Dalhousie, Calgary: few new houses, five over 3,000 sq ft

Dalhousie builds very few new houses, and the ones it builds are among the largest in Calgary. City of Calgary open data to 29 September 2026 shows 6 new single-detached house permits since January 2023, with a median of 3,807 sq ft on the permit, fourth in the city after Bel-Aire, Britannia and Upper Mount Royal, and the highest of the 74 communities profiled here with a median. The bigger volume is elsewhere: 109 renovation permits, 34 secondary suites and 7 backyard suites.

How big are new houses in Dalhousie?

Bigger than in any other community profiled here, on a small sample. Five of the 6 permits were 3,000 sq ft or more, and the sixth was between 2,500 and 2,999.

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.

Six houses is a thin base, and the data gives no median declared value for them. What it does show is consistent: no new house in Dalhousie since 2023 was under 2,500 sq ft. They came 2 a year in 2023, 2024 and 2026 to date, none in 2025.

A 61-day median wait to issue is long for a single house. If you're planning one, the new home permit time guide explains the City's steps, and the custom home cost guide the budget.

What do Dalhousie owners build most?

Renovations, by a wide margin. The 109 renovation permits ran at 33, 33 and 25 a year from 2023 to 2025, with 18 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.

After renovations come 28 detached garages, 16 additions and 14 basement developments. Garages here carry high declared values, a median of $56,128, and basements too, $45,434, eighth highest of 87. Additions had a median of $52,508 and took 40.5 days to issue. Every declared value is what the applicant wrote on the permit and runs below real costs. The home addition cost guide gives real ranges.

How common are backyard suites in Dalhousie?

More common than in most of the Northwest. Dalhousie had 7 backyard suite permits, 4 of them in 2025, at a median declared value of $115,225 and a median of 39 days to issue.

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.

Secondary suites add up to 34 more: 24 classed as alterations of existing space and 10 as new construction, the City's New work class, which doesn't mean a new house. The 10 were issued fast, a median of 10 days, tied with Bowness for third fastest of 72 communities. Of 135 development permit applications, 34 were for suites. The registry lists 120 Dalhousie suites, 24 of them added in 2025.

Since 4 August 2026, a lot can have a secondary suite or a backyard suite, not both, and a backyard suite needs a parking stall again. The backyard suites guide sets out the rules as of October 2026.

What does Dalhousie's zoning allow?

R-C1, which the Land Use Bylaw 1P2007 names Residential - Contextual One Dwelling, covers 62.8% of Dalhousie's area. As of October 2026, a secondary suite is a permitted use there and a backyard suite is discretionary, so the backyard suite always needs a development permit.

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.

S-SPR (Special Purpose - School, Park and Community Reserve) covers 12.4%, R-C2 6.3% and direct control 3.7%. R-CG lots drew 54 development permit applications, almost as many as R-C1's 58, though R-CG isn't among the top districts on today's map; the 2024 citywide rezoning was repealed on 4 August 2026. Check your lot on the City's land use map.

Who lives in Dalhousie?

An older population, in a mix of houses and apartments. The 2021 census counted 8,530 people in 3,505 households, averaging 2.4 people, and 28% of households were one person.

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 found 1,931 single-detached houses out of 3,742 dwellings (52%), 861 apartments and 570 townhouses. Owners occupied 59%. An older population next to a run of backyard and basement suites suggests some owners planning for a parent, an adult child or rental income, while staying in the main house.

Seeing a Dalhousie plan at full size

For a backyard suite, every square metre counts: the bylaw caps one at 75.0 m² (807 sq ft), as the backyard suites guide notes, so a walkthrough settles whether the bed, the table and the kitchen fit together. At the studio, the plan is lit at full size on a walkable LED floor, and the dining table, chairs and a sofa can be placed where you've drawn them. Elevations go up on a wall-size screen behind the floor.

You see each change on the floor straight away, and the session is recorded for you. Send the plan as a PDF or DWG at least three days ahead. The quote is free and set by the plan's size: see pricing, book a session, or browse the communities hub.