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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 April 1

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.  

Please note as you submit your application for processing, mandatory business closures are currently in effect due to COVID-19 and you may need to change service delivery models to comply.

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

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.

Mandatory Business Closures
The Province has implemented additional measures to strengthen protection against the spread of COVID-19 in Alberta. Restrictions are now in place for close-contact businesses, dine-in restaurants and non-essential retail services.

  • Close-contact businesses, including hair salons and barbershops, tattoo and piercing studios, esthetic services, wellness studios and clinics as well as non-emergency and non-critical health services provided by regulated health professionals or registered professionals, including dentistry, physiotherapy, massage, podiatry, chiropractic and optometry services are closed, effective immediately.
  • Dine-in restaurants will no longer be able to offer dine-in service but may offer take-out and delivery services.
  • Non-essential retail services such as clothing, computer and gaming stores, and services in shopping malls and shopping centres such as hobby and toys, gift and specialty items and furniture are closed, effective immediately.
  • A full list of restrictions is available at alberta.ca/covid19 under the restrictions on gatherings and businesses section.
  • The list of essential workplaces that can continue to operate in Alberta can be found on alberta.ca/covid19 under the essential services section.

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.

Development Permits, Building Permits and Trade Permits

Effective Tuesday, March 24, 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). 

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.

Compliance Certificates

Compliance Certificate applications online or by mail.   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

As of March 25, 2020, the City is planning to proceed with lot grading, transportation and landscaping inspections as soon as the weather allows. When available, these inspections can be requested through the usual email, ePlan or online request form processes depending on the inspection. We will update you should that decision change due to the COVID-19 situation.

Inspection Protocols

Inspections will not be permitted on sites where distancing safeguards are unsatisfactory or anyone (contractor, homeowner, etc) has been asked to self-isolate, is showing cold or flu symptoms, or 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.  Please use the online self-serve inspection scheduling tool under the INSPECTIONS heading on your project dashboard, or call 311.

Unoccupied Residential & Commercial Construction Site Inspections

Inspections of unoccupied residential and commercial construction sites will continue as usual, subject to field inspector satisfaction that appropriate physical distancing safeguards are in place upon arrival at the site.

Re-inspection of corrected safety codes deficiencies from an earlier inspection may be conducted using the Verification of Compliance (VOC) method, which involves self-declaration and photographic supporting evidence that the identified deficiencies of a previous inspection have been rectified.  Permit holders can request the VOC inspection method by noting it in the comments box when requesting the inspection. The inspection supervisor will follow up with the permit holder to provide more information on the VOC process upon receiving the inspection request.

Occupied Residential & Commercial Location Inspections

Inspections of occupied residential developments will only be conducted as required for exterior inspections, interruptions to utility services (i.e., power, water, natural gas), or Final inspections for pending occupancy or partial occupancy of already-occupied premises subject to pre-arrangement with the inspection supervisor to confirm distancing safeguards are in place that are satisfactory to both the personnel on the site and the inspector.

Re-inspection of corrected safety codes deficiencies from an earlier inspection may be conducted using the  Verification of Compliance (VOC) method, which involves self-declaration and photographic supporting evidence that the identified deficiencies of a previous inspection have been rectified.  Permit holders can request the VOC inspection method by noting it in the comments box when requesting the inspection. The inspection supervisor will follow up with the permit holder to provide more information on the VOC process upon receiving the inspection request.

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 March 31 and April 14, 2020 City Council Public Hearings have been cancelled. We will communicate further updates as information becomes 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.

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.

The City of Edmonton will also be allowing Development Bonds as an alternative form of security within all servicing agreements starting in April. More information about this will be provided to the development industry in the coming weeks.

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.

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.

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

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