An office layout in Calgary answers to the building code, not to any office-specific rule. As of October 2026, the National Building Code, 2023 Alberta Edition counts an office at 9.30 m² (100 sq ft) per person, asks for a second egress door once a suite passes 200 m² (2,153 sq ft), or 300 m² (3,229 sq ft) if sprinklered, and keeps corridors used by the public at least 1 100 mm (3 ft 7 in) wide (NBC(AE) 2023, 3.1.17.1, 3.3.1.5 and 3.3.1.9). Alberta sets no minimum office or workstation size.
Key takeaways
- The code counts offices at 9.30 m² (100 sq ft) per person, so a 186 m² (2,002 sq ft) office counts as 20 people (NBC(AE) 2023, Table 3.1.17.1).
- An office suite in a floor area without sprinklers needs two egress doorways once it passes 200 m² (2,153 sq ft) or 25 m (82 ft) of travel to the door, and the two doors must sit at least a third of the suite's longest diagonal apart (NBC(AE) 2023, 3.3.1.5).
- A corridor used by the public must keep at least 1 100 mm (3 ft 7 in) clear, and the barrier-free path through the office at least 1 000 mm (3 ft 3 in), with doorways of at least 850 mm (2 ft 9 in) (NBC(AE) 2023, 3.3.1.9, 3.8.3.2 and 3.8.3.6).
- An office with 10 or fewer people can share one water closet, and up to 25 people of each sex need one for each sex (NBC(AE) 2023, 3.7.2.2).
- Calgary's 478 office improvement permits in 2025 declared a median of $175,000, a figure that sets the permit fee and runs below real costs (The City of Calgary, open data).
How many people does the code count in an office?
The occupant load sets your exit doors and washroom counts. It's the number of people the space is designed for, but not less than Table 3.1.17.1 gives, unless you can show fewer people will use it (NBC(AE) 2023, 3.1.17.1). The code lists offices as Group D, business and personal services (Note A-3.1.2.1.(1)).
The table works by use, so one office can draw on several rows:
| Use | Area per person | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Offices | 9.30 m² (100 sq ft) | Table 3.1.17.1 |
| Space with non-fixed seats and tables | 0.95 m² (10.2 sq ft) | Table 3.1.17.1 |
| Reading or writing rooms or lounges | 1.85 m² (19.9 sq ft) | Table 3.1.17.1 |
| Kitchens | 9.30 m² (100 sq ft) | Table 3.1.17.1 |
| Storage | 46.00 m² (495 sq ft) | Table 3.1.17.1 |
Note: Rates for counting people, not space allowances, as of October 2026. Your designer picks the rate for each part of the floor and shows it to the City of Calgary.
A room used for different things at different times takes the rate giving the most people (3.1.17.1.(4)). Design for fewer people than the table gives and the code requires a permanent sign posting that load (3.1.17.1.(2)). Design for more, with tightly packed desks, and your higher number becomes the occupant load.
When does an office suite need two egress doors?
A suite or room needs a second egress doorway once it crosses the limits in Article 3.3.1.5, as of October 2026 (NBC(AE) 2023, 3.3.1.5). For an office:
| Situation | One egress door is enough up to | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Floor area not sprinklered throughout | 200 m² (2,153 sq ft) and 25 m (82 ft) of travel to the door | Table 3.3.1.5.-A |
| Floor area sprinklered throughout | 300 m² (3,229 sq ft) and 25 m (82 ft) of travel to the door | 3.3.1.5.(1)(d), Table 3.3.1.5.-B |
| Any floor area | An occupant load of 60, which at 9.30 m² per person is 558 m² (6,006 sq ft) | 3.3.1.5.(1)(b) |
Note: Code limits as of October 2026. Past them, the suite needs at least two egress doorways.
Where two are needed, they must be at least one third of the area's maximum diagonal apart, measured as the shortest path smoke would take between them (3.3.1.5.(2)). A 20 m by 15 m (65 ft 7 in by 49 ft 3 in) suite of 300 m² has a 25 m diagonal, so its doors need 8 333 mm (27 ft 4 in) between them. Without sprinklers, that suite is over the 200 m² limit and needs both.
Over 60 people, doors from the room into a corridor must also swing toward the exit (3.3.1.11.(2)). If you lease a whole floor, it needs two exits unless the building has 2 storeys or fewer and the floor stays within the same area, travel and 60-person limits, and one exit must then be within 40 m (131 ft) of travel, or 45 m (148 ft) when sprinklered (NBC(AE) 2023, 3.4.2.1 and 3.4.2.5).
How wide do office corridors and doors have to be?
Three numbers set most office widths: 1 100 mm, 1 000 mm and 850 mm. Section 3.8 applies to every building except houses and a few other types, and it requires a barrier-free path throughout the entrance storey and all other normally occupied floor areas (NBC(AE) 2023, 3.8.2.1 and 3.8.2.3).
The widths that shape an office plan:
| Element | Minimum | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Public corridor, or a corridor used by the public | 1 100 mm (3 ft 7 in) unobstructed | 3.3.1.9.(1), (2) |
| Barrier-free path of travel | 1 000 mm (3 ft 3 in); 850 mm (2 ft 9 in) allowed for up to 600 mm (2 ft) of length | 3.8.3.2.(1), (2) |
| Barrier-free path longer than 24 m (78 ft 9 in) | A 1 700 mm (5 ft 7 in) wide section, 1 700 mm long, at least every 24 m | 3.8.3.2.(5) |
| Doorway on the barrier-free path | 850 mm (2 ft 9 in) clear with the door open | 3.8.3.6.(2) |
| Latch-side space at a swinging door without a power operator | 600 mm (2 ft) on the pull side, 300 mm (11.8 in) on the push side | 3.8.3.6.(11) |
| Dead-end corridor outside a suite | No longer than 6 m (19 ft 8 in) | 3.3.1.9.(5) |
Note: Code minimums as of October 2026, not recommended sizes. The City of Calgary checks them at permit, and a relaxation of barrier-free rules goes to Alberta Municipal Affairs.
At the same scale:
Exit width by head count adds little: at 6.1 mm per person for doorways and corridors (3.4.3.2.(1)(a)), even 100 people need only 610 mm, well under the fixed minimums.
If you have a reception counter, one section must be no higher than 865 mm (2 ft 10 in) and at least 800 mm (2 ft 7 in) long (3.8.2.11 and 3.8.3.20). Your own suite door doesn't need a power door operator (Note A-3.8.2.7.(1)(b)). The hallway width guide covers paths in more detail.
How many washrooms does an office need?
Water closets follow Table 3.7.2.2.-B, with the occupant load split evenly between men and women unless you can show otherwise (NBC(AE) 2023, 3.7.2.2). At the office rate:
| Office floor area | Occupant load at 9.30 m² | Water closets |
|---|---|---|
| 93 m² (1,001 sq ft) or less | 10 or fewer | 1, shared by both sexes |
| 186 m² (2,002 sq ft) | 20 | 1 for each sex |
| 465 m² (5,005 sq ft) | 50 | 1 for each sex |
| 558 m² (6,006 sq ft) | 60 | 2 for each sex |
| 930 m² (10,010 sq ft) | 100 | 2 for each sex |
Note: Code minimums as of October 2026. Over 50 people of each sex, the table asks for 3 for each sex, plus 1 for each further 50.
Where washrooms are provided on a storey that needs a barrier-free path, one must be a universal washroom with a 1 700 mm (5 ft 7 in) turning space (3.8.2.8 and 3.8.3.13). A room with one water closet needs a full-height door that locks from inside (3.7.2.2.(15)). In a building with a floor area over 600 m² (6,458 sq ft) and business or retail tenants, water closets must be open to the public whenever the building is occupied (3.7.2.2.(13)). The barrier-free bathroom guide covers the universal washroom.
Does your building fall under Part 3 or Part 9?
Buildings of 3 storeys or less with a building area of 600 m² (6,458 sq ft) or less fall under Part 9 rather than Part 3 (NBC(AE) 2023, Division A, 1.3.3.3). For an office tenant the key numbers match: Part 9 uses the same 200 m² and 25 m limit for a single egress door (Table 9.9.7.4), the same 40 m travel distance (9.9.8.2) and 1 100 mm corridors (9.9.3.3). Section 3.8 still applies (9.5.2.1), and washrooms still follow 3.7.2 (9.31.1.1).
The building's size also decides whether you need an architect or engineer. For a business occupancy, Division C requires no registered professional when the building is 1 storey and no more than 500 m² (5,382 sq ft), 2 storeys and no more than 250 m² (2,691 sq ft), or 3 storeys and no more than 165 m² (1,776 sq ft) (NBC(AE) 2023, Division C, 2.4.1.1). Those limits are for the whole building, not your suite, and the City can still ask for one (2.4.1.1.(4)).
What permits does an office fit-out need in Calgary?
Most office fit-outs need a building permit. As of October 2026, the City of Calgary asks for one for any work on structural or non-structural walls, a change in business that changes the code classification or occupant load, or a first tenant in a new building (The City of Calgary, 2026). Work that's wholly cosmetic, like painting or furniture, needs none. Each trade contractor applies for separate electrical, plumbing, gas and HVAC permits.
Planning approval comes before the building permit. The City's figures:
| Approval | Fee | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Development permit, permitted change of use | $190 | 5 business days |
| Development permit, discretionary use or with a relaxation | $594 plus $30 advertising ($624) | 10 to 12 weeks |
| Building permit, interior renovation | Set by construction value | 21 to 49 days |
Note: The City's published figures as of October 2026, not quotes; timelines depend on how complete the application is.
What did Calgary office fit-outs declare in 2025?
Here's what the office permit classes declared in 2025:
| Permit type | Permits | Median declared value |
|---|---|---|
| Office | 478 | $175,000 |
| Bank | 19 | $130,000 |
| Warehouse and office | 213 | $79,500 |
Source: City of Calgary building permits open data, permits issued in 2025 excluding cancelled ones, retrieved 2026-09-25. The median is of the construction value declared on the permit application. It isn't a quote and usually runs below what the work really costs. New homes and commercial work pay permit fees on this value; most home alterations pay a flat fee.
Office is Calgary's busiest commercial improvement class, at 478 permits and a median of $175,000. Of the 471 office permits with a declared value, about a quarter declared $75,000 or less, about a quarter $400,000 or more, and 39 declared $1 million or more (The City of Calgary, open data). A declared value is the applicant's own figure: it sets the permit fee and usually runs below the real cost.
See the office at full size before you build
At the studio, your plan is lit at full size on a walkable LED floor with room names and dimension lines. Stand in a 1 100 mm corridor with a chair pushed back from a desk and see what's left. Walk from reception to the furthest desk and on to each egress door.
Freestanding walls, a table and chairs stand in for partitions and furniture, changes go onto the floor on the spot, and you keep the session recording. Very large plans are walked a wing at a time. Send plans as a PDF or DWG at least three days ahead. Commercial sessions are quoted by the size of the space, and the quote is free (pricing). Book a session, see how architects and designers use the studio, or read the other commercial layout guides, such as the salon and spa and medical clinic pages.
Questions
How much office space do you need per employee in Alberta?
Alberta sets no minimum office space per employee, as of October 2026. The building code's 9.30 m² (100 sq ft) per person is a rate for counting occupants to size exits and washrooms, not a space allowance. You can plan more people than that rate gives, and then your designed number becomes the occupant load.
Does a small office need two exits?
A small office suite in Alberta needs only one egress door if it stays within 200 m² (2,153 sq ft) and 25 m (82 ft) of travel, or 300 m² (3,229 sq ft) when sprinklered, with 60 people or fewer (NBC(AE) 2023, 3.3.1.5). Past those limits it needs two, a third of the diagonal apart.
How wide does an office hallway need to be in Alberta?
An office hallway the public uses must be at least 1 100 mm (3 ft 7 in) wide in Alberta, and a barrier-free path at least 1 000 mm (3 ft 3 in) (NBC(AE) 2023, 3.3.1.9 and 3.8.3.2). Doorways on that path need 850 mm (2 ft 9 in) clear.
Do you need a permit to renovate an office in Calgary?
An office renovation in Calgary needs a building permit for any work on structural or non-structural walls, as of October 2026, and trades pull their own permits. Painting and furniture alone need none. A change of use also needs a development permit first, at $190 if the use is permitted.
Sources
- NBC(AE) 2023, 3.1.17.1, 3.3.1.5 and 3.3.1.9 nrc-publications.canada.ca
- The City of Calgary, open data data.calgary.ca
- The City of Calgary, 2026 calgary.ca
