At The Lakes of Muirfield, the golf course community at Lyalta in Wheatland County, a house on a standard single family lot must be at least 1,300 sq ft (120.77 m²) as a bungalow, or have at least 1,100 sq ft (102.19 m²) on the main floor and 600 sq ft (55.74 m²) upstairs as a two storey (Lakes of Muirfield architectural controls, Revision 9.03.26, p. 13). The controls were last revised on 16 March 2026 and are now maintained by the homeowners' association. Builders post a $25,000 security deposit with the County.
Key takeaways
- A standard single family lot at The Lakes of Muirfield needs a bungalow of about 1,300 sq ft, or a two storey with about 1,100 sq ft on the main floor and 600 sq ft on the upper floor (LOM controls, March 2026, p. 13).
- The front of the house sits 4.57 to 6.10 m (15 to 20 ft) from the front property line on most lots, and never more than 13.0 m (42 ft 8 in) back (LOM controls, March 2026, p. 12).
- The garage can cover at most 10% of the lot, and all buildings together at most 50% (LOM controls, March 2026, p. 13).
- Garage doors are 8 to 9 ft (2.44 to 2.75 m) high and 16 ft (4.88 m) wide, with glazed upper panels (LOM controls, March 2026, p. 18).
- The design review fee is $1,000 plus GST per single family home, and the builder gives Wheatland County a $25,000 refundable security deposit (LOM controls, March 2026, p. 37).
- Construction must start within 12 months of buying the lot, and the exterior must be finished within 18 months of the start (LOM controls, March 2026, p. 39).
The homeowners' association calls the controls a living document that its board can amend (Lakes of Muirfield HOA, architectural controls), and the revision list shows eight revisions since July 2020 (LOM controls, March 2026, p. 2). Download the current version and ask Arcadis, the design consultant, or the HOA to confirm it's the one for your lot before you finalize plans. Other communities are on the architectural guidelines hub.
How big must a house be at The Lakes of Muirfield?
It depends on the lot type, and Muirfield is unusual in setting the upper floor separately. Most guidelines give a two storey total; here the main and upper floors each have a minimum.
Required house areas, from page 13 of Revision 9.03.26:
| Lot type | Bungalow | Two storey, main floor | Two storey, upper floor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single family, about 15.2 m (50 ft) frontage | 120.77 m² (1,300 sq ft) | 102.19 m² (1,100 sq ft) | 55.74 m² (600 sq ft) |
| Duplex, 8.5 m (28 ft) frontage or more | 102.19 m² (1,100 sq ft) | 69.68 m² (750 sq ft) | 83.61 m² (850 sq ft, as printed) |
Note: the controls call these approximate. For the duplex upper floor, 83.61 m² works out to 900 sq ft, not the 850 printed, so ask Arcadis which number applies.
A single family two storey therefore has to reach at least 1,700 sq ft (1,100 plus 600), but a big main floor with a small loft won't do: the upper floor needs its own 600 sq ft. The acreage lots of half an acre to one acre don't list a house size in the section that covers them.
What setbacks apply at The Lakes of Muirfield?
The controls set their own yards rather than pointing to the County. For the standard single family lots, page 12 reads:
| Yard | Principal building |
|---|---|
| Front, street side of a corner site | 6.10 m (20 ft) to 6.90 m (22 ft 8 in) |
| Front, all other sites | 4.57 m (15 ft) to 6.10 m (20 ft) |
| Front line to front elevation | No more than 13.0 m (42 ft 8 in) |
| Side yards | Minimum 1.22 m (4 ft) + maximum 2.44 m (8 ft) + minimum 3.05 m (10 ft) on a corner's street side, as printed |
| Rear | At least 6.10 m (20 ft), including the deck |
| Height | No more than 10.0 m (32 ft 10 in), to the midpoint of the front roof pitch |
Note: Revision 9.03.26, March 2026. The side yard line is ambiguous as printed; confirm how Arcadis reads the 2.44 m figure before you set the house width.
The rear yard counts the deck, which matters on walkout lots: Muirfield says most of its houses are walkouts, so the deck usually takes part of the 6.10 m. The acreage lots use 7.62 m (25 ft) front and rear yards, 3.05 m (10 ft) sides and 40% site coverage (pp. 13 to 14).
Coverage on standard lots is capped three ways: all buildings at 50% of the site, the garage at 10% and a garden shed at 5%.
What do the Muirfield design rules require?
The style is a blend of Prairie Gothic and Scottish Tudor, and the rules come with measurements most guidelines leave out (LOM controls, March 2026, pp. 16 to 20):
- Garages: side entry garages are encouraged. Doors are 2.44 to 2.75 m high by 4.88 m wide, with four or five panels and glazed upper panels. Where the garage projects ahead of the entry, the side wall facing the entry needs a window.
- Columns: at least 254 mm (10 in) at the narrowest point, resting on a landing rather than the ground.
- Stone wainscot: carried around the corner for at least 0.91 m (3 ft).
- Casings: at least 3½ in, with a 5 in sill and 4 in top, always in a colour that contrasts with the wall. Main entry door casings are at least 6 in.
- Entry landing: set ¾ in (19 mm) below the door sill, so a snow shovel doesn't hit it.
- Fascia: 0.2 m (8 in), coloured to match the window casings.
- Driveways: exposed aggregate, stamped coloured or scored broom-finished concrete, at a grade of 15% or less.
- Roofs: 30-year architectural asphalt, slate, concrete tile or rubber; sheet metal is prohibited.
- Rear decks: over 1.5 m (5 ft) above grade, they're on the building plan and built with the house.
Pages 24 to 26 add a chimney width of at least 0.81 m (32 in), skylights of 1.49 m² (16 sq ft) or less, and a ban on short-term rentals and on using a house for more than one household.
How is a Muirfield house approved?
Through Arcadis, then Wheatland County. Arcadis reviews the drawings within five working days, and an approval lapses after one year (LOM controls, March 2026, p. 36). The builder pays the review fee to the County with the development permit application, along with the deposit.
The fees and time limits, from pages 37 to 40:
| Item | Amount or limit |
|---|---|
| Review, single family | $1,000 per door plus GST |
| Each further review after a rejection | $300 per door plus GST |
| Security deposit to Wheatland County | $25,000, refundable, as a development permit condition |
| Start of construction | Within 12 months of purchase and title transfer |
| Exterior complete | Within 18 months of the start |
| Landscaping complete | Within 6 months of the house |
| Repeat site inspection | $250 each, when charged |
Note: Revision 9.03.26. Building without an approved design, or not matching it, forfeits the whole deposit.
After you move in, any new fence, landscaping, shed or renovation needs the HOA's approval first, on its Architectural Approval Request Form. Fences are black chain link up to 4 ft or matching split rail, and retaining walls can be no higher than 0.91 m (3 ft).
Walking a Muirfield plan at full size
Two Muirfield numbers are hard to picture from a drawing: a 600 sq ft upper floor, which is small for a two storey, and a 6.10 m rear yard that has to hold the deck on a walkout. At 1to1 Plans Calgary, your plan is lit at full size from inside a walkable LED floor, so you can walk the upper floor's bedrooms and see whether 600 sq ft holds what you need. The elevations go on a wall-size screen, which is where the casing colours and stone wainscot show.
You can bring your builder, change the plan on the spot and keep the recording (for homeowners). Sessions are quoted for each plan at no charge (pricing). Send a PDF or DWG three days ahead and book a session before the submission to Arcadis. For costs, see what a custom home costs in Calgary, and for stall sizes, our garage size guide.
Questions
What is the minimum house size at The Lakes of Muirfield?
The minimum house size at The Lakes of Muirfield is about 1,300 sq ft for a bungalow on a standard single family lot. A two storey needs about 1,100 sq ft on the main floor and 600 sq ft upstairs, in the controls revised in March 2026.
Who approves house plans at The Lakes of Muirfield?
Arcadis approves house plans at The Lakes of Muirfield as the design consultant, and Wheatland County issues the permits. After construction, the homeowners' association approves changes such as fences, sheds and landscaping.
How much is the Lakes of Muirfield security deposit?
The Lakes of Muirfield security deposit is $25,000, paid by the builder to Wheatland County as a condition of the development permit. It's refundable after the final inspections, less any costs, and forfeited if the home doesn't match the approved design.
How long do you have to build at The Lakes of Muirfield?
You have 12 months from buying a Lakes of Muirfield lot to start building, 18 months from the start to finish the exterior, and 6 more months to finish the landscaping. If you miss these, the HOA or County can landscape the lot and charge you.
Are The Lakes of Muirfield architectural controls up to date?
The Lakes of Muirfield architectural controls were last revised on 16 March 2026 (Revision 9.03.26), and the HOA board can amend them at any time. Download the latest copy from the HOA and confirm it with Arcadis before you submit.
Sources
- Lakes of Muirfield architectural controls, Revision 9.03.26, p. 13 lakesofmuirfieldcommunity.com
- LOM controls, March 2026, p. 12 lakesofmuirfieldcommunity.com
- LOM controls, March 2026, p. 18 lakesofmuirfieldcommunity.com
- LOM controls, March 2026, p. 37 lakesofmuirfieldcommunity.com
- LOM controls, March 2026, p. 39 lakesofmuirfieldcommunity.com
- Lakes of Muirfield HOA, architectural controls lakesofmuirfieldcommunity.com
- LOM controls, March 2026, p. 2 lakesofmuirfieldcommunity.com
- LOM controls, March 2026, pp. 16 to 20 lakesofmuirfieldcommunity.com
- LOM controls, March 2026, p. 36 lakesofmuirfieldcommunity.com
