In general, amendments (or redesignations) involve already existing land use districts, and applicants must use the most appropriate district whenever possible.

• Direct Control Districts should only be used when a development’s unique characteristics, innovative ideas or unusual site constraints require specific regulations that are not available in another land use district.
• A Direct Control has a specific, unique set of uses and rules that alter the one of the existing land use districts to accommodate a particular development. Direct Control districts have their own bylaw number.
• See more information on existing Direct Control Districts.

Due to the complex and sometimes controversial nature of Land Use Amendments, pre-application enquiries are recommended. They can help highlight major issues with the proposal and identify additional technical information that will be required with the formal application. Applicants may find a pre-application meeting helpful, prior to formal application.

There are two different types of pre-application services:

Simple Pre-Applications: Contact the Planning Services Centre at (403) 268-5311 or calgary.ca/livechat. There is no fee for enquiries that can be addressed by phone or e-mail.

Development Approvals Review Team (DART) Pre-Applications: To start your application, contact the Planning Services Centre at (403) 268-5311 or calgary.ca/livechat. When representatives from Parks and Open Spaces, Mobility Engineering, and Utility Engineering are required to review your proposal, this is considered a Development Approvals Review Team (DART) pre-application meeting.

For more information, see pre-application meetings.

The Land Use Amendment fee is based on the property size and the district that is being proposed.

Fees for a Land Use Amendment allowing a secondary suite in a 2P80DC are currently waived.

The processing time depends on the type and complexity of the application. Land Use Amendment applications take a minimum of three months and usually about six months to process. It may be longer if there are difficult policy or technical issues that need to be resolved.

Council’s decision is final and binding. There is no opportunity to appeal Council’s decision, unless the appeal is based on a matter of law (e.g. legally binding procedures were not followed).

Depending on the complexity of the proposed redesignation, a property owner may be able to apply for redesignation on their own. In more complex cases, an external professional can be hired to help with the process. 

Outline Plans are usually processed together with the Land Use Amendment. It is the process of proposing subdivision plans that show:

• Block patterns
• Hierarchy of roadways
• Distribution of open space in a new area

For more information, visit Outline Plans. 

The following information will help you prepare your application. Use this information to help make sure your application meets the City’s requirements.

Before you make a Land Use Amendment application, consider:

• Connecting with neighbours, the community association and your ward councilor. Changing a property’s land use district may have implications for adjacent properties. For this reason, The City allows those who will be affected to make their concerns known. Please visit calgary.ca/planningoutreach​ for guidance on how to approach community outreach with those impacted by your project.
• The time and cost involved in this type of application. If you are unsure of the potential fees, view the fee schedule​.
• Consulting with The City to ensure you have chosen the most appropriate land use district.
• Reviewing your application to ensure it is complete and accurate.

The following items are all required for your application to be reviewed. Missing information will result in delays in processing your application.

1. Application Form
   • include the municipal and legal address and area of all properties included in the amendment
   • Provide contact information for the Owner and the Applicant
   • Indicate which Land Use Districts are being proposed, the current land use district and area of land being amended (in hectares)
2. Current copy of the Certificate of Title and registered documents for each property
   • Include Restrictive Covenants, Utility Rights-of-Way, Easements and City Caveats registered to each property
   • You can obtain these online or in person through the Alberta Land Titles office
3. Letter of Authorization
   • Needs to be from the registered owner of the land
   • If the Owner of the property is a company, include the directors of the company
   • We recommend filling out our sample letter of authorization
   • You can use your own letter, but it must contain all the information indicated in the sample letter
4. Colour Photographs
   • Minimum of four different views of the subject property or properties
5. Site Contamination Statement
6. Abandoned Well Declaration Form
   • A map of the subject property showing the presence or absence of Abandoned Well Locations on GeoDiscover Alberta’s Map Viewer must be included with the form
   • Reference the User Guide to finding abandoned wells for more information on how to locate your property
7. Climate Resilience Inventory form
   • For help completing this form, refer to the Climate Resilience Inventory User Guide
8. Applicant Outreach Summary
   • For help completing this form, refer to the outreach toolkit
9. Applicant Submission
   • Provide a description of the proposal and planning justification in support of the application
   • Use the Applicant Submission Form or provide your own letter
10. Site Plan
    • The site plan must show the land involved in the application as well as all development within a 90-metre radius of the property. The site plan must be to scale.
    • Use Development Map to find developments around the subject property

After you’ve submitted these minimum requirements, your application will be processed and reviewed.

Following the initial review of the application, additional technical information may be requested.

Re-application

When a Land Use Amendment application has been refused by Council or withdrawn by the applicant after advertisement, the same application or a similar change in land use designation may not be reapplied for on the same property until six months has passed.​​​