M-H1 — Multi-Residential – High Density Low Rise District
Multi-Residential – High Density Low Rise District (M-H1) 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, backyard suite, duplex, semi-detached house, single detached house.
Last reviewed: August 2026
What you can build in M-H1
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
- Backyard suite
- Duplex
- Semi-detached house
- Single detached house
M-H1 rules at a glance
| Building height | 26 m Base max 26.0 m (s.644(1)), or the 'h' map suffix value if lower (s.644(2)). Mandatory step-downs to 10.0 m measured from grade: within 4.0 m of a shared property line with a street or an M-C2/M-2/M-H1/M-H2/M-H3/M-X2 parcel (s.644(3)); within 6.0 m of a lane or a low density residential/H-GO/M-CG/M-C1/M-G/M-1/M-X1 district (s.644(4)); within 1.2 m of a commercial/industrial/special purpose district (s.644(5)). The flat 26.0 m check cannot see these edge step-downs. Verify on the DP. |
|---|---|
| Front setback | 6 m |
| Side setback | 3 m |
| Rear setback | 0 m |
| Floor area ratio | 4× |
| Minimum parking | 0.625 stalls per unit 0.625 per secondary/backyard suite |
Notes
- Building height is overridable by an 'h' map suffix value (must be less than 26.0 m base) (s.644(2)); verify the map suffix for the specific parcel.
Is a specific Calgary lot zoned M-H1?
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.635), Density (s.640), Front setback (s.642), Side setback (s.642), Rear setback (s.642), Height (s.644), Floor area ratio (s.639). 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-C1 — Multi-Residential – Contextual Low 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-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.