Ogden, Calgary: a third of the Southeast's backyard suites

Ogden is the Southeast sector's older community, and it builds like one. City of Calgary open data shows 9 backyard suite permits issued in Ogden from January 2023 to 29 September 2026, more than any other Southeast community and 35% of the sector's 26. Ogden is the only Southeast community the City classes as built in the 1950s, and R-CG, the district for rowhouses and suites, drew 100 of its 186 development permit applications.

Can you build a backyard suite in Ogden?

Yes, with a development permit in most of the community. As of October 2026, a backyard suite is discretionary in R-C1, R-C2 and R-CG, the districts that cover most Ogden homes, according to the site's backyard suites guide.

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.

Ogden's backyard suites came through at a steady pace: 3 in 2023, 2 in 2024, 3 in 2025 and 1 so far in 2026. Their median declared value was $135,706, which is what applicants wrote on the permit and runs below a builder's real price. The median took 72 days from application to issue, longer than most Ogden work.

Suites inside houses are more common. The City issued 16 permits for altering existing space into a suite, with a median declared value of $66,807 and a median 21.5 days to issue, plus 4 for suites built as new construction, and owners filed 28 suite development permit applications. Since 4 August 2026, a lot can hold one suite, so an Ogden owner picks a basement suite or a backyard suite, not both; the legal basement suite guide covers the basement route.

What else are Ogden owners building?

Renovations and garages lead. The City issued 79 renovations and 58 detached garages, with 24 basement developments, 16 semi-detached homes and 8 rowhouse or townhouse permits.

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.

Renovations held between 16 and 24 a year, and their low median declared value of $5,750 suggests many were smaller jobs. Garages ran 15, 17, 13 and 13. Garage permits had a median declared value of $46,677 and a median 14 days to issue; the detached garage cost guide has 2026 prices, and since the City's backyard suite classes include a suite built above a detached garage, the garage size guide is worth a look before you draw one.

Only 4 new single-detached houses were permitted. New housing here comes as semi-detached pairs and rowhouses. All declared values in this table are the applicant's own figures and run below real costs.

Why does R-CG dominate Ogden's development permits?

The data shows where, not why. R-CG took 100 of 186 applications, even though it isn't among the five largest districts by area. The Land Use Bylaw says R-CG accommodates rowhouses, townhouses, semi-detached homes and "Secondary Suites and Backyard Suites" (Land Use Bylaw 1P2007, s.525).

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.

By area, R-C2 is the largest district at 31.1% of Ogden and R-C1 covers 17.8%. S-R, a recreation district, takes 19.2% and S-SPR 10.2%, and special purpose districts cover 38.4% in all. M-C1, a multi-residential district, covers 4.2%. Development permits took a median 49 days to a decision, and 129 of 130 decided applications were approved. Check your own parcel on the City's land use map.

Who lives in Ogden?

Smaller households in an older housing stock. The 2021 census counted 8,315 people in 3,740 households, averaging 2.2 people, and 32% 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 2,142 single-detached homes (55% of dwellings), 515 duplex units and 549 townhouses, and 55% of dwellings were owner-occupied. The 330 converted structures were the 19th highest share of 87 communities. With many one- and two-person households, the data suggests a backyard suite with one bedroom will suit Ogden's renters, though that's a reading of the census, not a guarantee.

Seeing an Ogden backyard suite at full size

A backyard suite has to fit a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living space into a small footprint, often over a garage. At the studio, the whole suite is lit at full size on a walkable LED floor, so you can walk in from the lane door, climb the stair line, and see how much room is left at the top. The sofa, dining table and bathtub on wheels show what fits.

The elevations go up on a wall-size screen, useful for checking the height of a suite above a garage. Changes appear on the floor during the session, and the recording is yours to keep. Send a PDF or DWG at least three days ahead. The quote is free and based on plan size: see pricing, book, or go back to the communities hub.