Calgary Industrial Zoning Explained: I-G, I-C, I-B, I-H, I-E, I-R and I-O

The industrial districts, by share of Calgary's industrial stock

Across 6,205 industrial assessment accounts, the designations break down like this:

• I-G — 4,018 accounts. I-G is an industrial designation that is primarily for a wide range of general industrial uses.
• DC — 933 accounts. A Direct Control (DC) is a customized land use designation. It has a list of allowable uses and a set of rules specific to a particular property or development. Most DC designations include a cross-reference to the rules of one of the standard designations of the Land Use Bylaw (e.g. R-1, R-2, I-G, etc.).
• I-R — 376 accounts. I-R is an industrial designation applied to seven older industrial areas that were developed before current land use standards were introduced. Properties in these areas often have significant development constraints that affect matters such as parking, access and landscaping.
• I-C — 367 accounts. I-C is an industrial designation that allows light industrial and limited small-scale commercial uses that are compatible with adjacent industrial areas.
• I-B — 124 accounts. I-B is an industrial designation that is primarily for business park uses with high quality buildings in a campus-like setting, typically in highly visible locations next to major roadways.
• I-E — 83 accounts. I-E is an industrial designation that allows a limited range of low impact light industrial uses that are suitable in close proximity to residential areas.
• S-FUD — 78 accounts. The S-FUD designation is primarily for lands that are awaiting urban development and is largely limited to uses that can easily be removed to allow for future urban development.
• C-COR3 — 48 accounts. C-COR3 is a commercial corridor designation that is primarily for commercial uses along major roadways. Residential uses are not allowed.
• I-H — 47 accounts. I-H is a heavy industrial designation that is primarily for large, purpose built heavy industrial developments that typically locate close to hazardous goods routes and rail lines.
• I-O — 32 accounts. I-O is an industrial designation that is primarily for outdoor storage, salvage and equipment yard uses on land that has limited or no municipal services.

How to read them in practice

I-G — Industrial General

The workhorse. 4,018 of Calgary's industrial accounts carry it — 65% of the stock. It is designed for a broad range of general industrial uses, and it is where most conventional warehouse, distribution and light manufacturing operations sit comfortably. Median site area in I-G is 87K sq ft, and the median construction year is 1989.

I-C — Industrial Commercial

367 accounts. Lighter industrial with limited small-scale commercial uses that sit comfortably beside industrial neighbours. Often the right district for businesses that need a warehouse but also want a customer-facing counter, showroom or trade desk. Median site area 95K sq ft.

I-B — Industrial Business

124 accounts. Business-park character — typically newer, more office content, more restrictive on outdoor storage and heavier operations. Median construction year 2014, which is the tell: this is a newer-stock district.

I-H — Industrial Heavy

Only 47 accounts city-wide, on a median site of 175K sq ft. Heavy industrial is scarce and lumpy in Calgary. If your operation genuinely needs it — heavy processing, significant outdoor operations, higher-impact uses — the search geography narrows sharply and should start from the designation rather than from buildings.

I-E — Industrial Edge

83 accounts. Transitional land where industrial meets other uses, generally with tighter controls on appearance and impact.

I-R — Industrial Redevelopment

376 accounts, median construction year 1972. Older industrial areas anticipated to change over time. Worth understanding if you are signing a long lease — the surrounding context may not stay industrial.

I-O — Industrial Outdoor

32 accounts, median site area 195K sq ft. Where outdoor storage and yard-intensive operations are contemplated by the district itself rather than tolerated as an accessory.

Direct Control (DC)

933 accounts sit in a Direct Control district. DC is not a standard district with a published rulebook you can look up in the same way — each DC bylaw is site-specific and written for a particular development. If a property you are considering is DC, you must read the specific DC bylaw for that site. Nothing can be assumed from the two letters.

Combined and split designations

60 accounts carry more than one designation, because the parcel straddles a district boundary. Those are shown here with both codes joined, for example DC,I-G. On a split parcel, what you can do depends on where on the site you want to do it.

The limit of a designation

A land-use designation tells you the district a parcel sits in. It does not tell you that a specific use is approved, that a development permit will be granted, or that an existing operation is legally conforming. Uses can be discretionary rather than permitted; a development permit may be required; conditions can attach; and long-standing operations may be non-conforming. Before committing to a site for a specific operation, confirm the current designation and use with The City of Calgary and, where the stakes justify it, with a land-use planner or lawyer.