Calgary's rezoning repeal:
what it means for your lot

On August 4, 2026, most Calgary properties affected by the citywide rezoning returned to the zoning they had before 2024.

If you own an inner-city property and are thinking about building a custom home, infill or backyard suite, the rules may be different from what you were working with a year ago.

In August 2024, Calgary rezoned most low-density residential land to R-CG or R-G as part of its Rezoning for Housing initiative. Council repealed that citywide rezoning in April 2026, with the changes taking effect August 4.

Approximately 99% of affected properties returned to the land-use district they held before the 2024 change.

The short version: if your property was R-C1, R-C2 or another low-density district before 2024, there is a good chance it has returned to that district. What you can build is now governed by that zoning, along with separate 2026 changes affecting secondary and backyard suites.

What did Calgary’s rezoning repeal change?

The citywide R-CG and R-G redesignation was reversed for most affected properties.

Properties generally returned to their pre-2024 land-use district unless they met one of the City’s exemption criteria.

Properties that had already been individually rezoned through their own land-use application may also remain in their newer district.

Certain properties with development, building or subdivision applications already approved or sufficiently far along in the process were exempt from the redesignation.

If you had an application underway when the repeal occurred, do not assume your property automatically reverted. Confirm the zoning and status of the specific application with the City.

What changed inside R-CG?

For properties that remain R-CG, Council also changed several of the district rules.

R-CG rule	Current rule
Maximum building height	10 metres, down from 11
Maximum parcel coverage	55%, down from 60%
Zero-lot-line development	No longer permitted
Rowhouses	Permitted where all district rules are met
Rear-yard building-depth rule	Removed

The practical effect is a somewhat smaller and more constrained building envelope than under the 2024 version of R-CG.

A design that worked under the previous rules may need to be revisited before moving forward.

Suites are governed separately

One of the most common misunderstandings about the repeal is that it eliminated or rolled back secondary and backyard suites.

It did not.

Council made separate changes to suite rules in 2026.

Secondary suites are now permitted uses in all low-density residential districts.

Backyard suites remain permitted in R-G and discretionary in other low-density districts.

A property may generally have either a secondary suite or a backyard suite, but not both.

Parking requirements for backyard suites were also reinstated.

The type of home already on the property matters too. In some districts, such as R-C1, backyard suites are limited to properties containing a single-detached home. In R-G, backyard suites may also be possible with semi-detached and rowhouse buildings.

Read our guide to Calgary’s backyard-suite rules after August 2026 →

What does this mean if you own an inner-city lot?

Your zoning matters again.

If your property reverted to R-C1, R-C2 or another pre-2024 district, what you can build is determined by the rules of that district rather than the broader R-CG rules that applied during the citywide rezoning period.

Under R-C1, the primary residential use is a single-detached home.

R-C2 allows a broader mix, including single-detached and semi-detached housing, subject to the district rules and the specifics of the parcel.

A rowhouse that might have been possible while a property was R-CG may no longer be permitted without a separate land-use redesignation.

If higher-density development is still the goal, a property owner can apply for rezoning to a district that allows it, but that is a separate process requiring its own approvals.

The teardown math may have changed

Between 2024 and 2026, some Calgary properties were being evaluated based on what R-CG allowed.

With most of those lots now back in their previous districts, the development potential may be different.

That can affect what makes sense to build, how much a redevelopment lot is worth to a builder, and whether the best project is a single custom home, two homes where the zoning allows it, or something requiring a separate rezoning application.

Those are property-specific questions rather than simple bylaw answers.

A suite may still be part of the plan

The repeal does not mean a secondary or backyard suite is off the table.

A secondary suite is now a permitted use in Calgary’s low-density residential districts.

A backyard suite may also be possible, depending on the zoning, property type and design.

Because a property generally cannot contain both types of suite, that decision should be made early in the design process.

What if you were counting on R-CG?

If your design relied on R-CG for a rowhouse, zero-lot-line construction, additional building height or a different parcel-coverage allowance, it should be checked against the property’s current zoning before design continues.

If the property still remains R-CG, the revised 2026 R-CG rules apply to future development.

How do you find your current zoning?

The City of Calgary’s land-use map shows the current zoning for individual properties.

It is worth checking before spending money on design, especially if you purchased or evaluated the property during the 2024–2026 rezoning period.

If the zoning is not what you expected, or if you had an application underway when the repeal took effect, the City’s Planning Services Centre can confirm the status of the property and application.

It is one of the first things we check when a new custom-home or infill enquiry comes in.

Common questions

Did Calgary repeal citywide rezoning?
Yes.

Council repealed the citywide Rezoning for Housing changes in April 2026, with the zoning changes taking effect August 4, 2026.

Approximately 99% of affected properties returned to the zoning they held before the 2024 rezoning.

Is my property still R-CG?
Possibly, but most properties affected by the blanket rezoning returned to their previous district.

Properties that were already R-CG before the 2024 citywide rezoning, were individually rezoned, or met certain application and approval exemptions may remain R-CG.

The City’s current land-use map is the best place to confirm a specific property.

Can I still build a rowhouse on my inner-city lot?
If the property remains R-CG and the project meets all applicable rules, rowhouses are a permitted use.

If the property reverted to a district such as R-C1 or R-C2, a rowhouse generally requires a separate land-use redesignation to a district that allows it.

What if I already had a permit application underway?
Some applications and approvals were exempt from the redesignation depending on when they were submitted or approved.

Because the exemption criteria are date-specific, confirm the status of your individual property and application with the City rather than assuming the current map tells the whole story.

Did the repeal affect secondary and backyard suites?
The repeal reversed several suite-related rules, but Council also passed separate 2026 amendments.

Secondary suites are now permitted uses in all low-density residential districts. Backyard suites remain permitted in R-G and discretionary in other low-density districts.

A property generally may have either a secondary suite or a backyard suite, not both.

Current as of September 2026 and summarized for general planning. The City of Calgary Land Use Bylaw and current land-use map govern what applies to a specific property.

Calgary's rezoning repeal: what it means for your lot