The Alberta government is directing Calgary to maintain the low-density zoning rules it brought back by repealing blanket rezoning until it completes a broader review of its land-use bylaw. The order, announced Thursday, requires Calgary to create a zoning overlay identifying properties returned to their previous low-density residential zones. The province says requirements around housing types, building heights and parking will remain in place during the review, expected to be completed in 2027. Calgary council approved the repeal of citywide rezoning in April, with changes taking effect Aug. 4. Affected properties returned to their previous zoning, with exemptions for certain development applications and approvals. The provincial government says its approach responds to concerns about parking, traffic, building scale and whether utilities and other infrastructure can support additional housing in established neighbourhoods. “I think what happened here is that governments changed the rules, did not get the buy-in,” Premier Danielle Smith said at Thursday’s announcement. On Friday, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas called the province’s actions a disturbing attack on local democracy. Farkas says while the order from Premier Danielle Smith’s government is not asking Calgary to do the same on this issue, there’s nothing stopping the province from imposing its will on his city on another matter. He says it’s important to respect the mandate given to municipal leaders to make decisions deemed best for their citizens. Edmonton ordered to roll back zoning changes The province’s direction requires more extensive changes in Edmonton, which now has three months to amend its zoning bylaw. Edmonton must return to the parameters for housing types, density and height that existed before its 2024 zoning changes, and restore minimum on-site parking requirements from before 2020. The city must also undertake an 18-month review. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack said the directive would make the city less affordable, increase property taxes and create uncertainty. Alberta Municipalities, which represents 264 municipalities, is also calling on the province to rescind the order. In a statement issued Thursday, the association described the intervention as an erosion of local democracy and said elected municipal councils should retain authority over neighbourhood planning. “Local councils share provincial goals of building safe, affordable, and prosperous communities. But local decisions belong at the local level,” the statement said. With files from the Canadian Press
