Calgary's Fastest-Growing Communities: Where the City Is Expanding in 2026

Calgary added approximately 69,000 residents between April 2023 and April 2024, pushing the city past 1.49 million people (City of Calgary Population Outlook). Much of that growth is landing in brand-new suburban communities on the city's north, south, and west edges. As of mid-2025, 22 new communities were approved and under development, with nine more applications in review. Here is a data-driven look at the fastest-growing communities and what you need to know before moving to one.

The North: Cornerstone, Glacier Ridge, and Livingston

Cornerstone

Cornerstone is a 1,002-acre master-planned community in Calgary's far northeast, managed by Anthem United in partnership with Walton Development. It offers single-family homes, townhomes, and duplexes and consistently leads Calgary in residential building permits. As of January 2026, the median list price was $604,900 across 86 active listings (Zolo).

What's built: Highstreet at Cornerstone commercial centre (FreshCo, Shoppers Drug Mart, Dollarama, PetValu), K-8 school, pathways, playgrounds, and stormwater ponds. Creekside Shopping Centre (371,000+ sq ft, anchored by Co-op) is a short drive west along Symons Valley Road.

Moving notes: Wide new-build streets and standard double garages make truck access easy. Active construction phases can mean gravel roads and mud in spring — confirm your driveway and sidewalk are fully poured before scheduling movers. GPS may not have the newest streets mapped; share a pin drop or builder site map with your moving crew. The community is 25 to 30 minutes from downtown, which adds transit time on hourly-rate moves. See our Calgary moving cost guide for how distance affects pricing.

Glacier Ridge

Northwest Calgary's newest major community, Glacier Ridge sits north of Evanston along Symons Valley Road. At 832 acres with a planned 6,000 homes, five school sites, and 10 km of walking trails, it's one of Calgary's largest active developments. It's developed by Anthem in partnership with Ronmor, with builders including Jayman BUILT, Cedarglen Homes, Morrison Homes, Trico Homes, and Shane Homes.

What's built: Early housing phases are occupied. The Village — the community's private amenity centre with a splash park, hockey rink, playground, gymnasium, and banquet room — is opening in early 2026. Residents currently rely on Evanston and Creekside shopping centres for daily needs.

Moving notes: Very new development means construction equipment and temporary roads are common. GPS may not have all streets mapped yet. Get specific directions from your builder and share them with your moving crew. Stunning Rocky Mountain views, but elevation changes can be significant — ask your movers about stair carries if your lot sits on a coulee.

Livingston

One of Calgary's fastest-selling communities, Livingston is in the far north along Centre Street, developed by Brookfield Residential. The community's area structure plan was approved in December 2012, and at full build-out it's projected to house 30,000 residents. Homes range from $329,900 to $918,000 (Zolo), with proximity to CrossIron Mills mall and the QE2 highway to Edmonton.

What's built: K-9 schools, an extensive pathway system, commercial retail, and a recreation centre in the area plan. Livingston has matured faster than most new communities — it won BILD Calgary's Community of the Year award in 2017.

Moving notes: Wide streets and standard new-build access. The distance from central Calgary (25 to 30 minutes to downtown) means longer transit times for movers, which affects hourly costs on moves from the south or west. If you're coming from another province, our newcomer guide covers everything from Alberta Health registration to driver's licence transfers.

The South: Seton, Legacy, and Belmont

Seton

Calgary's designated Urban District in the deep southeast, Seton is being built by Brookfield Residential as a self-contained city-within-a-city. With the South Health Campus hospital, the Brookfield Residential YMCA, and a rapidly growing commercial core, it's one of the most complete new communities in Calgary.

What's built: South Health Campus (4448 Front St SE), YMCA with climbing wall and aquatics, cinema, grocery stores, extensive retail, and Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School — a $45-million, 1,800-student school on 25 acres, LEED Gold certified and the largest high school in Alberta when it opened in 2018 (Alberta Major Projects).

Moving notes: Good access via Deerfoot Trail and 52nd Street SE. Multi-family residential (condos and apartments) in the urban core may require elevator booking and a Certificate of Insurance — check our Calgary condo moving guide for details. Seton's density means parking can be tight; plan your loading zone in advance.

Legacy

South of Fish Creek Provincial Park, Legacy is developed by WestCreek Homes and features extensive pathways, 300 acres of environmental reserve with creeks and forests, and affordable family homes. It's been one of Calgary's top-selling communities for several years running. Listings range from $280,000 for condos to over $1.9 million for large single-family homes, with an average listing price of $598,000 — about 10% below the Calgary average (Zolo).

Moving notes: Located at Calgary's southern edge, Legacy is 30 to 35 minutes from downtown. Moves from the north side of the city will have significant transit time. Wide suburban streets make truck access easy. The community is approaching maturity with most phases complete.

Belmont

West of Legacy, Belmont is developed by Anthem United (Anthem Properties' land development division) and is growing rapidly. It offers some of the most affordable new-build pricing in Calgary's south, attracting first-time buyers and young families.

Moving notes: Still in active development — confirm road access to your specific lot before move day. Construction vehicles and temporary detours are common in newer phases. Nearby amenities include the South Health Campus and Trico Centre for Family Wellness (11150 Bonaventure Dr SE).

The West: Harmony and Haskayne

Harmony

Located in Springbank (Rocky View County), just 8 minutes west of Calgary via the Trans-Canada Highway, Harmony is a 1,748-acre master-planned community developed by Bordeaux Developments and Qualico Communities. At completion, it will have approximately 4,480 residences across estate, family, urban-style, and multifamily homes, with a projected 25-year build-out. Harmony has won BILD Calgary's Community of the Year seven times (BILD Awards).

Amenities: Two freshwater lakes, 25 km of trails, the Mickelson National Golf Course (Phil Mickelson's first signature course in Canada), and a planned Nordik Spa in the Village Centre. 140+ acres of recreational lake and wetland.

Moving notes: Harmony is technically in Rocky View County, not Calgary — this can affect utility providers, property taxes, and municipal services. Stoney Trail construction nearby may affect access from the east. Check our Calgary construction detour guide before your move day. The community is about 23 km west of downtown Calgary.

Haskayne (Rockland Park)

In Calgary's northwest, the Haskayne Area Structure Plan (approved June 2015) is home to Rockland Park, developed by Brookfield Residential. The community spans 465 acres (188 hectares) with 80 acres of environmental reserve, and is planned for approximately 8,900 residents in 2,271 units — a mix of single-family and multi-residential homes.

Moving notes: Brand-new community — expect construction traffic and limited commercial amenities. Proximity to Stoney Trail and the planned Green Line LRT extension (long-term) is a selling point, but neither is fully built out yet. Confirm road access with your builder before scheduling movers.

Why Calgary Is Building So Fast

Calgary isn't just growing — it's building at a pace that outstrips most Canadian cities. In Q2 2025 alone, Calgary recorded 7,157 housing starts, a 55.6% increase over the same quarter in 2024 (CMHC). CMHC data shows Calgary had the highest housing starts per 10,000 residents of any major Canadian city in 2025 — nearly a record high.

In 2024, the City issued approximately 25,000 building permits (Open Data Calgary). Cornerstone, Livingston, and Saddle Ridge consistently lead the city for residential permits. Council continues to approve new community applications — in April 2025 alone, the Infrastructure and Planning Committee reviewed five growth applications that would make room for 18,000+ boundary-area homes (City of Calgary).

What to Know Before Moving to a New-Build Community

Confirm Your Possession Date

Builder delays are common in fast-growing markets. Do not book movers until you have your possession letter in hand. Under Alberta's New Home Buyer Protection Act, all new homes must be enrolled with a warranty provider before construction begins. The standard ANHWP 1-2-5-10 warranty covers materials and labour for 1 year, delivery systems (heating, electrical, plumbing) for 2 years, building envelope for 5 years, and structural for 10 years (ANHWP). Coverage limits: the lesser of purchase price (excluding land) and $265,000 for single-family, $130,000 for condos.

Check Road Conditions

Some lots in active development phases only have temporary gravel roads. A 5-ton moving truck can handle gravel, but mud after rain or snowmelt is a different story. After subdivision construction is completed, the developer must maintain roads for two years before the City inspects and takes over (City of Calgary). That means roads in the newest phases may not be City-maintained yet.

GPS May Not Work

Streets in the newest development phases often aren't in Google Maps or Apple Maps yet. Share a pin drop or builder site map with your moving company — our dispatch team cross-references builder maps with satellite imagery to plan routes into communities where GPS falls short.

Protect New Floors

New homes often have builder-grade hardwood or laminate that scratches easily. Ask your movers to use floor runners and furniture pads. Our crews do this automatically — and we carry Masonite sheets for hallways and elevator lobbies in multi-family buildings.

Expect Longer Transit Times

These communities are on Calgary's edges. A move from the inner city to Cornerstone or Legacy is 30 to 40 minutes each way, which adds 1 to 1.5 hours of transit time on an hourly-rate move. Our best times to move guide breaks down how timing and distance affect your final cost.

Understand Off-Site Levies

New-build homes in greenfield areas carry off-site levies that fund roads, transit, emergency services, recreation, and utilities — averaging $22,600 per housing unit under the current bylaw ($609,000 per hectare, updated March 2024). Established areas pay levies only for water and wastewater treatment (City of Calgary Off-Site Levies). This doesn't affect your moving day, but it's built into the price of your new home.

Truck Route Rules Apply

Under Calgary's Truck Route Bylaw 60M90, vehicles over 5,450 kg are restricted to designated truck routes except when making local deliveries. Most 5-ton moving trucks are under this limit, but 26-foot trucks may exceed it when loaded. Our dispatch team plans routes that comply with truck restrictions — see our parking permits guide for more on permits and regulations.

Seasonal Considerations

Roughly 80% of Canadian moves happen between May and September. In new-build communities, summer moves are even more congested because builders cluster possession dates during warmer months. Key things to consider:

• Summer (May to September): Peak construction activity means more trucks, more road closures, and more competition for movers. Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead.

• Winter (November to March): Better availability and lower rates, but snow and ice can complicate access in communities where roads aren't fully paved. Calgary's winter moving guide covers chinook conditions, snow clearing, and what to expect.

• Snow clearing: The City does not clear residential streets or back lanes in new communities until they've been accepted from the developer. Builder-maintained roads may not get prompt plowing.

Calgary Moving Guides

We've written comprehensive guides for every aspect of moving in Calgary:

• How Much Does Moving in Calgary Cost? — pricing by home size, distance, and add-on services

• Best and Worst Times to Move in Calgary — month-by-month pricing and availability data

• Calgary Condo and Apartment Moving Rules — elevator booking, COI, damage deposits, noise bylaws

• Calgary Road Construction and Detours 2026 — Green Line, Stoney Trail, and active closures

• Moving to Calgary: Newcomer Guide — Alberta Health, driver's licence, utilities, and more

• Setting Up Utilities After Moving to Calgary — ENMAX, ATCO, water, and waste services

• Calgary Moving Day Parking Permits — street use permits, fees, and enforcement

• Pre-Move Decluttering in Calgary — donation centres, recycling depots, and disposal options

• Calgary Rental Market Guide 2026 — vacancy rates, average rents, and application tips

• Moving in Calgary During Winter — chinook factor, snow clearing, and cold-weather logistics

• Calgary Storage Solutions — options when your new-build isn't ready yet

Moving to Calgary's New Communities

Our Calgary movers move families into new builds every week — we know which communities have paved roads, which ones are still under construction, and how to get a truck in without getting stuck. Get a free quote and include your new community name so we can plan the best route.

For a full breakdown of costs, see our Calgary moving cost guide. And if you're new to Calgary, visit our Calgary location page for everything from neighbourhood guides to seasonal moving tips.