No community in Calgary's Centre sector has built more backyard suites since 2023 than Bridgeland/Riverside. City of Calgary open data shows 14 backyard suite permits here from January 2023 to 29 September 2026, 2.8% of the city's total and third in Calgary after Rundle and Whitehorn, against only 6 permits for suites inside houses. Living alone is common too: 51% of households were one person in the 2021 census, the highest share of the 84 communities profiled here.
Key takeaways
- Bridgeland/Riverside had 14 backyard suite permits from January 2023 to 29 September 2026, the most of the 97 communities profiled here, with a median declared value of $124,883 (what applicants wrote on the permit, below real costs).
- Backyard suites outnumbered suites inside houses here by more than two to one: 14 against 4 secondary suites altered from existing space and 2 classed as new construction.
- 51% of Bridgeland/Riverside households were one person in 2021, the highest share of 84 communities, and 62% of dwellings were apartments in 2019.
- 13 of the 20 new single-detached houses (65%) were 2,500 sq ft or more on the permit, at a median of 2,617 sq ft.
- Detached garages took a median of 42 days to issue, the second slowest of 87 communities, and rowhouses 132 days.
- 4 of 180 decided development permit applications were refused, tied with four other communities for the third highest refusal count of the 97.
What's being built in Bridgeland/Riverside?
A bit of everything, in small numbers. Garages (31), renovations (33), semis (21) and new houses (20) lead, with backyard suites close behind.
| Project | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 to date | Total | Share of Calgary | Median declared value | Median days to issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New single-detached houses | 9 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 0.1% | $430,510 | 56.5 days |
| New semi-detached houses | 8 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 0.4% | $245,697 | 47 days |
| New rowhouses and townhouses | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 0.5% | $817,509 | 132 days |
| Secondary suites, new construction (City work class New) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.1% | fewer than 5 | fewer than 5 |
| Secondary suites, alteration of existing space | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0.1% | fewer than 5 | fewer than 5 |
| Backyard suites | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 2.8% | $124,883 | 44 days |
| Additions | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 0.6% | $32,765 | 34.5 days |
| Detached garages | 14 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 31 | 0.3% | $38,576 | 42 days |
| Basement developments | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0.1% | fewer than 5 | fewer than 5 |
| Renovations | 6 | 11 | 12 | 4 | 33 | 0.4% | $35,000 | 20 days |
| Decks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.1% | fewer than 5 | fewer than 5 |
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.
Backyard suite permits ran 2 in 2023, 5 in 2024, 4 in 2025 and 3 so far in 2026. Garages fell from 14 in 2023 to 3 in 2025, then 6 by September 2026. Renovations had a median declared value of $35,000, tied for ninth highest of 87 communities. Declared values are what the applicant wrote on the permit and run below real costs.
Why are there so many backyard suites here?
The data shows the count, not the motive, but the household figures point one way. With half of all households a single person, the numbers suggest a ready market for a small self-contained unit behind a house.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Development permit applications (all types, since 2023) | 219 |
| Decided so far: approved / refused | 176 / 4 |
| Median days from application to decision | 63 days |
| Secondary suite development permit applications | 25 |
| Suites on the City's secondary suite registry (all years) | 106 |
| Added to the registry 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 to date | 4, 7, 20, 18 |
| Districts with the most development permit applications | R-CG (53), DC (39), R-C2 (38), M-C1 (16) |
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 backyard suites took a median of 44 days to issue. Most development permit applications here were on R-CG (53), DC (39) and R-C2 (38) lots, and as of October 2026 the site's backyard suites guide lists a backyard suite as discretionary in R-CG and R-C2, so each one needs a development permit. Since 4 August 2026, a property can have a backyard suite or a secondary suite, not both, and a backyard suite needs a parking stall again. The City's land use map shows your lot's district.
Bridgeland/Riverside's development permits took a median of 63 days to a decision. 176 of the 180 decided were approved and 4 refused. The registry lists 106 suites, with 20 added in 2025 and 18 by September 2026.
How much of Bridgeland/Riverside is zoned for housing?
Less than you'd guess. Special Purpose districts take 60.3% of the community's area: S-FUD (Special Purpose - Future Urban Development) alone covers 32.6%, and S-R (Special Purpose - Recreation) 15.5%.
| District | Share of the community's area |
|---|---|
| S-FUD | 32.6% |
| R-C2 | 16.3% |
| S-R | 15.5% |
| DC | 9.8% |
| S-CI | 3.4% |
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 houses sit mainly on R-C2, Residential - Contextual One / Two Dwelling, at 16.3%. Direct control adds 9.8% and multi-residential districts 7.2%. R-CG led the development permit applications with 53, yet it isn't among the top districts on the October 2026 map. Council's repeal of the citywide rezoning, in force from 4 August 2026, put 99% of Calgary properties back on their pre-2024 zoning, as the backyard suites guide explains. Look up your own lot before you draw anything.
How big are new houses in Bridgeland/Riverside?
Large for an inner-city lot. The 20 new single-detached houses had a median of 2,617 sq ft on the permit, and 10 were in the 2,500 to 2,999 sq ft band.
| Floor area on the permit | Houses |
|---|---|
| Under 1,500 sq ft | 0 |
| 1,500 to 1,999 sq ft | 2 |
| 2,000 to 2,499 sq ft | 5 |
| 2,500 to 2,999 sq ft | 10 |
| 3,000 sq ft and over | 3 |
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.
Three were 3,000 sq ft or more, and only 2 were under 2,000 sq ft. The median declared value was $430,510, and the median permit took 56.5 days to issue, seventh slowest of 74 communities. New houses came in a burst of 9 in 2023, then 2, 4 and 5 a year. The custom home cost guide covers real 2026 build costs, and the detached garage cost guide covers the garage under a suite, if you build one.
Who lives in Bridgeland/Riverside?
Mostly one-person households in apartments. The 2021 census counted 6,350 residents in 3,550 households averaging 1.8 people. Only 13% of residents were 14 or under.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Population (2021 census) | 6,350 |
| Households (2021 census) | 3,550 |
| Average household size | 1.8 |
| One-person households | 51% |
| Households of five or more | 2% |
| Residents aged 0 to 14 / 65 and over | 13% / 14% |
| Dwellings (2019 civic census) | 3,988 |
| Single-detached | 869 (22%) |
| Duplex | 118 (3%) |
| Townhouse | 226 (6%) |
| Apartment | 2,490 (62%) |
| Owner-occupied | 1,364 (34%) |
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 2019 civic census counted 2,490 apartments among 3,988 dwellings (62%, third highest of the 87 communities profiled here) and 869 single-detached homes (22%). Owners occupied 34%. For a house owner here, that suggests a backyard suite or a one-bedroom suite will rent to a single person more readily than a three-bedroom unit would.
Walking a Bridgeland/Riverside backyard suite at full size
A backyard suite is small enough that every 300 mm matters. The bylaw caps one at 75.0 m² (807 sq ft) of floor area, as the backyard suites guide notes, so the questions are whether the bed fits with room to walk round it, whether the kitchen and the table share the same few metres, and where the stair lands if the suite sits over a garage. At the studio, the suite is lit at full size on a walkable LED floor, and the studio's sofa, table and chairs go where you've drawn them.
Changes are made and shown on the floor during the session, which is recorded for you to keep. Send the PDF or DWG at least three days ahead. The quote is free and based on the plan's size: see pricing, book a session, or browse the communities hub.
Questions
Are backyard suites popular in Bridgeland/Riverside?
Yes. Bridgeland/Riverside had 14 backyard suite permits from January 2023 to 29 September 2026, the most in the Centre sector and third in Calgary after Rundle and Whitehorn. Their median declared value was $124,883, and the median permit took 44 days to issue.
Do I need a development permit for a backyard suite in Bridgeland/Riverside?
Usually, yes. Bridgeland/Riverside's largest residential district is R-C2, where a backyard suite is discretionary as of October 2026, so a planner reviews each one. DC lots, 9.8% of the community's area, have their own rules.
How long does a development permit take in Bridgeland/Riverside?
A development permit in Bridgeland/Riverside took a median of 63 days from application to decision for applications made since 2023. 176 of 180 decided were approved and 4 were refused.
How big are new houses in Bridgeland/Riverside?
New single-detached houses in Bridgeland/Riverside had a median of 2,617 sq ft on the permit from 2023 to September 2026, and 65% were 2,500 sq ft or more.
Are most Bridgeland/Riverside households one person?
Just over half are. In 2021, 51% of Bridgeland/Riverside households were one person, the highest share of the 84 communities profiled here with census figures, and owners occupied only 34% of dwellings in 2019.
Sources
- City of Calgary open data: building permits data.calgary.ca
- City of Calgary open data: development permits data.calgary.ca
- City of Calgary open data: secondary suite registry data.calgary.ca
- City of Calgary open data: community boundaries data.calgary.ca
- City of Calgary open data: census 2021 population data.calgary.ca
- City of Calgary open data: census 2021 households data.calgary.ca
- City of Calgary open data: civic census 2019 data.calgary.ca
- City of Calgary open data: land use districts data.calgary.ca
- land use map maps.calgary.ca
