Belvedere, Calgary: new houses have shrunk every year since 2023

New houses in Belvedere are getting smaller. City of Calgary open data shows the median new single-detached house there was 2,160 sq ft on the permit in 2023, 2,052 sq ft in 2024 and 1,848 sq ft in 2025, and the five issued in 2026 to 29 September had a median of 1,784 sq ft. Over the same years, Belvedere had 86 rowhouse and townhouse permits, tied for the fourth most of the 97 communities we compare.

How big are new houses in Belvedere?

A median of 2,052 sq ft over the whole period, with most between 1,500 and 2,499 sq ft. The trend matters more than the median.

The floor area the applicant entered on the building permit, for new single-detached houses issued in the same window. It usually excludes the basement. 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.

Of 166 houses, 87 were 2,000 to 2,499 sq ft and 65 were 1,500 to 1,999 sq ft. Ten were under 1,500 sq ft, 6% of the total and tied for the ninth highest share of the 74 communities on this site with house sizes, and none reached 3,000 sq ft. The yearly medians suggest newer releases lean toward the smaller band, though the data can't say whether that's lot sizes, buyer demand or the builders' mix.

If you're comparing a 2023-era 2,100 sq ft plan with a 2025-era 1,850 sq ft one, those 250 or so square feet come out of some room, and it's worth knowing which one before you choose. The bedroom size guide and the king bed clearances page help you check what still fits. The median declared value on a new Belvedere house was $331,889, which is what the applicant wrote on the permit; it runs below what building really costs.

What else is being built in Belvedere?

Rowhouses, at a pace few communities match. Belvedere had 16 rowhouse and townhouse permits in 2023, 17 in 2024, 38 in 2025 and 15 so far in 2026.

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.

A rowhouse permit may cover a building of several homes, and its median declared value was $1,041,119, with a median of 40.5 days to issue. Semi-detached homes were fewer, at 25 permits, 21 of them in 2025.

New single-detached permits slowed sharply in 2026, with 5 issued to 29 September after 50 in 2025, while basement developments kept rising, from 7 in 2024 to 11 in 2025 and 13 already in 2026. A Belvedere basement permit had a median declared value of $30,927 on the application and took 11 days to issue. There were no additions or backyard suites, and only 6 renovations.

Are Belvedere owners adding suites?

Yes, and more each year through 2025. The City issued 66 Belvedere suite permits for altering existing space and 27 for suites classed as new construction, both the most in the East sector.

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.

The registry lists 102 Belvedere suites, with 40 added in 2025 and 31 to date in 2026. An alteration suite permit took a median of 19 days, with a median declared value of $66,152 on the application. As of October 2026, R-G and R-Gm list a secondary suite as a permitted use, so a suite that meets every zoning rule needs only a building permit; the legal basement suite guide covers the rest. In a 1,800 sq ft house, the suite's bedroom windows and the stair position are the details to settle first, and the egress window guide explains the window rule.

What is Belvedere zoned for?

Mostly land that isn't zoned for housing. S-FUD, which the City labels Future Urban Development, covers about 25.8% of the area, the eighth highest share of the 97 communities on this site. Direct Control comes next at about 16.4%, then S-TUC, the transportation and utility corridor district, at about 13.4% and R-G at about 12.2%.

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 Residential districts add up to only about 17.5% of Belvedere, the fifth lowest share of the 97, with multi-residential districts on another 7.8%. For a place issuing this many house and rowhouse permits, that's a thin residential slice, and the S-FUD share says the community isn't finished. DC lots carry their own rules, so look up yours on the City's land use map. Belvedere's 80 decided development permit applications were all approved, at a median of 54.5 days.

Why is there no census data for Belvedere?

Belvedere was barely built when the counts were taken. The City's 2021 census tables have no population figures for it, and its 2019 civic census counted 15 dwellings and 41 residents. Today's community is almost entirely newer than both counts.

Walking a smaller Belvedere plan

At about 1,800 sq ft, a plan has little slack, and it's hard to tell from a drawing whether the kitchen island leaves room to pass or whether the second bedroom takes a queen bed. At the studio, your plan is lit at full size on a walkable LED floor, one storey at a time, and the studio's dining table, chairs and sofa can be moved into place.

If you're weighing two plans of different sizes, you can walk one and then the other in the same session. Changes show on the floor right away, and the session is recorded. Send a PDF or DWG at least three days ahead. The quote is free and based on the plan's size: see pricing and book a session, or browse East communities on the communities page.