Permission to Permit

The Permission to Permit program allows the pre-payment of two fees:

  1. Pavement Degradation: charged to offset the increased repair and maintenance costs caused by excavating asphalt, and
  2. Top Lift Paving fees: charged on roads classified in good condition, to restore the road surface so it lasts the projected lifetime.

These two fees are usually charged on a per-permit, per-cut basis. A Permission to Permit enables these two fees to be pre-paid at a flat rate on a project basis. The advantage is the permit holder knows up front what the excavation costs are for the project.

Projects that Qualify for Pre-payment through Permission to Permit:

In response to recent input and engagement from our Developer and Contractor customers, we have expanded the scope of projects that qualify for the Permission to Permit service.

Projects that qualify will now include all planned work to install underground services to a property, which

  • Is being developed or re-developed under the conditions of a valid City of Calgary Development Permit and Building Permit; and
  • Where the total excavated area within the Road right-of-way will not exceed 250 m2

The previous restrictions on Lot Size (15.25m) and Property type (Single Residential only) will no longer apply. The previous fee adjustments for Corner Lot properties has also been removed going forward.

Permission to Permit Fees

A Permission to Permit allows homeowners, general contractors and developers to pre-pay Pavement Degradation and Top Lift Paving at a flat rate on a project basis rather than per-permit and per-cut.

However, Pavement Degradation fees apply to every Permission to Permit but Top Lift Paving fees are only charged if the road is classified in good condition which means it has a Visual Condition Index (VCI) rating of 7 or greater. Use the map below to find VCI and Road Classification ratings.

2025 Pavement Degradation – Pre-paid Rates
Total Excavated Area Pavement Degradation Fee

1 - 100 m2

 $2,324.50

101 - 150 m2

 $3,528.20

151 - 200 m2

 $4,696.80

201 – 250 m2

 $5,865.40
2025 City Paving Service – Pre-paid Rates
Maximum restoration area Local Roads Collector Roads Arterial Roads

100 m2

 $4,649.05 $5,872.45 $7095.85

150 m2                       

 $6,977.75 $8,814.90 $10,646.40

200 m2                       

 $9,191.30 $11,640.85 $14090.35

250 m2                     

 $11,506.00 $14,567.90 $17,624.20

Contact information

Email the Excavation Permit Office if you have any questions.

Timelines

The Excavation Permit Office will respond to all email inquiries within two business days.

Note: Each Permission to Permit expires on December 31st of the year it was issued.

Related Information

How to Apply

To apply for a Permission to Permit, email a completed Permission to Permit Application form. You will be contacted for payment within two business days.

Please note, payment is completed online through your Calgary myID account. To set-up a myID account go to calgary.ca/myid or contact 311.

Frequently Asked Questions

General information

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Permission to Permit FAQs

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