productivity. As part of the Council-approved Safer Mobility Plan, a key target is to achieve a 12 per cent reduction in the pedestrian and bicycle casualty collision rate per population of 100,000 based on a three-year rolling average.
Recent studies have shown that a 1% reduction in average driving speed is expected to result in a 2% reduction in all collisions, a 3% reduction in injury collisions and a 4% reduction in fatal collisions. Reducing driving speeds in residential neighbourhoods can also help Calgarians feel safer and more comfortable when moving around in their community, whether they choose to walk, cycle or drive.