With the City of Calgary’s government changing significantly this past month with the recent municipal election, one of the central promises of the new mayor is to reverse citywide rezoning.
What does this promise – which seems almost guaranteed to go through at this point – mean for homeowners in Calgary looking to build a garage suite? Below, we explore those possibilities. Not sure about your project? Contact us today for a free consultation!
Blanket Rezoning of August 2024
In August 2024, the city implemented blanket rezoning, changing RC1, RC2, and other zones to RCG and allowing a broader range of multi-plex construction across Calgary. RCG zoning relaxes various bylaw rules for multi-family infill builds, such as setback requirements from the primary residence, parking density, and others.
Paired with appealing CMHC loans at the time, which had very low interest rates, and what we saw was an immense amount of new multi-plex projects, such as fourplexes with basement suites, across the inner city.
RCG Rezoning Affect on Garage Suites
For garage suites in particular, the RCG blanket rezoning changed the rules in a few noticeable ways:
(1) It allowed landlords to build both a basement suite and a garage suite on the same lot, maximizing the income-generating capability of their properties
(2) It also blurred some of the rules for setbacks; in our experience, you could now technically build a garage suite as close as 1.5 metres, or just 5 feet away from the main residence, although this setback was often discretionary and approved (or not) depending on a multitude of factors
Therefore, while these rules did relax garage suite construction in certain instances, they didn’t necessarily lead to a surge in new backyard suite builds compared to previous years.
RCG Zoning Reversal & Garage Suites
Therefore, unless some special carve-out by the city happens for (1) and (2) above, which we believe is unlikely, then property owners will lose the ability to have both a basement suite and a garage suite on the same property. If this is you, it will be up to you to decide which one is best for your investment goals.
Also, reverting most RCG lots to their previous zoning will likely result in tighter setback requirements, particularly between the primary residence and the garage suite. The typical required distance is 5 metres (16 feet), but under RCG zoning, we saw that distance relaxed significantly by the city planning department for many projects. We’re not sure whether the city will be as relaxed about those rules as it has been if the zoning reversal goes through.
If You’re In the Design Process
If you’re currently getting a garage suite designed and it relies on the RCG rules to pass, we highly recommend submitting your development permit package to the city as soon as possible. Ask your designer or architect to expedite the process as quickly as possible, as it may be your only chance for your drawings to be evaluated under the current zoning rules.
If you’re design does not rely on specific RCG zoning rules, then you should be just fine. However, given the discretionary nature of backyard suite permits, it is essential to note that the City of Calgary and its planning department may introduce new rules for these permits, not yet seen, alongside the blanket zoning reversal.
As your go-to expert for garage suites in Calgary, we will provide updates on our blog with new information as it is received.
New Backyard Suite Incentive Program
As the municipality looks to reverse its RCG blanket rezoning, the City of Calgary is undertaking a new initiative to support backyard suite housing construction. Part of the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), approximately $10 million has been allocated to help reduce barriers (or subsidize) garage suites in Calgary.
The goal of the program is to see anywhere from approximately 200 to 250 backyard suites built between 2026 and 2027. For context, Calgary saw about 71 of these units built in 2024, and expects about 75 to finish by the end of the year, according to city officials.
With the potential for a significant subsidy, backyard suites have a bright future across the city over the next few years. While the full details of the incentive program have yet to be determined, what we do know is that it is currently under development and should be released by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
Questions About Garage Suites?
As the go-to garage suite builder in Calgary, we have the knowledge and experience to help make your next project a huge success!
Contact us anytime at 403-797-4918 or submit a contact form, and we will be happy to assist you! Don’t settle for less than the best — Contact Garage Suites today!
