M-C1 — Multi-Residential – Contextual Low Profile District
Multi-Residential – Contextual Low Profile District (M-C1) is one of Calgary's multi-residential districts under the Land Use Bylaw. Permitted: accessory residential building, home based child care, home occupation, park, protective emergency service, secondary suite, sign, utilities. Needs City approval: multi residential development, duplex, semi-detached house, single detached house, backyard suite.
Last reviewed: August 2026
What you can build in M-C1
Permitted (the rules below still apply):
- Accessory residential building
- Home based child care
- Home occupation
- Park
- Protective emergency service
- Secondary suite
- Sign
- Utilities
Needs City approval (decided case by case):
- Multi residential development
- Duplex
- Semi-detached house
- Single detached house
- Backyard suite
M-C1 rules at a glance
| Building height | 14 m Where the parcel shares a property line with a low density residential district, M-CG, or H-GO District: max height at that shared line is 9.0 m, stepping up to 14.0 m (s.594(2)). |
|---|---|
| Front setback | 3 m |
| Side setback | 1.2 m |
| Rear setback | 1.2 m |
| Maximum density | 148 units/ha |
| Minimum parking | 0.625 stalls per unit 0.625 per secondary/backyard suite |
Notes
- Front setback and building height both use a 'contextual' formula based on neighbouring building heights (ss.592, 594). The values here are a safe generic base; verify the contextual value against the specific site context.
- A minimum 5.0 m² of amenity space per unit is required Part 6-wide (s.557).
Is a specific Calgary lot zoned M-C1?
Amest reads the current district for any Calgary address and shows the buildable envelope, setbacks and unit count for that exact lot — free.
Check an address →Bylaw sections: Purpose (s.586), Density (s.590), Front setback (s.592), Side setback (s.592), Rear setback (s.592), Height (s.594). Read the live City of Calgary bylaw for this district →
Related Calgary districts
- M-1 — Multi-Residential – Low Profile District
- M-2 — Multi-Residential – Medium Profile District
- M-C2 — Multi-Residential – Contextual Medium Profile District
- M-CG — Multi-Residential – Contextual Grade-Oriented District
- M-G — Multi-Residential – At Grade Housing District
- M-H1 — Multi-Residential – High Density Low Rise District
- M-H2 — Multi-Residential – High Density Medium Rise District
- M-H3 — Multi-Residential – High Density High Rise District
All Calgary zoning districts →
Digitized from the City of Calgary Land Use Bylaw 1P2007 as amended (incl. Bylaw 9P2026, effective August 4, 2026). Amest is not the City of Calgary, a planning authority, or a law firm. Preliminary information only — confirm with the City and a qualified professional before buying or building.