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Permit application requirement details for new house projects including Single detached, Semi-detached, Duplex, Backyard Housing and Row Houses.
Effective July 1, 2025, applicants must provide roof truss layouts and shop drawings authenticated by an Alberta-licensed engineering professional with the building permit application. This includes all Part 9 Buildings, such as 3 and 4-unit row houses, except single or semi-detached homes.
For more information, review the Policy Bulletin B23-03 Roof Truss Engineering Requirements for New Construction Building Permits.
Applications can be submitted online or mailed to the Edmonton Service Centre. This page lists the minimum submission requirements. Applications missing any required plans, documents and details will not be accepted.
The City uses an Auto-Review process for Development Permit applications for Single Detached and Semi-detached houses in developing areas that are zoned Small-Scale Flex Residential Zone (RSF).
When applying for eligible projects online at selfserve.edmonton.ca, the interactive application process will enable you to verify a project complies with applicable zoning regulations. Projects that meet the Auto-Review criteria may obtain a Development Permit in as little as 1 day, greatly reducing timelines, especially during peak construction season.
The City uses Auto-Review to assist in the Development Permit application approval process. Applicants complete the application form and confirm the information they have submitted is accurate and complete. The information entered into the application is verified for compliance with the Zoning Bylaw and is used as the basis for the Development Permit decision.
Drawings and plans are still required to be provided with the Development Permit application. The City will audit applications selected at random to confirm the accuracy of the information submitted and compliance with all applicable regulations.
Accurate and complete information is essential. A Development Permit issued on the basis of incorrect information contained in the application is invalid.
A Development Permit may be cancelled if the application for the Development Permit contained a material misrepresentation, if the Development Permit was issued as a result of a material error, and/or if material facts were not disclosed at any time during the application process for the Development Permit.
If the City becomes aware of incorrect, inaccurate, or misleading information provided in the application by the applicant, either knowingly or unknowingly, any issued Development Permit may be deemed invalid from the date of issuance and the City will not be liable for any claims, damages, or costs associated with the Development Permit or application.
Most new single and semi-detached house applications in lots zoned small-scale flex residential (RSF) in developing neighbourhoods are eligible for Auto-Review. To qualify, projects must be on registered lots and meet all requirements of the Zoning Bylaw. Ineligible projects include multi-unit housing, lots that are within the top of bank, and reduced setback developments.
For a complete list of eligible and ineligible projects, see the How-to Guide. Applications that do not meet the required criteria will be redirected to a Development Planner for a review and decision. These applications will take more time for a decision to be rendered and will be processed in the order received.
Following submission of the Development Permit application, here is what to expect:
As part of the Building Permit processing, further clarification may be sought if omissions are found with the Development Permit application.
Plot Plan to be prepared by an Alberta Land Surveyor with a preferred scale of 1:300.
Note: Minimum scale: 1:500 on legal-size paper
These documents are only required if the proposed development is located in a redeveloping area.
Lot Grading Plans are required for all new house projects including Single detached, Semi-detached, Duplex, Backyard Housing and Row Houses.
Review the Infill Lot Grading Plan Requirement Checklist for a complete list of plan requirements.
Lot Grading Plans are not required for Backyard Housing under the following conditions:
More information about Lot Grading requirements are available at Residential Lot Grading.
What is Low-Impact Development?
Low-Impact Development (LID) is a type of stormwater management facility that incorporates plants, engineered soils and natural processes to capture stormwater runoff close to its source.
Eligibility
Applicants have the option to include LID as part of a new development. Corner infill sites of 3 or 4 units that propose LID and follow the Low-Impact Development Guidelines for Corner Lot Infill Developments are eligible for streamlined EPCOR and City of Edmonton approvals of the facility. The guidelines contain details about standardized designs, plant species recommendations, drawing and submission requirements, construction and maintenance considerations, and soil specifications. If you have questions about LID, contact LIDoutreach@epcor.com.
As part of a Development Permit application that contains an LID facility, the submission package must include a site mechanical plan, stormwater management calculations, a Lot Grading Plan, and Landscaping Plan.
Drawing Details
The following details must appear on both your Lot Grading Plan and Landscaping Plan:
Vegetation
In addition, based on the design, drawings may require the following:
The City will create the Development Permit Notification Sign when your permit is issued. If you have questions, please contact your Development Planner about this requirement.
View these Development Permit Notification Sign examples: demolition and a new house.
Required if any proposed development for a new building, or an addition to or alteration of an existing building will result in the building being larger than 47 square meters or 506 square feet, as required by Alberta Energy Regulator Directive 079.
Submit a signed Abandoned Wells Confirmation Form and include a printout of the map(s) used to confirm the absence/presence of abandoned wells.
for Development Permit and Building Permit
Prepared by a draftsperson, architect or person skillful in technical drawing in ONE combined file.
Minimum scale: 1/8"=1'-0" or 1:100
Preferred scale: 3/16"=1'-0" or 1:75
Metric or imperial units are acceptable. Please be consistent.
See the Energy Code page for details. (Convert: RSI x 5.678 = Imperial R value)
Edmonton's Zoning Bylaw defines a Semi-detached House as 2 principal dwellings joined in a side-by-side configuration separated by a vertical party wall. A duplex is a building with two principal dwellings, with one of those dwellings placed over the other in whole or in part (See the Zoning Bylaw for full definitions).
Applicants can print, complete and attach these documents to their application, if necessary.
The Development Waiver Form is an optional request, where a complete Building Permit submission has been made, to advance the application to Codes review while the project is on Development Permit Notices. In submitting this signed form, the applicant acknowledges the waiver is NOT permission to start building.
This is an optional request for an expedited building permit for construction of the foundation and main floor deck of the project. The permit holder assumes all risks, as the final Building Permit for the project has not yet been issued. The foundation location may affect house wall assembly and window location decisions.
If any information is missing or incorrect, the Footing and Foundation ONLY Building Permit will not be processed on this expedited basis. If a demolition permit is required, it must be issued prior to a footing and foundation permit being issued.
Construction may not start until the Footing and Foundation Only Building Permit is issued.
All new homes built in Alberta require New Home Warranty coverage. The Provincial New Home Buyer Protection Act requires either:
To be submitted with the permit application. If not available at the time of application, indicate status as “Pending” and provide to the plans examiner when ready. This must be provided before a Building Permit can be issued.
Provide:
Do not submit the warranty application, application receipts, or the RF number only.
Resources: Builder Licensing and Warranty Requirements
Provide:
Resources: Overview – Owner Builder Authorization Requirements
Provide three separate PDF document files, each named and assembled as outlined below.
Engineer-stamped designs must be by an Alberta-registered engineering professional. Provide ONE combined file, assembled in this order:
Engineer-stamped designs must be by an Alberta registered engineering professional. Provide ONE combined file, assembled in this order:
Engineer-stamped designs must be by an Alberta-registered engineering professional.
Entire product testing reports are not required unless requested by the plans examiner; submit approval page(s) only.
Provide ONE combined file, assembled in this order:
Policy Solutions
The building permit office offers policy solutions for common conditions or proposals that repeatedly require a variance to NBC(AE) prescriptive requirements.
Variance Requests for Alternative Solutions
A specific variance may be granted if a proposal for an alternative solution demonstrates at least the minimum level of performance required by NBC(AE) Division B in the areas defined by the objectives and functional statements attributed to the applicable acceptable solution(s).
An alternative solution may be sought if the application of a policy solution is not desired. The Alberta Safety Codes Council has more information.
City of Edmonton Energy Code requirements and background information is available at Energy Code Requirements.
Completeness and quality of a submission are the main causes of delay in permit processing. Applicants who are unable to demonstrate compliant construction intention through proper completion of the 9.36 checklist part of the application should engage a knowledgeable designer or energy advisor.
For additional background and resources, see also provincial government, federal government, or search established trade and industry sources such as Bild--Alberta Codes.
Coordination between applicant, designer, constructor, and energy modeler for a Performance Path project is essential to successful plans exam, construction and inspections.
Current Application Checklist, Trade-Off Calculator tool and Edmonton Performance Summary for Energy Advisor are under the tab “NBC(AE):9.36” of Energy Code Requirements.
For semi-detached and row houses modeled on a unit-by-unit basis, provide a separate file for each of the assembled Energy model report sets, named and in order from lowest to the highest address. Provide file(s) assembled in the following order:
A Project Implementation Plan (PIP) outlines and records how the project team will comply with applicable safety laws during a construction project to effectively deal with unexpected or unsafe conditions. A PIP might include the following documents: site assessments, neighbourhood notifications, agreements with neighbours, plans for demolition and excavation, safety measures, and construction site fire safety plan.
While the PIP itself is not typically submitted for review, it must be created before work begins and be available on-site for reference by compliance officers.
Download and review the Project Implementation Plan Guide.
Create and gather the required documentation for the PIP as applicable to your construction site.
Sign and submit the Letter of Commitment with your Building Permit application documents when directed through the SelfServe permit application system or upon request of a Permit Issuer.
Contact Development Services Online
| Telephone | In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311 |
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| developmentservices@edmonton.ca |