Development charges & levies — Calgary, Alberta

What development charges or levies apply to new construction? How much per new home?

In the City of Calgary, Alberta, development charges & levies rules are set by Bylaw 38M2009 Centre City Levy Bylaw and 3 other bylaws, verified 2026-10-23. Charge per single-detached home: $8,537.60 per unit (Established Area water/wastewater treatment levies only, 2024 rate, indexed each Jan 1); semi-detached/duplex $7,654.40. Charge per apartment unit: Established Area treatment levies (2024): grade-oriented $5,299.20/unit; non-grade-oriented 2+ bedrooms $4,416.00/unit, under 2 bedrooms $3,532.80/unit. Non-residential charge: Established Area treatment levies (2024): commercial $49.88/m2 GFA; industrial $23.94/m2 GFA.

Bylaw 38M2009 Centre City Levy Bylaw adopted bylaw
services covered construction, upgrading and replacement of water and sanitary sewer mains s. 3
exemptions Levy not imposed for single detached dwelling development or where proposed building floor area does not exceed existing structure s. 5(2)
payment timing Subdivision levy: on or before subdivision approval; development levy: on or before release of development permit; Manager may specify otherwise in writing s. 6(1)-(2)
indexing expiry Automatically adjusted every year on January 1 by ZERO PERCENT (0%) s. 8(1)
scout note

Authorizes off-site levies for water and sanitary sewer mains in the Centre City area, charged on frontage metres.

Centre City Levy Rates (City of Calgary) adopted bylaw

rates page: Centre City Levy rates unchanged since 2010: utilities $2,184 per metre of frontage (water $1,092 plus sewer $1,092), plus transit $278 and fire $90 per metre among others.

Charter Bylaw 1H2024 (Off-site Levies Bylaw) adopted bylaw
single detached charge $8,537.60 per unit (Established Area water/wastewater treatment levies only, 2024 rate, indexed each Jan 1); semi-detached/duplex $7,654.40 Schedule "B", Table 2
apartment charge Established Area treatment levies (2024): grade-oriented $5,299.20/unit; non-grade-oriented 2+ bedrooms $4,416.00/unit, under 2 bedrooms $3,532.80/unit Schedule "B", Table 2
non residential charge Established Area treatment levies (2024): commercial $49.88/m2 GFA; industrial $23.94/m2 GFA Schedule "B", Table 2
area levy 2024 Greenfield $/ha: transportation 156,386; wastewater treatment 144,060; water distribution 82,666; wastewater collection 70,083; recreation 52,510; water treatment 32,580; 5 other levies 5,801–20,869 Schedule "B", Table 1
services covered Emergency response, library, police, recreation, transit buses, transportation, stormwater, water distribution, wastewater collection, water treatment, wastewater treatment s. 3(1) definition of "levy"
exemptions Environmental reserve and skeletal roads; certain 2000-2011 Master Development Agreements; commercial/industrial additions under 150 m2; demolished/retained floor area excluded; Secondary/Backyard Suites excluded from unit s. 3(1) definition of "unit"; s. 5(3)-(4); s. 6(6)
payment timing Subdivision: 30% within 1 year, 30% within 2 years, 40% within 3 years of Development Agreement effective date; development permit: before release of development completion permit or occupancy, whichever first; CAO may defer imposition s. 7(1)-(2); s. 5(6)
indexing expiry Treatment/stormwater/water/wastewater levies and s.6(4)(b)(ii) amount adjust every Jan 1 by 5-year smoothed Statistics Canada non-residential construction price index; emergency/library/police/recreation/transit/transportation adjust every Jan 1 by investment discount rate s. 6(7)-(8)
scout note

City of Calgary Charter Bylaw establishing off-site levies under MGA s.648 and the City Charter; approved by Council Jan. 16, 2024. Replaces Bylaw 2M2016; levies by service on a per-hectare basis for greenfield areas.

Off-site levies, fees and charges rate sheet (updated Jan 12, 2026) adopted bylaw
single detached charge $9,328 per unit (Established Area water/wastewater treatment levies only, effective Jan 1, 2026); semi-detached/duplex $8,364 WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT LEVIES RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ($ / UNIT)
apartment charge Established Area treatment levies (Jan 1, 2026): grade-oriented $5,791/unit; non-grade-oriented 2+ bedrooms $4,825/unit, 1 bedroom or less $3,860/unit WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT LEVIES RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ($ / UNIT)
non residential charge Established Area treatment levies (Jan 1, 2026): commercial $54.50/m2 GFA; industrial $26.16/m2 GFA NON-RESIDENTIAL ($ / M2 OF GROSS FLOOR AREA)
area levy 2026 Greenfield $/ha (eff. Jan 1): transportation 170,336; wastewater treatment 157,407; water distribution 90,325; wastewater collection 76,577; recreation 57,194; water treatment 35,599; 5 other levies 6,319–22,803 GREENFIELD AREA (PER HECTARE); OFF-SITE LEVIES
services covered Emergency response, library, police, recreation, transit buses, transportation, stormwater, water distribution, wastewater collection, water treatment, wastewater treatment. OFF-SITE LEVIES
scout note

rates page: 2026 (effective Jan 1) greenfield per hectare: transportation $170,336; water distribution $90,325; wastewater collection $76,577; recreation $57,194; stormwater $22,803; transit $21,345; emergency response $18,591; police $8,101; library $6,319; water treatment $35,599.

Off-site levies bylaw and current rates (web page)

City page on the current Off-site Levies Bylaw and rates; notes proposed changes under consultation (engage.calgary.ca/offsitelevies2026).

Machine-readable: development-charges.json · Official website: https://www.calgary.ca/ · Last verified 2026-10-23 · Development charges & levies across Alberta · Development charges & levies in other municipalities