R-2M — Residential – Low Density Multiple Dwelling District
Residential – Low Density Multiple Dwelling District (R-2M) is one of Calgary's low-density residential districts under the Land Use Bylaw. Permitted: duplex, semi-detached house, rowhouse, secondary suite. Needs City approval: single detached house, townhouse, backyard suite.
Last reviewed: August 2026
What you can build in R-2M
Permitted (the rules below still apply):
- Duplex
- Semi-detached house
- Rowhouse
- Secondary suite
Needs City approval (decided case by case):
- Single detached house
- Townhouse
- Backyard suite
R-2M rules at a glance
| Building height | 11 m |
|---|---|
| Parcel coverage | 45% (single detached); 50% (semi detached); 50% (duplex); 60% (rowhouse); 60% (townhouse) |
| 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 depth | 22 m |
| Maximum density | 50 units/ha 50 uph for Rowhouse Buildings; 50 uph for Townhouses where all units face a street with direct exterior access; 38 uph for other Townhouses (s.493) |
| Minimum parking | 1 stall per unit 1 per secondary/backyard suite |
Notes
- Intended for comprehensively designed Developing Area projects.
- Parcel coverage is reduced by 21 m² for each required parking stall not in a private garage (s.497(2)).
- Minimum parcel depth: 22.0 m (s.495).
Is a specific Calgary lot zoned R-2M?
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.489), Permitted uses (s.490), Density (s.493), Parcel width (s.494), Parcel depth (s.495), Parcel area (s.496), Parcel coverage (s.497), Front setback (s.499), Side setback (s.500), Rear setback (s.501), Height (s.502). 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-1s — Residential – One Dwelling District
- R-2 — Residential – One/Two 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.