Projects
Text Amendment Process
Public involvement is an important part of the text amendment process. Text amendments to the Zoning Bylaw follow the following four stage process:
Information Gathering
During the information gathering stage, City staff research text amendment options and any associated land use issues. At this stage, information may be compiled into a report and presented to the Urban Planning Committee of Council. The Urban Planning Committee may recommend that City Council consider a Zoning Bylaw text amendment.
Public Involvement: Many of the projects listed on this page will have a public engagement component. We welcome public involvement, as it helps to inform recommendations and reports to City Council.
Draft Amendment
During the draft amendment stage, City staff use the findings obtained during the information gathering stage to craft a draft Zoning Bylaw amendment.
Public involvement: The draft amendment will be sent or presented to interest groups such as community associations, business groups, City of Edmonton departments, external government agencies, or the general public in order to get feedback. The amendment may be redrafted several times at this stage to reflect the comments received.
Proposed Amendment
During the proposed amendment stage, a draft bylaw containing the amendments is finalized and a report is prepared for a public hearing and Council vote.
Public Involvement: If you wish to offer feedback at this point in the process, you must register to speak to City Council at the public hearing where the proposed amendments will be heard or submit written comments. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office for further information about registering to speak at a public hearing or submitting written comments.
Council Decision
At the council decision stage, the proposed text amendment must receive three readings from Council in order to be added to the Zoning Bylaw.
Public Involvement: There is no public involvement at this stage of the process.
Purpose
This project will propose changes to the digital and illuminated sign regulations in the Zoning Bylaw to better align the rules with the policy direction for signs contained in the recently adopted Digital Sign Strategic Guidance.
Proposed Changes
The City is considering Zoning Bylaw changes to update:
- the general purpose of the digital and illuminated sign rules;
- the standards for how bright illuminated and digital signs can be;
- the hours digital and illuminated signs are allowed to operate in residential areas; and
- where and how digital and illuminated signs are placed near residential areas and parks.
The City is also considering making changes to the sign regulations in the Neighbourhood Parks and Services (PSN) zone to allow digital signs in school-park sites. The goal of these changes would be to help improve how businesses, community groups and schools can use the signs to share important information with the community while still protecting natural areas and minimizing negative impacts on neighbours and wildlife.
Public Engagement
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback through the City’s June mixed-topic Insight Community survey. A What We Heard document summarizing the feedback received on the project to date will be available by the end of summer 2026.
Engagement for this project is at the ADVISE level of the City’s public engagement spectrum. This means that feedback received will be used, along with technical and policy considerations, to help inform and finalize proposed changes to the digital and illuminated sign regulations before advancing them to City Council for a decision. Feedback will be summarized in the report to City Council to ensure they are aware of the public’s perspectives prior to making any decisions.
City Council Public Hearing Date
A public hearing date has not yet been but is targeted for later in 2026.
Public hearings are an important part of the public engagement process for Zoning Bylaw changes. Edmontonians can share their thoughts directly with City Council by registering to speak once a date has been set and the agenda for the public hearing is posted.
Next Steps
All Zoning Bylaw changes must be approved by Edmonton City Council at a public hearing before they can come into effect.
Purpose
As part of the October 29, 2024 Urban Planning Committee Trees on Public and Private Property report (Item 7.2), it was identified that ensuring new developments comply with the City’s private property landscaping requirements is necessary to meet the City’s 20 per cent tree canopy target.
At the November 13, 2024 City Council meeting, the following motion was passed:
That Administration engage with city building partners and prepare amendments to Zoning Bylaw 20001 to expand the landscape securities program to enable the administration of landscape securities for small-scale residential developments and return to a future City Council Public Hearing.
The City uses landscape securities as a tool to ensure minimum landscaping requirements are installed and maintained. Securities are collected at the development permit stage and returned following City inspections that verify compliance. Where the landscaping has not been properly installed or maintained in the allocated period of time, the City will use the securities to procure, pay for and install landscaping to meet the minimum requirements set out in the Zoning Bylaw.
Approved Changes
At the May 26, 2026 City Council Public Hearing, Council approved Zoning Bylaw amendments to enable the first phase of the small scale landscape securities program (see item 4.9). The first phase will expand the landscape securities requirement to single detached, semi-detached, duplex, and row housing in the redeveloping area (within Anthony Henday Drive).
Landscape securities for large-scale residential, mixed use and non-residential development across the city are already required under the Zoning Bylaw.
Next Steps
The changes to implement the first phase of the program come into effect on January 1, 2027. Bylaw amendments to enable the second phase of the program are targeted to go to City Council in late 2027.
The second phase of the program will establish landscape security requirements for small scale residential developments in the city’s developing areas (outside the Anthony Henday and north of 41 Avenue SW) and portions of the city’s redeveloping areas that are within the RSF, BHR and GLDF zones. If approved by Council, the phase two small scale residential landscape security requirements would come into effect starting in 2028.
For More Information
Landscaping for Small Scale Residential Developments
Landscaping for Multi-Unit, Commercial and Industrial Developments
Purpose
At the October 16-23, 2023 City Council Public Hearing, the following motion was passed:
That Administration, as part of the Zoning Bylaw (Charter Bylaw 20001) one-year review report, include analysis on the Child Care Services provision since enactment of Charter Bylaw 20001 and provide options for amendments to further expand opportunities for Child Care Services, if required.
Proposed Changes
To support more opportunities for child care, the City is proposing to amend Zoning Bylaw 20001 to reduce the pick-up and drop-off requirement for child care services citywide and make child care services a permitted use in 17 Special Area Zones.
Previous Council Reports
June 17, 2025 Urban Planning Committee One Year Review of Child Care Services report (see item 6.2)
Public Engagement
Child Care Services What We Heard Summary
The full What We Heard report will be provided as an attachment to the upcoming City Council Public Hearing report.
Public Hearing Date
June 23, 2026 (see item 4.14)
Members of the public can share their thoughts on the proposed changes directly with members of City Council by registering to speak.
Purpose
At the June 30, 2025 City Council Hearing, the following motion was passed:
That Administration prepare an analysis of how lodging houses are defined, regulated and permitted, and provide options to further regulate their size and location to ensure that impacts and their operations are regulated appropriately through Zoning Bylaw 20001 or Business Licence Bylaw 20002.
Project Status
To address concerns about lodging house operations, hourly short-term rentals, and to support better compliance and enforcement, the City is exploring changes to Zoning Bylaw 20001 and/or Business Licence Bylaw 20002.
Target City Council Dates
Urban Planning Committee: July 2, 2026
Public Hearing: To be determined
Members of the public can share their thoughts directly with members of City Council by registering to speak once the meeting agendas are posted at edmonton.ca/meetings.
For More Information
Lodging Houses