Calgary Framers builds detached and attached garages across Calgary and the surrounding towns. Slab to shingles: framed walls, engineered roof trusses, sheathing, roofing, doors and windows, and the permit path from application through final inspection.
We build garages the way we frame houses, because that is the trade. Pressure-treated bottom plates on the slab, studs at 16" centres, engineered trusses set and braced to the layout, sheathing nailed to schedule. A garage is a small building, and it is judged by whether the door still runs true in year ten.
Free on-site assessment · Fixed-scope written quote · No obligation
Twelve stages, quoted as one scope and delivered by one crew, from the lot measurement to permit closure.
Studs at 16″ on centre, behind plywood sheathing. It is a small detail and it is invisible the day the door goes on, which is exactly why it is worth photographing. A garage wall framed at 24″ centres with OSB is a cheaper wall, and it is a wall that racks.
Rear-lane doubles through shop buildings and suites, framed by the crews that frame houses.
The standard Calgary rear-lane garage, in single, double or triple width.
Tied into the house structure, with the fire separation the code requires between garage and dwelling.
Deeper, wider or taller than standard, subject to the size and height limits below.
Trusses selected for a storage attic rather than a plain span.
Living space above or within the garage. A different permit path entirely.
Heated, powered, and framed for the equipment going in.
Replacing a garage that has sagged, rotted at the plate, or been struck.
Structural repair 
The figures come from the City of Calgary's requirements for garages, sheds and accessory buildings.
A building permit is required for a detached garage or similar structure larger than 10 m² (107 sq ft). Anything smaller generally does not need one, but still has to meet setback and design rules.
| Trigger | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Building area | more than 75 m² (807 sq ft) |
| Height to the highest point | more than 4.6 m (15′-1″) |
| Height to the wall–roof junction | more than 3.0 m (9′-10″) |
| Footprint vs. the house | garage larger than the existing house |
| Land use district | the building is listed as discretionary in your district |
| Design or location | anything that does not meet the bylaw, which is a relaxation request |
| From | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Rear property line | 0.6 m (1.9 ft) |
| Side property line (adjacent property) | 0.6 m (1.9 ft) |
| Side property line (to a street) | 1.2 m (3.9 ft) |
| The house (for structures over 10 m²) | 1.0 m (3.2 ft) |
| Front setback | not permitted |
75 m² is the practical ceiling. A standard double garage is roughly 41 m² and a triple roughly 66 m², both comfortably under. Push past 75 m² and you are into a development permit with a neighbour notification and appeal period attached, which is months, not weeks.
4.6 m is what constrains a loft. The height limit and the one-storey rule are why "garage with a suite above" is not a bigger version of a garage. It is a different application. Budget for that at the design stage, not after the drawings are done.
0.6 m to the rear line is tighter than it sounds. It leaves no room to work outside the wall and no tolerance for a foundation that is out by a few inches. We confirm the line against your Real Property Report before we quote. If you do not have an RPR, we will tell you, because a garage built on a guessed line is a garage that may have to move.
Development permit where one is triggered, then the building permit, and the setback line confirmed against your Real Property Report before anything is quoted.
Free on-site assessment · Fixed-scope written quote · 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., seven days a week
Twelve stages, in the order they happen on your lot. Concrete cures before framing starts, and the roof goes on before the frame sits open.
Lot measured, RPR reviewed, setbacks confirmed, lane access and grade assessed, size and height checked against the limits above.
Dimensions, roof style, door and window layout, finish selection, then a fixed-scope written quote, itemised by stage.
Development permit first where one is triggered, then the building permit.
Alberta One-Call before any excavation.
Excavation, base prep, forms, reinforcement and pour. Concrete cures before framing starts. This is not a stage to compress.
Pressure-treated bottom plate anchored to the slab, studs at 16″ o.c., headers over the overhead door and service openings, walls plumbed and lined.
Engineered trusses set to the layout, braced permanently, tied down.
Roof sheathed, underlayment and shingles on, so the structure is dried in.
Overhead door installed, service door and windows fitted, flashed and sealed.
Cladding, soffit, fascia, trim.
by a licensed electrician under permit.
Permit closed, site cleaned, written workmanship warranty issued.
Typical timeline: three to five weeks on site for a standard detached double, once permits are issued. The permit turnaround, not the build, is usually the longest part of the schedule, and a development permit adds materially to it.
A garage package is a fixed scope at a fixed price, which is what most homeowners actually want when they ask what a garage costs. Ours are quoted three ways.
Slab, framing, trusses, sheathing, roofing and the overhead door opening framed. You finish it.
The shell plus overhead door, service door, windows, exterior finish, and permitted electrical. Turn the key and park in it.
The above plus interior sheathing, insulation and built-in storage.
Every package is itemised so you can see what moves the number, and the figure on the quote is the figure on the invoice unless the scope changes in writing.
A garage suite is a self-contained dwelling above or attached to a garage, and it is the most heavily regulated thing on this page.
Because a standard accessory building is capped at one storey and 4.6 m, a suite generally needs a development permit from the outset, along with the building permit and all trade permits. It also has to satisfy the National Building Code – Alberta Edition on fire separation, egress, ceiling height, alarms and ventilation, and pass Safety Codes inspection before it can legally be occupied.
We handle the full path (development permit, building permit, trade permits, inspections) and coordinate the engineer where a stamped design is required. If the living space you want is attached to the house rather than over the garage, that is a home addition and a different conversation.
Decide on a suite before the slab is poured, not after. The foundation, the wall framing, the stair location and the floor system are all different when there is living space above. Retrofitting a suite onto a garage built as a garage usually means demolishing most of it.
Most garages are storage buildings that occasionally hold a car. We build the inside accordingly.
Plywood walls you can fasten to anywhere, shelving framed into the structure, and a workbench built in rather than bought.
This is the part people wish they had specified at quote stage. Bring it up at the site visit: backing and blocking for shelving costs almost nothing while the walls are open and is a nuisance to add afterwards.
We quote on site rather than publishing a price, because these are the variables that actually move the number.
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Footprint | Single, double or triple. The largest single driver |
| Slab and site prep | Excavation depth, base material, and how far off level the lot sits |
| Lane and site access | A tight lane or a landlocked backyard adds labour on every delivery |
| Roof style and pitch | A simple gable is cheaper than a hip; a steeper pitch adds material and labour |
| Height | Standard versus oversized door height, and whether an attic is framed |
| Exterior finish | Matching existing Hardie or stucco costs more than new vinyl |
| Doors and windows | Door count, size, insulation rating and opener |
| Electrical | Lighting only, versus a subpanel, heater circuit or EV charger |
| Interior finish | Bare frame versus sheathed, insulated and shelved |
| Permit path | A building permit alone, versus a development permit with a relaxation |
| Demolition | Removing an existing garage and disposing of it |
One honest note on price: the cheapest garage quote in Calgary is usually cheap in the slab and the trusses. Both are invisible once the door is on, and both are what fail. Ask any bidder what the slab thickness and edge detail are, and whether the trusses are engineered to the span and the snow load or site-built to the eye.
Calgary (all quadrants, inner-city rear-lane lots through newer suburban builds) plus the surrounding communities:
Accessory building rules differ outside Calgary city limits. Rocky View County and Foothills County in particular allow considerably larger structures than the 75 m² city limit. We confirm the applicable authority and its current rules before quoting.
The crews that frame the walls set the trusses and put the roof on, the same rough carpentry crews that frame houses. That removes the two handoffs where a garage build usually stalls, and the gap where a frame sits open to the weather waiting on a roofer.
Real Property Report at quote stage, every time. With a 0.6 m rear setback there is no margin for a guess.
Delivered to a layout, set to the layout, braced and tied down. Photographed on every build.
Itemised by stage, with a written workmanship warranty issued on handover.
Clearance letters and certificates of insurance are available on request. Call (587) 355-2799 or email [email protected].
Reviews from Calgary homeowners we have built for.
They recently did a fantastic custom framing job for my new deck, and I couldn’t be happier. The attention to detail and craftsmanship were top-notch. Not only did they deliver a sturdy and beautiful frame, but they also took the time to understand my vision and bring it to life.
They transformed my outdoor space, and the framing work they did was absolutely flawless. From the initial consultation to the final touches, their team was professional and efficient. If you’re looking for a reliable and skilled deck builder, look no further than Calgary Framers.
They recently built a fence for my property, and I’m beyond impressed with the quality of their workmanship. The framing of the fence is solid and durable, providing both privacy and security for my home. The team was friendly, professional, and completed the project in a timely manner.
Still unsure? Call (587) 355-2799, 7am–7pm, 7 days. We would rather answer a question now than quote the wrong scope later.
Ask us about your projectYes. A building permit is required for any detached garage larger than 10 m² (107 sq ft), which is every real garage. A development permit is additionally required if the garage exceeds 75 m², is taller than 4.6 m, is taller than 3.0 m at the wall–roof junction, is larger than your house, or does not otherwise meet the bylaw. We prepare and submit both.
Without a development permit, accessory buildings together cannot exceed 75 m² (807 sq ft) or your house footprint, whichever governs, and parcel coverage limits of 40–60% apply depending on your district. A standard double is about 41 m² and a triple about 66 m², so most builds fit. Going bigger is possible. It just becomes a development permit with a notification and appeal period.
Minimum 0.6 m from the rear and side property lines, 1.2 m from a side line facing a street, and 1.0 m from the house. Garages are not permitted in the front setback. We confirm the actual line against your Real Property Report before quoting.
4.6 m (15′-1″) to the highest point and 3.0 m (9′-10″) to the eaveline, one storey, with an attic up to 1.5 m. Anything above that needs a development permit, which is why a loft or suite is a different application from the start.
Yes, but plan it from the beginning. A garage suite needs a development permit as well as building and trade permits, and has to meet the Alberta building code on fire separation, egress, ceiling height and alarms before it can be occupied. The foundation and framing are different from day one, so retrofitting one later usually means starting over.
It depends on footprint, slab and site prep, roof style, door and window count, exterior finish, electrical scope and interior finish. We quote on site in writing with every stage itemised, rather than publishing a number that would not apply to your lot.
About three to five weeks on site for a standard detached double once permits are issued. Permit turnaround at the City sits ahead of that and is the least predictable part, and a development permit adds materially.
Yes. Demolition and disposal can be included in the quote, along with any slab removal.
Yes. Roof pitch, shingle, cladding, soffit, fascia and trim. Matching existing Hardie board or stucco costs more than new vinyl, and we will tell you the difference at quote stage rather than after.
Yes. Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane, Okotoks, Strathmore, High River and the surrounding counties. Rural districts often allow much larger accessory buildings than the city does.
Tell us what you are planning. We will come out, look at the site, and put a fixed-scope quote in writing, with the scope itemised so you can see exactly what moves the number.
We reply within one business day, seven days a week.
We've received your request and will get back to you within one business day. Need to talk sooner? Call us at +1 (587) 355-2799.
New decks, elevated and walkout builds, covered decks and structural deck repair. Piles below frost, flashed ledgers, code-height guards.
Deck builders in CalgaryWood, cedar, vinyl and chain link, built to Land Use Bylaw heights with posts set below frost depth.
Fence builders in CalgaryFraming to finished basement, including legal secondary suites, egress windows and beam work.
Basement development in CalgaryRear additions, second storeys, bump-outs and garage conversions, foundation through roof tie-in.
Home additions in CalgaryFire, water and impact damage rebuilds, load-bearing wall removal, beam and joist repair.
Structural repairs in CalgaryFree on-site assessment. Fixed-scope written quote, itemised by stage. Permits handled by us.
Free on-site assessment · Fixed-scope written quote · 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., seven days a week
