Why a fifth of new Northeast Calgary houses are in Homestead

Homestead is where much of the Northeast's new housing has gone since January 2023. The City of Calgary's open data, to 29 September 2026, shows 542 new single-detached permits and 194 semi-detached permits here: 21.9% and 25.9% of the whole Northeast sector's. After the houses, the next biggest line is suites (271 suite permits in all), not garages (62).

How much of the Northeast's building happens in Homestead?

A large share of new homes, a small share of add-ons. Here's Homestead's part of each Northeast total, worked out from the City's sector counts in the same data file:

Note: permits issued 1 January 2023 to 29 September 2026, excluding cancelled ones. Shares are of the Northeast sector only.

The pattern is a community still in its first build-out. Other Northeast communities account for more than 95% of the sector's garages and basements, while Homestead's lots are still getting their first houses.

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.

House permits ran 135 in 2023, 176 in 2024 and 157 in 2025, with 74 through September 2026. The median declared value for a new house was $337,317 and a semi $179,580. Both are what the applicant wrote on the permit, not a quote, and run below real costs. There were no rowhouse or townhouse permits in the window.

How big are Homestead's new houses?

Many are large: 103 of 542 houses (19%) were 2,500 sq ft or more, and 15 passed 3,000 sq ft.

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.

The median was 2,078 sq ft and has stayed in a narrow range, from 2,041 sq ft in 2023 to 2,143 sq ft in 2026 so far. The largest single band is 2,000 to 2,499 sq ft, with 219 houses. Floor area on the permit usually leaves out the basement.

A 3,000 sq ft plan is a different exercise from a 2,000 sq ft one. Long sightlines, a second family room and a main-floor bedroom suite all need checking against how you'll live. For budget, our custom home cost guide and new home permit time guide are the places to start.

Why are suites ahead of garages in Homestead?

The data doesn't say why, but the counts are clear. Homestead issued 210 permits for suites made by altering existing space and 61 for suites classed as new construction, against 62 detached garages.

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 City's registry shows 379 suites, with 147 added in 2025. Basement developments, the non-suite option, went from 15 in 2023 and 18 in 2024 to none in 2025 and 5 in 2026. That suggests owners who finish a basement here are choosing a suite.

Of 38 development permit applications since 2023, 14 were for suites. As of October 2026, R-G and R-Gm, which cover most of Homestead's residential land, list a secondary suite as a permitted use, so a suite that follows every zoning rule goes straight to a building permit. A lot can have a secondary suite or a backyard suite, not both. Our basement suite guide explains the rules, and the egress window guide covers the bedroom windows a suite needs.

What does Homestead's land use allow?

R-G is the largest district, at about 38.7% of the community, and R-Gm adds about 5.3%. Under the Land Use Bylaw, as our suite guides set out, both list secondary suites and backyard suites as permitted uses.

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.

Next comes S-TUC at 33.3%, which the City labels Transportation and Utility Corridor; only one of the 97 communities has a larger share of it. That's a third of Homestead's area held for corridor use, not house lots. M-G, about 4.6%, sits in the City's multi-residential group, and C-C1, a commercial district, drew 8 of the 38 development permit applications. S-SPR, School, Park and Community Reserve (7.2%), and S-UN, Urban Nature (5.1%), make up most of the rest. Check your own lot on the City's land use map.

Seeing a Homestead plan at full size

For a big Homestead house, a walkthrough is about whether the size works: a great room that feels like a room, a kitchen that doesn't make you walk a lap, a bonus room you'll use. For a suite, it's the opposite, checking that a small bedroom and kitchen still work. On our walkable LED floor, the plan is shown at full size, room by room, with dimension lines. A very large plan is walked a floor or a wing at a time. Movable walls, sofas, a dining table and chairs fill the rooms, and changes appear on the floor as you make them.

Sessions are quoted by the plan's size and the quote is free: see pricing or book. Other Northeast communities are on the communities hub.