Residential Construction & Improvements

The building permit application and approval process ensures all home construction meets the City of Edmonton's Zoning Bylaw requirements as well as meeting building and mechanical standards to ensure what you build is safe. Construction details are assessed and approved based on provincial and City regulations.

Depending on the type of residential construction, you may need to apply for different types of permits. Some of the permits that may be required are:

1) Development Permit - Development Permits are issued using the Edmonton Zoning Bylaw. They are required when the construction is for a new building, there will be changes done to the exterior of an existing building or construction will result in a change of use (i.e. constructing a secondary suite within an existing single family home).

2) Building Permit - Is a permit that is issued after the detailed construction drawings are reviewed to ensure they meet standards set in the Alberta Building Code. You can buy a complete copy of the Alberta Building Code from the Province of Alberta's Learning Resources Centre.

3) Combination Permits - These are permits that are issued that have both the Development Permit and Building Permit together on the same job. (i.e. uncovered deck with or without a hot tub, detached garage, detached shed etc)

4) New Single Family House Combination Permit - This is a permit for new house construction that combines a number of different types of permits, including mechanical and electrical permits, that would be required to build a new single family house onto one application, and collects all of the fees on one job.

5) Mechanical Permits - These are permits that are applied for to cover Heating, Ventilation or Air Conditioning work or Plumbing or Gas work. Mechanical permits are not included in the Building Permit. The mechanical permits are applied for separately, except for the construction of a new single family home or a new semi-detached home. Contact Sustainable Development (below) for details about combined permits for new home construction.

6) Electrical Permits - As of January 1st, 2011, the City of Edmonton is issuing electrical permits. The electrical permit must be applied for separately, except for the construction of a new single family home or new semi-detached home. Contact Sustainable Development (below) for details about combined permits for new home construction.

Inspections are done throughout the project to verify each stage of work has been completed to code.

Permit requirements

You can better understand your specific permit requirements and fees by reviewing the following:

• Addition or Covered Deck
• Basement Development
• Uncovered Deck
• Electrical Permit
• Fence
• Garage or Carport - Attached to house
• Garage or Carport - Detached from house
• Hot Tub
• Pond
• Satellite Dish
• Secondary Suites, Garage Suites and Garden Suites
• Shed or Gazebo (stand alone structure)
• Swimming Pool
• House (for new single family house construction)
• Plumbing Permit
• Gas Permit
• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Permit
• Sewer and Water Permit

Some alterations do not require permits. When renovations are done to a property without altering any part of the structure, permits are not required. This applies to:

• Re-roofing with the same type of materials
• Painting and re-tiling
• Carpet replacement
• Counter top replacement
• Cupboard door alterations
• Window replacement (for same size)
• Door replacement (for same size)

If you have questions about residential construction and permits, please contact Sustainable Development's Customer Information (below).

For more information:

Current Planning Service Centre