Residential Compliance Team
The Residential Compliance Team (RCT) is a multidisciplinary team created to ensure existing and future congregate living facilities comply with all provincial and municipal housing regulations.
The RCT:
- approves permits and business licences;
- enforces development, building code, fire code, and business licence compliance for existing and future congregate living facilities; and
- receives concerns from the community regarding potentially non-compliant congregate living facilities.
The goal of the RCT is to ensure a safe, harmonious environment for congregate living residents and their neighbours, while working to address housing issues and contributing to Edmonton's 10-year Plan to End Homelessness.
The RCT educates congregate living owner/operators about the standards they must comply with to ensure shared living arrangements are safe, benefit the community, and do not detract from the neighbourhood.
The team works to find solutions to non-compliance and acts as a resource for owners, operators, tenants, and communities alike.
Edmonton Zoning Bylaw amendments
On November 13, 2012, the Edmonton Zoning Bylaw was amended to create:
- Clearer definitions for Congregate Living facilities;
- More zones in which Group Homes and Lodging Houses are permitted;
- Tighter controls in low-density residential zones; and
- New regulations to reduce concentrations in neighbourhoods
Congregate living refers to a residence where four or more unrelated individuals occupy sleeping units in a building with shared access to cooking, laundry, or sanitary facilities. These housing forms include Group Homes, Limited Group Homes, Lodging Houses, and Fraternity and Sorority houses.
These uses are now considered commercial businesses, even if operated out of a home located in a residential neighbourhood. Current and future owner/operators must obtain a City of Edmonton Rental Accommodation business licence.
A congregate living facility combined application form has been developed to streamline the application process and obtain the necessary information for development, building, and licensing permits.
Go to the Rental Accommodation Business Licence for Congregate Living service page for more information.
To lodge a complaint
If you wish to report a potentially non-compliant congregate living facility, please contact 311 or the RCT with the following information:
- Caller’s name, address, phone number
- The address of the property in question
- A description of the issue
Inquiries are prioritized and investigated in order of the severity of the issue. For example complaints that affect the health and safety of citizens will take priority.
Complaints and time frames may vary depending on the volumes of complaints received.
The RCT deals with complaints related to:
- Group Homes
- Limited Group Homes
- Lodging Houses
- Secondary Suites
- Accessory Structure Living
- Fraternity and Sorority Housing
- Derelict Housing
- Apartment Housing
- Commercial Living
For More Information
Residential Compliance Team Coordinator
| Telephone | 311 |
|---|---|
| residentialcompliance@edmonton.ca |
