How to use this list
Every link below goes to the official City of Calgary, Government of Alberta, Alberta Health Services or utility page for that application. Most City applications are made online with a free City of Calgary myID account. When you apply for a building permit, you receive a Job Access Code, or JAC, which you use to track the permit and book inspections.
If you are not sure which permit you need, call 311 from inside Calgary. For planning and permit questions, the City's Planning Services Centre is at 403-268-5311. Not sure what a term means? Our guide to building and development permits in Alberta explains every permit word in plain English.
Find out which permits you need
| What you want to do | Official link |
|---|---|
| See every permit type for home projects | City of Calgary home improvement projects |
| Read the building permit process and common questions | Building permit process guideline |
| Find your property's zone | Land use districts map, and our guide to Calgary zoning codes |
| Look up details about a property | Property details and records |
| Look up City building and planning terms | City of Calgary building and planning glossary |
| Estimate a permit fee | New homes fee calculator, planning applications fee calculator |
Apply for a building permit for your home
| Project | Official link |
|---|---|
| Home addition, sunroom or covered porch | Additions |
| Basement development or renovation | Home renovations and basements |
| Deck or balcony | Decks and balconies |
| Garage, shed, gazebo or greenhouse | Garages, sheds and similar structures |
| Fence or retaining wall | Fences and retaining walls |
| New secondary suite | Adding a secondary suite |
| Legalize an existing suite | Existing secondary suites |
| Backyard suite or garden suite | Building a backyard suite |
| Driveway on your property | Driveways |
| Demolish a house, garage or building | Demolitions |
| Asbestos abatement form for homes built before 1990 | Asbestos abatement form (PDF) |
| Protect public trees near construction | Tree protection plans |
Apply for electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical permits
| Permit | Official link |
|---|---|
| Homeowner electrical, plumbing and gas permits | Homeowner trade permits |
| Electrical permits for contractors | Electrical permits |
| Plumbing and gas permits | Plumbing and gas permits |
| Heating, ventilation and air conditioning | Mechanical permits |
In Calgary, a homeowner can take out trade permits only for a home they live in or intend to live in, and only for work they do themselves. Gas permits have extra limits, so check the City's page before you start.
Commercial, multi-residential and business permits
| What you want to do | Official link |
|---|---|
| Commercial, industrial and multi-residential development | Commercial development hub |
| Apply online for commercial and multi-residential permits | apply.calgary.ca |
| Development and building professionals hub | Applications for professionals |
| Estimate a commercial building permit fee | Commercial fee calculator, multi-family low rise fee calculator |
| Condominium conversion or condo permit | Condominium permits |
| Business sign on private property | Sign permits |
| Business licence | Business licensing and permits |
| Tenant improvement or commercial renovation | Our commercial division explains the process in its guide to tenant improvements in Calgary, and our guide to how commercial renovations work covers leases and permits. |
Development permits, rezoning and appeals
| What you want to do | Official link |
|---|---|
| Understand the development permit process | Development permit process |
| Apply to rezone a property | Land use redesignation |
| See applications and notices near you | Public notices |
| Appeal a development permit decision | Subdivision and Development Appeal Board |
Appeals of development permit decisions must be filed within 21 days.
Check permit status and look up permits
| What you want to do | Official link |
|---|---|
| Check the status of your building or trade permit | VISTA permit tracking, using your Job Access Code |
| Search development and land use applications on a map | Development Map |
| Track commercial and multi-residential applications | apply.calgary.ca |
| Get help with the application process | New to the application process |
Book a building, electrical or plumbing inspection
| What you want to do | Official link |
|---|---|
| Book, change or cancel an inspection online | Calgary inspection booking |
| Step by step booking instructions | How to book an inspection |
| Inspections for homeowners | Homeowner inspections |
| Inspections for contractors | Contractor inspections |
| Get ready for an inspection | Preparing for your inspection |
The permit must be issued before you can book. According to the City, inspections run Monday to Friday, can be booked up to 10 business days ahead, and requests made before 2 p.m. can usually be done the next business day. You can also book by calling 311 with your permit number, or the Inspections Call Centre at 403-268-5311.
Fire inspections and fire safety plans
| What you want to do | Official link |
|---|---|
| Fire inspections, fire permits and occupancy loads | Calgary Fire Department inspections |
| Fire code rules for buildings and businesses | Fire codes for buildings and businesses |
| Write or update a fire safety plan | Fire safety plans |
| Fire safety on construction and demolition sites | Construction and demolition site fire safety plans |
To request a fire inspection or a fire safety plan review, call 311 from inside Calgary, or 403-268-2489 from outside the city.
Health inspections and Alberta Health Services
| What you want to do | Official link |
|---|---|
| Food establishments, personal services, pools and child care | AHS Environmental Public Health |
| Food safety training for owners and managers | AHS food safety courses |
| Appeal a public health order | Public Health Appeal Board |
Restaurants and other food businesses need an AHS food handling permit, and new or renovated food premises usually need AHS to review the floor plan before construction. AHS Environmental Public Health can be reached at 1-833-476-4743.
Streets, sidewalks and driveways
| What you want to do | Official link |
|---|---|
| See all City road permits | Road permits |
| Use a street, sidewalk, alley or boulevard for work or a bin | Street use permit |
| Put up construction hoarding on City property | Hoarding permit |
| Dig in a road or City right of way | Excavation permit |
| Lower a curb for a driveway | Driveway crossing program |
Before you dig, and utility services
| What you want to do | Official link |
|---|---|
| Free underground utility locate before digging | Click before you dig, Utility Safety Partners |
| Electrical service upgrade or connection in Calgary | ENMAX |
| Natural gas service or meter changes | ATCO natural gas |
Request a locate a few working days before any digging, including fence posts, decks and landscaping. It is free.
Provincial permits, codes and licences
| What you want to do | Official link |
|---|---|
| How permits work across Alberta | Permits and Alberta's safety codes system |
| Find where to get a permit outside Calgary | Safety Codes Council permits and inspections |
| Alberta building codes and standards | Building codes and standards |
| New home warranty | New home warranty |
| Build your own home without a builder licence | Owner builder authorization |
| Check a builder or a home in the new home registry | New home warranty public registries |
| Builder licensing portal | Builder's portal |
| Check a contractor's prepaid contracting licence | Prepaid contracting licence |
Selling a home
| What you want to do | Official link |
|---|---|
| Get the City's compliance stamp on a real property report | Certificate of compliance |
Outside Calgary
Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane, Okotoks, Rocky View County and every other Alberta municipality run their own permit and inspection offices, and some use accredited agencies for safety codes permits. Start with the municipality's website, or use the Safety Codes Council link above to find who issues permits where you are.
Let Kay2 handle it
On every Kay2 renovation, we check your zoning, prepare the drawings and engineering, apply for the development, building and trade permits, and book every inspection, so you do not have to work through this list yourself. Book a free consultation through our contact page. For commercial work, contact Kay2 Commercial.
Sources
- City of Calgary: Home improvement projects
- City of Calgary: How to book an inspection
- City of Calgary: Fire inspections and investigations
- Alberta Health Services: Environmental Public Health
- Government of Alberta: Permits and Alberta's safety codes system
Checked November 8, 2026. Programs and rules change; confirm current details with the source before you rely on them.
Talk it through with Kay2
Every project starts with a complimentary consultation with one of our estimators.
