Planning & Development resource library

Visit the Local Policy Plans Map to see planning policies in your area.

Planning Policies

The planning policies listed on this webpage are published in compliance with s. 638.2 of the Municipal Government Act.

Map of Policy Plans

Provincial documents

Intermunicipal policies

City wide policies

Statutory Plan

Municipalities enact statutory plans to guide future development and to facilitate local planning. Statutory plans include a municipal development plan (for the city as a whole), intermunicipal development plan (a joint plan for adjacent municipalities), area structure plan (a plan for a new community) and area redevelopment plan (a plan for an existing community that is redeveloping). A statutory plan must meet requirements for public notification or engagement, and is adopted by Council bylaw.

Non-statutory policies

Non-statutory policies may include plans, guidelines or other policies that can be used to guide planning and development. They may be used, along with applicable statutory plans and bylaws, in making planning decisions. Non-statutory policies may be adopted by Council resolution, or by City Administration.

Local policies

Statutory plans

Municipalities enact statutory plans to guide future development and to facilitate local planning. Statutory plans include a municipal development plan (for the city as a whole), intermunicipal development plan (a joint plan for adjacent municipalities), area structure plan (a plan for a new community) and area redevelopment plan (a plan for an existing community that is redeveloping). A statutory plan must meet requirements for public notification or engagement, and is adopted by Council bylaw.

Non-statutory policies

Non-statutory policies may include plans, guidelines or other policies that can be used to guide planning and development. They may be used, along with applicable statutory plans and bylaws, in making planning decisions. Non-statutory policies may be adopted by Council resolution, or by City Administration.

Planning and licensing Bylaws

How to apply: checklist and fees

Building and Development lists and forms (CARLs)

Inventory of Costs

Building Regulation advisories and bulletins

Technical and design specifications

Waste and Recycling Services requirements

Standard specifications for roads construction

Calgary Approvals Coordination catalogues and distributes technical specifications and engineering design manuals.

The City of Calgary no longer prints and sell hardcopies. Users are encouraged to explore the digital specifications before printing hardcopies.

Technical specifications

Cathodic Protection Installation

Version Effective Date Addenda

Cathodic Protection Installation Checklist

January 1, 2018

Capital project construction signs

Version Effective Date Addenda

Capital Signage Guidelines

January 1, 2018

Infrastructure Servicing

Version Effective Date Addenda

Water Supply for Public Fire Protection 1999

January 1, 1999

Internal Guide - Fire Flow Review for Development Applications

January 1, 2018

Standards and Guidelines for Municipal Waterworks, Part 1

January 1, 2012

Standards and Guidelines for Municipal Waterworks, Part 2

January 1, 2012

Wastewater Systems Standards for Performance and Design, Part 3

January 1, 2013

Wastewater Systems Guidelines for Design, Part 4

January 1, 2013

Stormwater Management Guidelines, Part 5

January 1, 2013

Standard specifications for water construction

Version Effective Date Addenda

Standard Specifications for Waterworks Construction - 2022 NEW

January 1, 2023

Standard Specifications for Waterworks Construction - 2020

May 1, 2020

Proximity guidelines 2015

March 25, 2015

Stormwater Irrigation Guidelines

2018

Standard specifications for sewer construction

Version Effective Date Addenda

Standard specifications for sewer construction 2022 NEW

January 1, 2023

Standard specifications for sewer construction 2020

June 20, 2020

Standard specifications for roads construction

Version Effective Date Addenda

Roads construction 2021 (Current)

January 1, 2021

Roads construction 2015 (Current)

January 1, 2015

Standard specifications for landscape construction

Version Effective Date Addenda

Landscape construction 2024 (NEW)

February 20, 2024

Landscape construction 2023 

July 13, 2022

Landscape construction 2021 (Superceded)

January 1, 2021

Landscape construction 2020 (Superseded)

January 1, 2020

Landscape construction 2019 (Superseded)

January 1, 2019

Landscape construction 2018 (Superseded)

January 1, 2018

Landscape construction 2017 (Superseded)

January 1, 2017

Standard specifications for street lighting construction

Version Effective Date Addenda

Design Symbols for Street Light Luminaires and Poles (Jan. 2023)

Street lighting construction 2006 (Current)

January 1, 2006

Street lighting material catalogue 2016

Luminaire replacement chart

Design manuals and guidelines

Design guidelines for subdivision surfacing

Version Effective Date Addenda

Design guidelines for subdivision servicing 2020 (Current)

October 1, 2020

Design guidelines for subdivision servicing 2014

November 1, 2014 to October 1, 2020

Design guidelines for subdivision servicing 2012

January 1, 2012 to November 1, 2014

Addendum 1 (2012-05-09) - Emergency access to private sites

Water pressure zone map

May 20, 2015

Design guidelines for subdivision servicing 2004 (Superseded)

Feburary 1, 2004

Addendum 1 (2011-04-01) - Flushing velocities and Manning's 'N'

Design guidelines for Development Site Servicing Plans (DSSP)

Version Effective Date Addenda

Development Site Servicing Plan DSSP 2018 (Current)

May 1, 2018

Development Site Servicing Plan DSSP 2015

June 1, 2015

Development Site Servicing Plan (DSSP) 2012

August 31, 2012

Development Site Servicing Plan (DSSP) 2008 (Superseded)

February 1, 2008

Development Site Servicing Plan (DSSP) Complete Application Requirement List (CARL) (revised 2013-02-15)

July 30, 2012

Development Site Servicing Plan (DSSP) circulation stamp DSSP circulation stamp (.dwg) DSSP circulation stamp (.dgn)

2018-05-01

Geotechnical Guidelines for Land Development Applications

Version Effective Date Addenda

Geotechnical Guidelines for Land Development Applications​

July 1, 2017

Waste and Recycling Services requirements

Version Effective Date Addenda

Development Reviews: Design Standards for the Storage and Collection of Recyclable Materials and Waste

June 17, 2015

Sewer bypass pumping guidelines

Version Effective Date Addenda

Sewer Bypass Pumping Guidelines

October 15, 2020

Wastewater lift stations

Version Effective Date Addenda

Wastewater Lift Station Design Guidelines

November 11, 2016

Design and construction of sewer pipes

Version Effective Date Addenda

Standard practice for design and construction of flexible thermoplastic sewer pipe

July 30, 2009

Standard Practice for Design and Construction of Rigid Gravity Sewer Pipe

July 30, 2009

Design and construction of feederman pipes

Version Effective Date Addenda

Design and Construction of Potable Water Feedermain Pipes

March 4, 2021

Consulting engineers field services guidelines

Version Effective Date Addenda

Consulting engineers field services guidelines - 7th edition

January 1, 2020

Consulting engineers field services guidelines 2012 Consulting engineers field services guidelines forms

January 1, 2012

Consulting engineers field services guidelines 2004

January 1, 2004

Guidelines for erosion and sediment control

Version Effective Date Addenda

Stormwater management and design

January 1, 2011

Guidelines for erosion and sediment control

Version Effective Date Addenda

Erosion and sediment control guidelines 2017 (Current)

January 1, 2011

Field manual for effective erosion and sediment control

Version Effective Date Addenda

Erosion and sediment control field manual 2011 (Current)

December 1, 2011

Design guidelines for street lighting

Version Effective Date Addenda

Design guidelines for street lighting 2016 (Current)

Present

Street Light Design Incremental Cost Data Sheet (DDS)

Present

2021 Street Light Design Bulletin

Present

Servicing guidelines for new single family / semi-detached / duplex dwellings in the developed area

Version Effective Date Addenda

Residential grades Complete Application Requirement List (CARL)

August 31, 2012

Residential water services reuse guideline

December 2, 2021

Design guidelines for City of Calgary funded buildings

Version Effective Date Addenda

Design guidelines for City of Calgary funded buildings

January 1, 2021

Design guidelines for fire stations

January 1, 2011

Other publications

Access Design Standard - is required to be applied ONLY on City of Calgary owned / operated facilities – please speak with the project manager for the City owned project you are working on for details

Standard Block Profile Specifications

Note: These include Capital Project Block Profile Specifications, subject to the project coordinator

Version Effective Date Addenda

Block profile 2019 (Current)

January 1, 2020

Bylaws

Version Effective Date Addenda
The Utiltiy Site Servicing bylaw 33M2005 January 1, 2012

Research resources

Citywide Retail and Commercial Study

This study that focuses on the commercial uses related to retail and services in the City of Calgary helps to better understand current conditions and future needs.

Suburban Residential Growth

These reports track the location and pace of suburban development activity to help balance residential land supply with anticipated future demand. 

The Suburban Growth Report is five-year growth forecast produced annually and the Monthly Lot Supply report is a ready-to-build lot inventory updated monthly.

Employment Areas Growth and Change

These reports provide information on serviced (i.e. existing City infrastructure in place), planned and annexed land supply available in Calgary for industrial development.

Developed Areas Growth and Change

This report tracks redevelopment potential of Calgary’s established communities in terms of additional units that could be built under the land use designation or approved planning policy.

Calgary Snapshots

Calgary Snapshots has information about growth and change in Calgary. It is produced by The City's Geodemographics group.

National Building Code

  • National Building Code - 2019 Alberta edition (previously Alberta Building Code 2014)
  • National Energy Code for Buildings - 2017 Edition (previously National Energy Code for Buildings 2011)
  • National Fire Code – 2019 Alberta Edition (previously Alberta Fire Code 2014)

Building permit applications received prior to October 1, 2019 may proceed under the Alberta Building Code 2014 and NECB 2011 editions.

Legal Agreement Precedents

Legal Agreements are required for a variety of reasons at various stages through the development

Approvals continuum. The below documents are the published precedents for The City of Calgary and the bulletin offers more information on what The City hopes to achieve by publishing the precedents.

An instruction page on how to complete the precedent is included with each one. Before printing, executing and mailing an agreement to The City, please contact your Development Engineering Generalist and have them review your draft. This will minimize potential errors in the agreement and need for multiple submissions. You may contact Lawrence Wong at Lawrence.Wong@calgary.ca should you have any questions or concerns.


These documents are also available in hardcopy. Call 311 or visit the Planning Services Centre located on the 3rd floor, Calgary Municipal Building (800 Macleod Trail SE) for a complete list of hardcopy documents.

There’s an easier way to find planning information.

We’ve curated the best development and building information from The City and put it one place.

From submitting applications to development tools, like fee calculators and the Development Map, we’ve got what you need to make planning or building with us a little easier.

Visit the Development and Building Professionals Hub today

calgary.ca/buildwithus

Contact us

Planning Services Centre

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Live chat: 
calgary.ca/livechat
Call: 
403-268-5311
Web: Planning Services Centre

Development approvals review team

Find development approvals review team staff to contact about specific applications.


This information has no legal status and cannot be used as an official interpretation of the various bylaws, codes and regulations currently in effect. The City of Calgary accepts no responsibility to persons relying solely on this information. Web pages are updated periodically. ​

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