Development, Permit, Licence & Construction Service Adjustments

Updated August 25, 2021

While the Edmonton Service Centre on the 2nd Floor of the Edmonton Tower is now open to some, limited in-person services by appointment only, development, permitting and licensing services continue to be provided online or by mail or phone only at this time. More information on development, permitting and licensing services that may be offered in-person through the Service Centre in the future will be made available in the coming weeks.

The City is also advancing a number of service improvement initiatives to help streamline the City’s permitting, licensing and regulatory processes.

Service Adjustments

The below information is subject to change given the evolving COVID-19 situation. We will update this page with further changes as they occur.

Business Licensing

Business Licence Fee Reductions

To help support local businesses through the pandemic recovery, the City is providing all businesses with a 50% reduction in business licence fees. The fee reduction will be automatically applied when businesses renew their existing licence or apply for a new business licence between now and March 31, 2022.

Business licence fees paid prior to April 1, 2021 will not be eligible for refunds. Businesses that already paid licence fees between January 1 and March 31, 2021 will receive the fee reduction when they renew their licence in 2022.

Applying
Most Commercial and Home Based Business licence applications or renewals can be made online.

Payments

By phone at 780-442-5054 (credit card only)
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
By mail

Credit card payments will only be accepted for payments under $5,000, and EFT will only be accepted for payments over $5,000.

Restrictions for Businesses

On July 1, 2021, Alberta entered Stage 3 of its open for summer plan. This means all COVID-19 health restrictions are lifted for retail services and shopping malls. Restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges and cafes can also be open for both indoor and outdoor patio service, with no restrictions.

Curbside pickup, delivery and online services are still encouraged as people may have different reactions and perceptions around reopening and the relaxing or removal of public health restrictions.

The general indoor provincial mask mandate is also lifted, but masking may still be required in limited and specific settings such as public transit and some health facilities. For more information on the lifting of restrictions for businesses, please visit alberta.ca/covid19.

Questions?
Please contact businesslicenceapplications@edmonton.ca or 780-442-5054

Compliance Certificates & Search of Records

Compliance Certificates

This certificate confirms that all buildings and structures identified on the property have met the regulations under the Zoning Bylaw and have the appropriate development permits. Once reviewed, the applicant will receive a Compliance Certificate Report via email from the City of Edmonton.

Apply online or print, complete and mail the Compliance Certificate Report Application Form to the Edmonton Service Centre, 2nd Floor, 10111 104 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 0J4.

Search of Records

A City of Edmonton search of records is used to retrieve filed information or plans relating to the construction and development of a property.

Apply online, or print, complete and send in the search of records application form to searchofrecords@edmonton.ca or by mail to Edmonton Service Centre, 2nd Floor, 10111 104 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 0J4

Payments

You can pay for compliance certificates or a search of records requests by:

Phone at 780-442-5054 (credit card only)
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
Mail

Please note: Credit card payments will only be accepted for payments under $5,000, and EFT will only be accepted for payments over $5,000. For more information, please visit the pay permits and licence fees webpage.

Development Permits, Building Permits and Trade Permits

Applying for a Permit

Apply Online

Where applications are not available online, please use the contact methods provided on the webpage for the desired permit service or call 311 for assistance. In order to maintain existing application processing timelines and service levels, development-related services will continue to be provided on a fee for service model at this time.

Permit Processing Times

Please check our new online dashboard for current building permit and inspection request intake processing time estimates. For Development Permit application processing times, call 311 or 780-442-5311 (Outside Edmonton).

Payments

By phone at 780-442-5054 (credit card only)
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
By mail

Please note: Credit card payments will only be accepted for payments under $5,000, and EFT will only be accepted for payments over $5,000.
For more information, please visit the pay permits and licence fees webpage.

Pre Application Meetings

Pre-Application meetings and Home Improvement Permit Appointments will continue to be available through teleconference only.

Development, Building and Trade Permit Inspections

Scheduling an Inspection

Building and Trade Permit Inspections

Building and trade permit inspections can be scheduled online using self-serve accounts or by calling 311.

Development Permit Inspections

Development permit inspections can be requested by emailing developmentpermitinspections@edmonton.ca

Lot Grading, Transportation and Landscaping Inspections

The City is proceeding with lot grading, transportation and landscaping inspections as weather allows. These inspections can be requested through:

Lot grading: visit permits.edmonton.ca or email lot.grading@edmonton.ca
Landscaping: visit edmonton.ca/landscapeinspectionrequest or email dplandscaping@edmonton.ca
Transportation: visit the SelfServe portal

Inspection Protocols

To help protect the safety of staff and our customers, the City will be continuing with the below adjustments to development, building and trade permit inspection protocols.

In-person Inspections

Building and Trade Permit Inspections

In-person inspections will not be permitted for occupied residential or commercial sites, with the exception of inspections for some utility service disruptions in occupied homes and businesses, or for unoccupied construction sites where:

Distancing safeguards are unsatisfactory
Anyone (such as a contractor, homeowner) has been asked to self-isolate, or is showing cold or flu symptoms

Permit holders at locations where these conditions may apply are requested to reschedule inspections for a later time or consider the below virtual inspection options where applicable. Please use the online self-serve inspection scheduling tool under the 'INSPECTIONS' heading on your project dashboard, or call 311.

Development Compliance Inspections
The Development Compliance Team is proceeding with in-person inspections for residential and commercial development permits. Development Compliance Officers will continue to follow COVID 19 safety protocols to protect the officer and anyone present during the inspection.

Virtual inspections

The City is offering virtual inspection options for certain construction projects.

Remote Video Inspections (RVI) are available for building and trade permit (HVAC, plumbing, gas and electrical) inspections of occupied spaces within occupied residential and commercial locations. This includes, but is not limited to, projects such as interior alterations, basement developments, additions without a separate entrance, and occupied commercial locations where distancing or other safety protocols cannot be met. RVI enables virtual inspections through connected cellular mobile devices: one operated at the building location by the permit holder and the other by a Safety Codes Officer at a different location.
Verification of Compliance (VOC) is available for re-inspection of corrected safety codes deficiencies from an earlier inspection. This method involves a self-declaration and photographic supporting evidence that the identified deficiencies of a previous inspection have been rectified.

Permit holders can request RVIs or re-inspection through photographic evidence by:

Using the SelfServe portal and going to the project's inspections tab
Calling 311

Inspection Request Processing Times

Current building permit and inspection request intake processing time estimates are available on our online dashboard. For Development Permit inspection request times, call 311 or 780-442-5311 (Outside Edmonton).

Land Development Applications (LDAs)

Applying for LDAs (rezonings, plan amendments, and road closures):

Apply Online

Applicants will be sent an invoice on receipt of a file being accepted.

Payments

By phone at 780-442-5054 (credit card only)
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
By mail

Pre-Application Meetings

Pre-Application meetings will continue to be conducted via teleconference only.

Public Hearings

The City is continuing to host Public Hearings to deal with land use matters. The City will contact applicants scheduled for Public Hearing dates directly to provide further information.

To register to speak at a public hearing, please complete the form at: edmonton.ca/meetings prior to noon the day before the scheduled Public Hearing or call the Office of the City Clerk at: 780-496-8178. Following registration, the procedure on how to participate in the City Council Public Hearing (in-person or virtual) will be made available to you.

Public Engagement

All City-led in-person public engagement events and information sessions are still suspended until further notice. Feedback is being accepted directly by the file planner for each application and for certain land development applications through the City's new online Engaged Edmonton virtual engagement tool.

OSCAM Payments

Apply Online

Servicing Agreements, Engineering Drawing Applications

If you have an account set up:

Apply Online

To create an account, email development.coordination@edmonton.ca.

Servicing agreements will be provided digitally to developers for execution.

New Servicing Agreement Securities

The City of Edmonton is now accepting development bonds for all new servicing agreements. This will allow developers another option for security, as the City previously only accepted irrevocable letters of credit issued by a bank, or cash security.

To apply for a development bond for your new servicing agreement, please:

Review the updated guidelines for establishing security in servicing agreements, and
Complete, scan and email the development bond application form to the development engineer for your servicing agreement file

Existing Servicing Agreement Securities

Effective November 1, 2020, the City of Edmonton is now accepting development bonds for all existing servicing agreements executed after January 1, 2014 that are in good standing.

To apply to convert your existing security to a development bond, please email the development engineer for your project. In the email, be sure to include the name of your surety company.

An initial fee of $500 will be required for this service; however, the fee amount will be reviewed as the program progresses and may be adjusted to reflect the service cost.

Questions?
Please contact the development engineer for your file directly or email development.coordination@edmonton.ca

Subdivision Applications & Endorsements

Apply Online

Or by emailing subdivisions@edmonton.ca.

Endorsement packages will be mailed to applicants, as in-person pick up is not currently available.

Pre-application meetings will continue to be conducted via teleconference only.

Payments: By phone at 780-442-5054 (credit card only), Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or by mail. Credit card payments will only be accepted for payments under $5,000, and EFT will only be accepted for payments over $5,000. For more information, please visit the subdivisions and endorsements webpage.

Questions? Email subdivisions@edmonton.ca.

Subdivision & Development Appeal Board (SDAB) Appeals

The Subdivision and Development Appeal Board is offering alternate arrangements to in person hearings.

If you have a hearing that is scheduled, you will be contacted by the SDAB.

Visit Edmonton Tribunals Subdivision and Development Appeal Board for further updates.

Temporary Outdoor Patios, Sidewalk Cafes and Retail Expansions - City of Edmonton

Temporary Outdoor Patios & Sidewalk Cafes

Effective July 1, 2021, all COVID-19 health restrictions are lifted. Restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges and cafes can be open for both indoor and outdoor dining, with no restrictions. The temporary patio program will continue to receive applications until September 3, 2021. If you have any questions regarding the status of your temporary patio location or application, please email roaduse.permit@edmonton.ca.

Retail Expansions

Effective July 1, 2021, all restrictions are lifted and retail services are allowed full customer capacity. Previously approved outdoor retail expansions may continue to operate until April 30, 2022. The temporary outdoor retail space program will continue to receive applications until September 3, 2021

Curbside pickup, delivery and online service options are still encouraged as people may have different reactions and perceptions around reopening and the relaxing or removal of public health restrictions.

Vehicle for Hire Licence Applications

Dispatch and Vehicle Licence Fee Reductions

On April 6, 2021, City Council approved a 100% reduction in 2021 dispatch and vehicle licence fees for limousines and a 50% reduction in these fees for all other vehicles for hire. The fee reduction will be automatically applied when licensees renew their licence or apply for a new licence. For licensees who already received a credit for their 2021 fees, the fee reduction will be applied to their 2022 fees. The fee reductions are one way the City is helping support the industry through the pandemic recovery.

Vehicle for Hire Service Restrictions

Effective July 1, 2021 the City's temporary mask bylaw is deactivated, but masks remain mandatory in vehicles for hire per Provincial mandate. For more information, please visit alberta.ca/covid19.

Applying
Submit all Vehicle For Hire Licence applications to businesslicenceapplications@edmonton.ca

Payments

Phone at 780-442-5054 (credit card only)
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
Mail

Questions?
Contact vehicleforhire@edmonton.ca or 780-442-5054.