Permission to Permit
The Permission to Permit program allows the pre-payment of two fees:
- Pavement Degradation: charged to offset the increased repair and maintenance costs caused by excavating asphalt, and
- Top Lift Paving fees: charged on roads classified in good condition, to restore the road surface so it lasts the projected lifetime.
These two fees are usually charged on a per-permit, per-cut basis. A Permission to Permit enables these two fees to be pre-paid at a flat rate on a project basis. The advantage is the permit holder knows up front what the excavation costs are for the project.
Projects that Qualify for Pre-payment through Permission to Permit:
In response to recent input and engagement from our Developer and Contractor customers, we have expanded the scope of projects that qualify for the Permission to Permit service.
Projects that qualify will now include all planned work to install underground services to a property, which
- Is being developed or re-developed under the conditions of a valid City of Calgary Development Permit and Building Permit; and
- Where the total excavated area within the Road right-of-way will not exceed 250 m2
The previous restrictions on Lot Size (15.25m) and Property type (Single Residential only) will no longer apply. The previous fee adjustments for Corner Lot properties has also been removed going forward.
Permission to Permit Fees
A Permission to Permit allows homeowners, general contractors and developers to pre-pay Pavement Degradation and Top Lift Paving at a flat rate on a project basis rather than per-permit and per-cut.
However, Pavement Degradation fees apply to every Permission to Permit but Top Lift Paving fees are only charged if the road is classified in good condition which means it has a Visual Condition Index (VCI) rating of 7 or greater. Use the map below to find VCI and Road Classification ratings.
| Total Excavated Area | Pavement Degradation Fee |
|---|---|
|
1 - 100 m2 |
$2278.95 |
|
101 - 150 m2 |
$3459.00 |
|
151 - 200 m2 |
$4604.69 |
|
201 – 250 m2 |
$5750.35 |
Note: fees will be implemented for new applications starting April 1, 2023
| Maximum restoration area | Local Roads | Collector Roads | Arterial Roads |
|---|---|---|---|
|
100 m2 |
$4,557.85 | $5,757.30 | $6,956.70 |
|
150 m2 |
$6,840.95 | $8,642.05 | $10,437.65 |
|
200 m2 |
$9,011.10 | $11,412.60 | $13,814.05 |
|
250 m2 |
$11,280.40 | $14,282.25 | $17,278.60 |
Contact information
Email the Excavation Permit Office if you have any questions.
Timelines
The Excavation Permit Office will respond to all email inquiries within two business days.
Note: Each Permission to Permit expires on December 31st of the year it was issued.
Related Information
How to Apply
To apply for a Permission to Permit, email a completed Permission to Permit Application form. You will be contacted for payment within two business days.
Please note, payment is completed online through your Calgary myID account. To set-up a myID account go to calgary.ca/myid or contact 311.
Frequently Asked Questions
General information
What is the road right-of way?
The road right-of-way is public property designated for use by traffic and pedestrians, as well as underground locations for utilities. The road right-of-way includes:
- City streets – asphalt and concrete;
- City sidewalks, curbs and gutters;
- Driveway crossings and wheelchair ramps;
- Back lanes/alleys, and engineered walkways;
- The area between the property line and the sidewalk, or sidewalk not separated by a sidewalk or pathway;
- The area between the sidewalk and the curb;
- The area separating roadway lanes, such as medians and islands;
- The greenspace adjacent to closed/gated roads/lanes; and
- The area within traffic circles and roundabouts.
Where can I find the classification for my road?
Use the Calgary Roadway Classification and Visual Condition Index Map to search your location and see the road classification of every road in Calgary.
Click on the road you are interested in to view its classification.
What is the Visual Condition Index (VCI) rating used for roads?
The Visual Condition Index (VCI) is the measurement of the pavement condition of a specific section of road. A roadway in good condition is given a VCI equal to or greater than seven. Learn more about how the City of Calgary measures road quality at pavement quality evaluation.
How do I find out if my location has pavement with a VCI of 7 or greater?
Use the Calgary Roadway Classification and Visual Condition Index Map to see if your location has a VCI of seven or greater.
Permission to Permit FAQs
When do I need to get my Permission to Permit?
We require that you get a Permission to Permit at the start of your project, before any excavation into the road right-of way begins.
I want to know how much a Permission to Permit for my project will cost before I apply, can I get an estimate?
Yes, if you would like an estimate for a Permission to Permit, please e-mail a completed Permission to Permit Application to the Excavation Permit Office, EPO@calgary.ca. Please note, this will be an estimate only; fees may vary at the time of application.
The Excavation Permit Office will contact you within two business days.
What do I do with my Permission to Permit once I receive it?
Give your Permission to Permit number to all contractors and utilities who are excavating on your behalf before they start their excavation work for your project.
Your contractor and utilities need to provide a valid Permission to Permit number as part of their Excavation Permit application to ensure that they are not charged Pavement Degradation Fees and/or Top Lift Paving Fees on a per cut basis.
What happens if a valid Permission to Permit number isn’t included in an Excavation Permit return?
If your contractor or utility does not submit a valid Permission to Permit number as part of their Excavation Permit application, Pavement Degradation and, if applicable, Top Lift Paving fees will be billed to the permit on a per-permit and per-excavation basis.
What happens if the total area of asphalt excavated exceeds the size I pre-paid for?
When does my Permission to Permit expire? Can I renew it?
Every Permission to Permit expires on December 31st of the year it is issued.
To renew your Permission to Permit, submit an e-mail request to the Excavation Permit Office prior to the expiry date. There is no charge for renewal.