Auburn Bay, Calgary: 207 basement permits, sixth most of 97

In Auburn Bay, basements lead the permit count. City of Calgary open data shows 207 basement development permits there from January 2023 to 29 September 2026, more than any other kind of permit in the community and a count only five of the 97 communities we compare beat. The yearly count has eased, from 66 in 2023 to 48 in 2025, and only 2 new houses were permitted in the whole period.

What are Auburn Bay owners building?

Mostly basements, then garages and decks. After the 207 basements came 119 detached garages, 45 suite permits for altering existing space, 39 decks and 35 renovations.

Permits issued, excluding cancelled ones. "Share of Calgary" is this community's part of the citywide count for the same project type and years. Declared value is what the applicant wrote on the permit application. It is not a quote and runs below real costs. Medians are shown only where a category has at least 5 permits. Source: City of Calgary open data (building permits, development permits, secondary suite registry, census 2021 population, census 2021 households, civic census 2019, land use districts), retrieved 5 October 2026.

The basement permit's median declared value was $30,735 on the application. That's the number the applicant wrote down, and it runs below what finishing a basement really costs. The permit itself is quick, at a median of 7 days, tied for the fifth fastest of 87 communities with a median for basements.

Garage permits peaked at 44 in 2024 and came to 22 in 2025 and 18 so far in 2026, with a median declared value of $46,677. Decks reached 39 permits, 1.5% of Calgary's total. There were 12 additions, with a median declared value of $43,051 on the application and a median of 46 days to issue; the home addition cost guide covers what they really cost.

Who are Auburn Bay basements for?

The census suggests children. Of 18,090 residents in 2021, 28% were 14 or younger and only 5% were 65 or older. Households averaged 2.9 people, 18% were one person and 12% had five or more.

Population and household figures are from the 2021 Census of Canada as published by the City of Calgary; dwelling types are from the City's 2019 civic census, the last one it ran. Newer communities have grown since. Source: City of Calgary open data (building permits, development permits, secondary suite registry, census 2021 population, census 2021 households, civic census 2019, land use districts), retrieved 5 October 2026.

The City's 2019 civic census counted 6,046 dwellings: 3,790 single-detached (63%), 887 apartments, 743 townhouses and 611 duplexes, with 72% owner-occupied. A community full of school-age children in owner-occupied houses points to basements built as bedrooms, play space and a second living room, though the permits don't record what each basement holds.

For a basement bedroom, the window and the ceiling are the two things to check before you frame. The egress window guide gives Alberta's minimum opening, and the basement ceiling height guide the minimum height.

Are suites common in Auburn Bay?

Less than in many communities. The City issued 45 Auburn Bay suite permits for altering existing space and 13 for suites classed as new construction. The alteration permits peaked at 17 in 2025.

Development permits applied for from 1 January 2023; many home projects in Calgary need only a building permit, so these are a subset of all work. The registry lists suites the City has confirmed meet the rules, not every suite that exists. Source: City of Calgary open data (building permits, development permits, secondary suite registry, census 2021 population, census 2021 households, civic census 2019, land use districts), retrieved 5 October 2026.

An alteration suite permit took a median of 35 days, slower than most communities, at a median declared value of $67,855 on the application. The registry lists 107 suites, 31 of them added in 2025. Of 128 development permit applications since 2023, 38 were for suites, and all 94 decided so far were approved, at a median of 32 days.

As of October 2026, a secondary suite is a permitted use in R-1N, R-1, R-2 and R-G, so a suite that meets every zoning rule needs only a building permit. The legal basement suite guide explains what a legal suite needs.

What is Auburn Bay zoned for?

Residential districts take about 58.4% of the area. R-1N alone covers about 37.2%, the fourth highest R-1N share of the 97 communities, and R-1 about 14.2%.

The share of the community's districted area in each land use district, from the City's district and community boundary maps intersected exactly. Districts change by lot and by amendment: check a specific lot on the City's land use map before you plan. Source: City of Calgary open data (building permits, development permits, secondary suite registry, census 2021 population, census 2021 households, civic census 2019, land use districts), retrieved 5 October 2026.

The second biggest district is S-TUC, at about 15.7%, which the City labels Special Purpose - Transportation and Utility Corridor. S-SPR, the school, park and community reserve district, covers about 9.9% and S-R, recreation, about 6.2%. R-2 sits just outside the top five at about 5.5%, yet that's the fifth highest R-2 share in the data. Direct control is only about 1%, so the standard district rules apply to most lots. Backyard suites are discretionary in R-1N and R-1, and Auburn Bay had just 1 backyard suite permit. Look up your own lot on the City's land use map.

Seeing an Auburn Bay basement at full size

The hard calls in a family basement are about proportion: a bedroom big enough to keep, a rec room wide enough for kids and a sectional, and a bathroom that doesn't eat the storage. At the studio, the basement plan is shown at full size on a walkable LED floor with room names and dimension lines, and freestanding walls and studio furniture let you stand in each room as drawn.

Shift a wall and the change is on the floor right away, and the session is recorded for you to keep. Send drawings as a PDF or DWG at least three days ahead. Quotes are free and based on the plan's size: see pricing, book a session, or see other Southeast communities on the communities page.