On November 9, 2026, at 09:30, Calgary City Council will hold a public hearing on proposed limits to where rowhouses and townhouses can be built in many established neighbourhoods. Council directed the City to prepare the changes for six approved local area plans on May 26, 2026, after it repealed citywide rezoning.
What would change
The changes apply only to areas marked “Neighbourhood Local – Limited Scale” in these plans: North Hill Communities, East Calgary International Avenue Communities, Riley Communities, South Shaganappi Communities, Chinook Communities and West Elbow Communities. In those areas, buildings with three or more homes would be supported only on parcels with a rear lane that also meet one of these conditions:
- within a transit station area;
- along or next to an identified main street;
- on a corner parcel;
- next to a school, park or open space larger than 0.5 hectares, with no side shorter than 25 metres.
The same rules have applied in the Westbrook Communities and Heritage Communities plans since 2023. North Hill already has its own limited-scale policy, but it is looser: today a rowhouse there needs to meet only one condition, such as a lane where parking fits or a location on a busier street. Under the proposal, North Hill would move to the stricter version.
What would not change
- Single-detached and semi-detached homes stay allowed in all residential areas.
- Secondary suites stay supported where the current zoning allows them, and they do not count as a unit under the new rules.
- Existing rowhouses, and projects approved before the change, can stay or go ahead as planned.
- A Permitted Use that meets all the rules of its land use district is still approved.
- Rosedale’s existing Single Detached Special Study Area stays in place.
- Communities without an approved local area plan are not affected.
Why a policy matters after the zoning repeal
These are planning policies, not zoning. The City explains that even after the repeal, any owner can still apply to rezone a lot. Staff review that application against the local area plan and make a recommendation to Council. Most current plans support three or more homes in all residential areas, so a rowhouse application in the middle of a single-detached block would be in line with policy today. If the changes pass and a mid-block application in a limited-scale area does not meet the criteria, staff would recommend refusal. Council would still hold a public hearing and make the final decision.
The City also notes that the policy would not end mid-block rowhouses entirely. They could still be supported on laned parcels near transit, next to parks or along main streets. Designs would also need to consider sunlight on neighbouring lots and the protection of healthy trees.
The row home market today
Row benchmark price by district, change from October 2025
The vote comes while the resale row market is already soft. In October, CREB® reported a row benchmark price of $407,500, more than 5% lower than a year earlier, with 4.4 months of supply. Prices were lower in every district, from 3.4% in the West to 11.5% in the East. CREB links the weakness to competition from new homes and more rental choice.
What it means for owners and buyers
If you own an inner-city lot and are counting on its redevelopment value, the vote could affect which buyers, such as builders, are interested. That matters in communities like Crescent Heights, Mount Pleasant, Capitol Hill, Tuxedo Park, Renfrew and Rosedale. Laned lots on a corner, near transit or on a main street would keep the strongest case for a rowhouse. If you are buying a detached home, the policy could mean fewer new rowhouses in the middle of the block next door. Check the City’s map for your plan area before you decide.
The result could also shape future plans. The City says the Carburn, South Bow and South McKnight plans now underway will adjust their engagement based on how Council votes.
How to take part
The deadline for written comments was 12:00 on November 2. You can still register to speak at the hearing (enter “Local Area Plan Limited Scale Policies” as the agenda item) or watch the live stream. We will report the outcome after the vote. If you have questions about how this affects your property, the Berg Estate Team (Tom Berg, eXp Realty) can help.
