R-1s — Residential – One Dwelling District
Residential – One Dwelling District (R-1s) is one of Calgary's low-density residential districts under the Land Use Bylaw. Permitted: single detached house, secondary suite. Needs City approval: backyard suite.
Last reviewed: August 2026
What you can build in R-1s
Permitted (the rules below still apply):
- Single detached house
- Secondary suite
Needs City approval (decided case by case):
- Backyard suite
R-1s rules at a glance
| Building height | 11 m (up to 12 m on a parcel at least 400 m² and 15 m wide) Maximum height is 11.0 m where the parcel is under 400.0 m² OR under 15.0 m wide (s.458(1)); it rises to 12.0 m only where the parcel is at least 400.0 m² AND at least 15.0 m wide (s.458(2)). |
|---|---|
| Parcel coverage | 45% |
| Front setback | 2 m. 3 m with no lane |
| Side setback | 1.2 m. 3 m on one side if there's no lane and no attached front or side garage |
| Rear setback | 7.5 m |
| Minimum parcel width | 10 m |
| Minimum parcel depth | 22 m |
| Minimum parcel area | 330 m² |
| Maximum dwelling units | 2 per parcel |
| Minimum parking | 1 stall per unit 1 per secondary/backyard suite |
Common R-1s permit mistakes
- The house and garage together can cover at most 45% of the lot, less 21 m² for each parking stall not in a garage. In older, established neighbourhoods, an open front porch doesn't count.
- Secondary suites have extra requirements that catch people out: their own exit, their own parking stall, size limits, and a floor no more than 0.6 m above the ground.
- Height depends on lot size: 11 m on a small or narrow lot, and 12 m only once the lot is at least 400 m² and 15 m wide.
- Only a single detached house plus one suite. No duplex.
Notes
- Deleted by 21P2024 effective January 1, 2025, then restored by Bylaw 9P2026 effective August 4, 2026. This district is in force again.
- Identical to R-1 but Secondary Suite is a permitted use; a Backyard Suite needs City approval (24P2018, s.446).
- Front setback is a fixed 2.0 m (laned) / 3.0 m (laneless), not contextual (s.455).
- Parcel coverage reduced by 21 m² per required parking stall not in a private garage (s.453). An unenclosed front porch meeting s.339.1 is exempt from parcel coverage; a garage is not.
Is a specific Calgary lot zoned R-1s?
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.444), Permitted uses (s.445), Parcel width (s.450), Parcel depth (s.451), Parcel area (s.452), Parcel coverage (s.453), Front setback (s.455), Side setback (s.456), Rear setback (s.457), Height (s.458). Read the live City of Calgary bylaw for this district →
Related Calgary districts
- R-1 — Residential – One Dwelling District
- R-1N — Residential – Narrow Parcel One Dwelling District
- R-2 — Residential – One/Two Dwelling District
- R-2M — Residential – Low Density Multiple Dwelling District
- R-C1 — Residential – Contextual One Dwelling District
- R-C1L — Residential – Contextual Large Parcel One Dwelling District
- R-C1Ls — Residential – Contextual Large Parcel One Dwelling District
- R-C1N — Residential – Contextual Narrow Parcel One Dwelling 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.