Project Background

Airdrie is exploring a change to residential zoning that would allow up to four homes on one residential lot in more areas across the city. Currently, many residential areas already allow up to three homes per lot (for example: a main dwelling, a basement suite and a garage suite). This change would allow for one additional home on a lot.


Often called flexible zoning or gentle density, this is not the same as building high-rises or creating apartment districts. Instead, this type of flexible zoning seeks to offer more housing choices for different life stages and budgets to support affordability with options like suites, duplexes, small fourplexes and townhomes.

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City of Airdrie Planning Team

The City’s Planning Team supports the Airdrie community by guiding thoughtful growth, reviewing development proposals, and exploring creative planning and design solutions that support a healthy choice and a sustainable future for our city.

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Gentle density housing types

Allowing up to four homes on a lot can look different depending on the property and design rules. Examples can include:

Single family home with basement, garage suite and garden suite

Small fourplex building

Side-by-side duplex with basement suite in each half

Townhome-style row housing with four attached units

Why four homes on a lot?

Many factors influence housing affordability - and the Affordable Housing Principled Action Plan identifies increases to diverse housing types as a key contributor to improving affordability of housing in the city. We are exploring this option because it can help Airdrie:

  • Offer more housing choices for residents at different life stages and budgets
  • Support affordability by adding more options like suites, duplexes, fourplexes and townhomes
  • Use existing infrastructure more effectively (roads, pipes, parks, emergency services) instead of requiring new infrastructure on the edge of the city
  • Protect farmland and natural areas by reducing urban sprawl
  • Access federal funding that is linked to zoning that allows up to four homes per lot