As of October 2026, the City of Airdrie charges most home projects by size or by declared value, not a flat fee. Under its 2026 fee schedule, a basement suite costs $0.59 per sq ft, a plain basement development $0.40 per sq ft, and an addition, deck or garage $10.17 per $1,000 of construction cost, each with a $135 minimum and a 4% Safety Codes levy on top (The City of Airdrie, User Fees and Charges Bylaw B-41/2023, 2026 fees). A suite also needs a $305 development permit first.
Key takeaways
- As of October 2026, an Airdrie building permit for a basement secondary suite costs $0.59 per sq ft, so a 1,000 sq ft suite pays $590 plus the 4% levy (The City of Airdrie, fee bylaw).
- Every accessory suite in Airdrie needs a development permit before the building permit, and the 2026 fee is $305 (The City of Airdrie, fee bylaw).
- A new house permit in Airdrie runs from $1,971 up to 1,250 sq ft to $3,476 over 3,000 sq ft, with the trade permits included (The City of Airdrie, fee bylaw).
- Airdrie's Land Use Bylaw, consolidated 8 September 2026, lets a garden suite go on a 360 m² lot, but the City's garden suite page still says 600 m² (The City of Airdrie, Land Use Bylaw B-01/2016).
- Airdrie quotes 2 to 4 weeks for a secondary suite development permit and 8 to 12 weeks for a garden or garage suite (The City of Airdrie, secondary suites).
Which projects need a building permit in Airdrie?
New homes, additions, basements, suites, garages over 10 m² and raised decks all need one. Most skip the development permit if they follow the Land Use Bylaw; suites don't. Here's each project, as of October 2026:
| Project | Building permit | Development permit as well |
|---|---|---|
| New house | Yes (new homes) | No if it meets the bylaw; it goes through plot plan review instead |
| Addition | Yes (why permits are required) | Same plot plan route |
| Basement development | Yes (basements) | No, unless it adds a dwelling unit |
| Secondary, garden or garage suite | Yes | Yes, an accessory suites permit first |
| Detached garage or shed | Over 10 m² (107 sq ft) (garages and sheds) | Plot plan route if it meets the bylaw |
| Deck | More than 600 mm (2 ft) above grade at any point, or covered (decks) | Plot plan route if it meets the bylaw |
| Retaining wall | Most over 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) | Not listed |
Note: A summary of the City's pages and Land Use Bylaw section 2.3.2. Any project that needs a variance needs a development permit.
The plot plan route comes from Table 1 of the Land Use Bylaw, which exempts houses, accessory buildings, additions and decks "approved via Plot Plan Review" (The City of Airdrie, Land Use Bylaw).
What does a building permit cost in Airdrie in 2026?
These are the 2026 fees, in effect since 1 January 2026:
| Project | 2026 fee (before the 4% levy) |
|---|---|
| New house, semi or townhouse | $1,971 up to 1,250 sq ft, rising by size band to $3,476 over 3,000 sq ft |
| Basement development | $0.40 per sq ft, $135 minimum |
| Basement secondary suite | $0.59 per sq ft, $135 minimum |
| Addition | $10.17 per $1,000 of construction cost, $135 minimum |
| Garage, deck, wood fireplace, retaining wall | $10.17 per $1,000 of construction cost, $135 minimum |
| Alteration or reclassification | $137 |
| Accessory suite development permit | $305 |
| Homeowner trade permit (electrical, plumbing, gas) | $100 plus the permit fee |
Note: From Schedule A of Airdrie's fee bylaw, office consolidation of 4 July 2025, 2026 column. Fees aren't charged GST. Confirm with the City before you apply.
The 4% Safety Codes levy applies to building and trade permits, with a $4.50 minimum. A 2,051 to 2,450 sq ft house pays $3,022 plus $120.88 of levy, or $3,142.88, and that covers the building, heating, electrical, plumbing and gas permits (The City of Airdrie, fee bylaw).
Other projects pay trade permits on top. A basement suite's electrical permit is $162 for 501 to 1,200 sq ft, its plumbing permit $158 and its heating permit $137. Start work before the permit is issued and the fee can double (The City of Airdrie, basements).
You can pull your own trade permits only for a house you own and live in (Alberta King's Printer, AR 204/2007), and never for any part of a rental (The City of Airdrie, basements).
How do Airdrie's fees compare with Calgary's?
Airdrie is cheaper for small decks and dearer for big basements and garages. Calgary charges flat fees for these projects, whatever their size or value. Here are the same projects under each city's 2026 schedule, levy included:
| Project | Airdrie | Calgary |
|---|---|---|
| Deck valued at $15,000 | $158.65 | $205.92 |
| Detached garage valued at $50,000 | $528.84 | $333.84 |
| 1,000 sq ft basement development | $416.00 | $333.84 |
| 1,000 sq ft basement suite | $613.60, plus the $305 development permit | $403.52 |
| Addition valued at $100,000 | $1,057.68 | $333.84 under 400 sq ft, $1,302.08 over |
Note: Building permit fees only, worked from Airdrie's fee bylaw and Calgary's 2026 fee schedule. Trade permits are extra in both.
Airdrie publishes less than Calgary. Calgary's permits are open data, which the Calgary building permit guide uses for medians and approval times. Airdrie offers only an interactive dashboard (The City of Airdrie, permit statistics), so there are no Airdrie medians here.
What are the rules for suites in Airdrie?
Airdrie allows secondary suites inside the house, garage suites in a detached garage and garden suites in the backyard. Bylaw B-30/2024, approved on 17 December 2024, cut the lot minimums and set parking at one stall per suite (The City of Airdrie, bylaw changes).
As of October 2026, the City's own suite pages haven't caught up. Here's the bylaw beside them:
| Rule | Land Use Bylaw, consolidated 8 September 2026 | City's garden and garage suite pages |
|---|---|---|
| Garden suite lot | 360 m² (3,875 sq ft) and 11.0 m (36 ft 1 in) wide | 600 m² (6,458 sq ft) |
| Garage suite lot | 260 m² (2,799 sq ft) and 11.0 m (36 ft 1 in) wide | 400 m² (4,306 sq ft) and 13.0 m (42 ft 8 in) wide |
| Parking | 1 stall per suite, plus the house's | 1 per bedroom, up to 2 |
| Development permit fee | $305 (fee bylaw, 2026) | $300 |
Note: Where a district's own minimum is larger, the larger one applies. The pages are the garden suite and garage suite pages.
This guide follows the bylaw, which is what the Development Authority applies. Confirm your lot with the City at 311, or 403-948-8800 from outside Airdrie.
The bylaw also caps each suite (The City of Airdrie, Land Use Bylaw, section 6.22):
- A garage suite can't exceed 55.0 m² (592 sq ft) or the garage's floor area, or 7.4 m (24 ft 3 in) in height or the house's height, whichever is less.
- A garden suite can't exceed 70 m² (753 sq ft), or 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in) in height or the house's height, whichever is less. It sits at least 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) from the rear property line.
- Both sit at least 4.0 m (13 ft 1 in) from the house.
- A secondary suite can't be bigger than the house's floor area.
In the R1 district, secondary and garage suites are permitted uses and garden suites are discretionary. On a lot reached only by a cul-de-sac, every suite is discretionary. The backyard suite guide covers layout for the same small footprints.
How long does a permit take in Airdrie?
The City publishes timelines only for suite development permits. A secondary suite permit takes about 2 to 4 weeks once the application is complete (The City of Airdrie, secondary suites). A garden or garage suite takes about 8 to 12 weeks (The City of Airdrie, garden suites).
A discretionary garage suite, or one with a variance, then waits out a 21-day appeal period (The City of Airdrie, garage suites). Airdrie gives no typical time for the building permit itself.
Here's the order for a basement suite:
How do you apply for a building permit in Airdrie?
Online, through a myAIRDRIE account. Documents go in as flattened PDFs that allow comments, each with a clear title (The City of Airdrie, basements).
A basement application needs a floor plan at a scale of at least 1:100 that labels every room, its size, the windows and the electrical layout, with bathroom doors of at least 30 in and utility room doors of 32 in. A garage or deck needs a Real Property Report or site plan, and since 1 March 2026 garage trusses need an Alberta engineer's seal (The City of Airdrie, garages and sheds). An addition also needs elevations, cross sections and a 9.36 energy summary (The City of Airdrie, making changes).
A pre-application meeting for a development permit costs $250, deducted from the application fee (The City of Airdrie, fee bylaw).
Where does a full-size walkthrough fit?
Before the application. A garage suite tops out at 55.0 m² (592 sq ft), where every wall and door swing counts, and a plan review checks the rules, not whether the rooms work.
At 1to1 Plans Calgary, in northeast Calgary, your plan is lit at full size from inside a walkable LED floor, with room names and dimension lines. Freestanding walls and movable furniture show how a bedroom or living room fits, and changes show on the floor on the spot. A standard session is two hours and is recorded for you to keep.
Sessions are quoted for your plan by its size, and the quote is free; see pricing. Book a session and send plans as a PDF or DWG at least three days ahead. For basement layout, see the ceiling height guide, the legal basement suite guide and room sizes. On an acreage, see the Rocky View County guide.
Questions
Do I need a permit for a deck in Airdrie?
In Airdrie, a deck needs a building permit if any point is more than 600 mm (2 ft) above grade, or if it has a roof, as of October 2026. New stairs with more than three risers need one too (The City of Airdrie, decks).
The fee is $10.17 per $1,000 of construction cost, with a $135 minimum, plus the 4% levy. A same-for-same rebuild of a permitted deck doesn't need one.
How much is a basement development permit in Airdrie?
An Airdrie basement development permit costs $0.40 per sq ft of developed space in 2026, with a $135 minimum, plus the 4% Safety Codes levy. A 1,000 sq ft basement pays $416.00 in all (The City of Airdrie, fee bylaw).
If the basement becomes a secondary suite, the rate is $0.59 per sq ft, a $305 development permit comes first, and trade permits are extra.
Do I need a permit for a shed or garage in Airdrie?
Yes, in Airdrie any new garage or shed over 10 m² (107 sq ft) needs a building permit, as of October 2026. A smaller shed can still need one if it creates a hazard (The City of Airdrie, garages and sheds).
The garage can be no taller than 5 m (16 ft 5 in) or the house, whichever is lower. For sizing a garage, see the garage size guide.
Can I have a garden suite on a small lot in Airdrie?
In Airdrie, a garden suite needs a lot of at least 360 m² (3,875 sq ft) and 11.0 m (36 ft 1 in) wide under the Land Use Bylaw consolidated on 8 September 2026 (The City of Airdrie, Land Use Bylaw). The City's garden suite page still lists the older 600 m² minimum, so confirm your lot with the City before you design.
Sources
- The City of Airdrie, User Fees and Charges Bylaw B-41/2023, 2026 fees airdrie.ca
- The City of Airdrie, Land Use Bylaw B-01/2016 airdrie.ca
- The City of Airdrie, secondary suites airdrie.ca
- new homes airdrie.ca
- why permits are required airdrie.ca
- basements airdrie.ca
- garages and sheds airdrie.ca
- decks airdrie.ca
- Alberta King's Printer, AR 204/2007 kings-printer.alberta.ca
- Calgary's 2026 fee schedule calgary.ca
- open data data.calgary.ca
- The City of Airdrie, permit statistics airdrie.ca
- The City of Airdrie, bylaw changes airdrie.ca
- garden suite airdrie.ca
- garage suite airdrie.ca
- The City of Airdrie, making changes airdrie.ca
