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COVID-19 (coronavirus)

The COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly. Please check back for further updates in the coming days. Learn more at edmonton.ca/COVID-19.

Development, Licence & Construction COVID-19 Service Change

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Updated May 27, 2020

The COVID-19 situation presents an unpredictable and unique scenario, but the health and safety of our staff, Edmontonians and industry partners remains our top priority. 

With that said, we’re working hard to maintain as many services as possible so you can still get the things you need. Some operations, however, have required adjustments to accommodate the direction of Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. 

Effective Tuesday, March 24, the Edmonton Service Centre on the 2nd Floor of the Edmonton Tower is closed to in-person services. Please reference the below accordions for up-to-date COVID-19 related service adjustments for development, permit, licensing, and construction and inspection services.

Please visit edmonton.ca/COVID-19 for more information on the City’s response efforts.

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

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

Business Licence Fee Reductions
To help support businesses experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 situation, the City is offering a 50 per cent business licence fee reduction upon request for businesses that renew or apply for a new business licence between June 1 and December 31, 2020. To request the fee reduction, please renew or apply for your new licence by calling 780-442-5311 or emailing businesslicenceapplications@edmonton.ca.  

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.

COVID-19 Business Support
We know that businesses have been impacted by COVID-19 and this has been extremely challenging for you. Please visit the City’s COVID-19 business support webpage for information on steps the City is taking to support business owners.

Temporary Patios, Sidewalk Cafes and Outdoor Retail Expansions
Rules around temporary patios, sidewalk cafes and outdoor retail expansions are relaxed so you can create more space for your customers in alignment with Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines. Until the end of 2020, you have the option to expand your patio or retail space by following a set of guidelines and signing a declaration form. Read the guidelines and proceed with signing the declaration form.

Reporting Health Order Violation Concerns
Complaints on self-isolation restrictions, mass gatherings and workplaces or businesses not complying with closures should be directed to the Alberta Health Services complaints form.

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

Development Permits, Building Permits and Trade Permits

Effective Tuesday March 24, 2020, the Edmonton Service Centre on the 2nd Floor of the Edmonton Tower is closed. As a result, the City will no longer be providing in-person development-related services, including (but not limited to) development, building and trade permit application and payment processing.

How to Apply

Apply Online

Where applications are not available online, please use the contact methods provided on the website or call 311 for assistance.

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). 

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.

Payments

Payments can be made by phone (780-442-5054), 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.

Pre Application Meetings

Pre-Application meetings and Home Improvement Permit Appointments will be done through teleconference only.

Temporary Patios, Sidewalk Cafes and Outdoor Retail Expansions

Rules around temporary patios, sidewalk cafes and outdoor retail expansions are relaxed so you can create more space for your customers in alignment with Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines. Until the end of 2020, you have the option to expand your patio or retail space by following a set of guidelines and signing a declaration form. Read the guidelines and proceed with signing the declaration form.

 

Compliance Certificates

Compliance Certificate applications online or by mail to Edmonton Service Centre, 2nd Floor, 10111 104 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 0J4.

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. 

Search of records applications online, by mail or by emailing the pdf application form to searchofrecords@edmonton.ca. 

Payments can be made by phone (780-442-5054), 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.

Inspections

To protect the health and safety of our staff and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, we’ve made the below changes to our development, building and trade permit inspection processes.

Scheduling

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

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

The City is proceeding with lot grading, transportation and landscaping inspections as weather allows. These inspections can be requested through the usual email, ePlan or online request form processes depending on the inspection. We will update you should this decision change due to the COVID-19 situation.

In-person 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, contractor, homeowner) has been asked to self-isolate, or is showing cold or flu symptoms
  • Anyone has returned to Canada from outside the country since March 12 and has not yet completed the required 14-day self isolation period (for further direction given this rapidly-changing situation, please refer to the Info for Travellers and Airline Passengers section on Alberta.ca)

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.

Virtual inspections

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep Edmontonians, contractors and City inspectors safe, the City is now 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:

Current building permit and inspection request intake processing time estimates are available on our online dashboard. In-person inspections will continue to be required for unoccupied residential and commercial construction sites, most utility service disruptions in occupied homes and businesses, and exterior structures (eg. decks).

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) 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.

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

Public Hearings

The City will be hosting remote Public Hearings to deal with land use matters on April 28, and May 12 and 26, 2020. The City will contact applicants scheduled for those Public Hearing dates directly to provide further information. Information about other future remote Public Hearing opportunities will be provided as they become available.

Engagement Sessions

All City-led in-person public engagement events and information sessions have been postponed until further notice. We will communicate further updates as information becomes available.

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.

Servicing Agreement Extensions

The City will be providing flexibility around servicing agreement deadlines. Developers can contact the Servicing Agreement team at development.coordination@edmonton.ca or the development engineer for the file to discuss extension requests.

Development Bonds

Effective immediately, the City of Edmonton is now accepting development bonds for all new servicing agreements for the 2020 construction season. 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:

Existing Servicing Agreement Securities

The COVID-19 situation presents an unpredictable and unique scenario and the City is working hard to find ways to help businesses and developers navigate this challenging situation.

The City is exploring options for allowing letters of credit for existing servicing agreements to be converted to development bonds and will provide further information when it is available. We hope that this will help provide some economic support and make it easier to do business in Edmonton during this difficult time.

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 pick up is no longer 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.

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.ca/sdab for further updates.

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

Rules around temporary patios, sidewalk cafes and outdoor retail expansions are relaxed so you can create more space for your customers in alignment with Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines. Until the end of 2020, you have the option to expand your patio or retail space by following a set of guidelines and signing a declaration form. Read the guidelines and proceed with signing the declaration form.

Vehicle for Hire Licence Applications

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

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.

Vehicle for Hire Service Restrictions
Effective April 1, the City of Edmonton issued a State of Local Emergency Order which puts a new range of requirements and restrictions on vehicle for hire services to limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19. All taxis, limousines, private transportation providers and shuttle service providers, as well as ride sharing services such as Uber and Tapp vehicles must adhere to new restrictions.

Reporting Bylaw and Physical Distancing Concerns
Citizens who have concerns about COVID-19 order violations can submit their complaints online. These restrictions include new requirements on vehicle-for-hire services, playground closures and dog park restrictions.

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

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