At the urging of Calgary Alliance for the Common Good (CACG) and allies, Calgary City Council approved zoning changes that remove red tape, and protect and expand affordable housing options citywide. 

The average cost of a single-family home in Calgary is over $700,000. When Council began considering land use bylaw amendments affecting housing affordability, the CACG Housing Team educated its constituency about rezoning and the proposed changes, developed relationships with community housing advocates, and brought their experiences and concerns directly to Council.

“Secondary and backyard suites enable us to house people without requiring additional land, burdensome developmental processes, or considerable upfront costs,” said Lanna Peterson (in photo above), co-chair of the CACG Housing Team, testifying ahead of Council’s July 21, 2026 vote. 

“Homeowners can use secondary suites to supplement their own mortgage and, given our current housing system, they are some of the most affordable housing options in terms of new builds…."

These suites provide homes to young adults who cannot afford the high price or rent or homeownership,…hardworking new Canadians, students,...single mothers, seniors, and people with disabilities who need the care of loved ones. Please do not make it more expensive and difficult to give these Calgarians homes.”

CACG’s organizing contributed to changes that

• Keep basement suites a permitted use in low-density residential areas, so homeowners can add them without a development permit. That saves up to six weeks of processing time and more than $600 in fees, and supports the development of new, affordable homes, especially for students and renters.
• Preserve the right to build side-by-side fourplexes on roughly 3,000 lots zoned for infill housing (R-CG), allowing faster, less expensive corner developments on several inner-city main streets.
• Keep backyard suites a permitted use in the low-density, mixed housing district, supporting gentle density in suburban development areas.

The victory is part of CACG’s larger housing strategy to create more opportunities for renters, first-time buyers, seniors and families to afford a place in the communities they call home.

[Photo credit: The City of Calgary]

Public Hearing Meeting of Council, The City of Calgary [video - testimony begins at 23:06]