Safety Code Permits

Permits are required for most building and occupancy changes, but small-scale, low-risk, non-structural, and temporary works are exempt under specific conditions.

Building permit documents you may need:

• Accessory Building Application
• Building Permit Application
• City Commercial/Industrial Construction Package
• City Residential Construction Package
• County Construction Package
• Demolition Permit Package
• Uncovered Deck Application

Other permits may be required depending on the work.

Building Permit Requirements

A Building Permit is required for:

• Constructing, renovating, or adding to a building.
• Changing a building’s occupancy classification.
• A separate permit will be required for specific portions of work involving all separate sub-disciplines

A Building permit is not required for:

• Minor construction, renovations, or additions under $5,000, provided no health or safety risks exist and the work does not involve stages, tents, or overhead structures.
• Painting or decorating with no structural changes and no health or safety risk.
• Re-roofing or re-siding for maintenance or aesthetics using similar materials, with no structural changes or safety risks.
• Replacing or altering ducting for space heating in a single-family dwelling, where no HVAC design change is required.
• Stages with platforms not exceeding 1200 mm above (4ft) grade.
• Certain non-commercial tents, including:
  • Residential single-family use, or
  • Campsites/campgrounds or locations more than 3 m from other structures, limited to 60 m², with no commercial cooking.
• Exterior decks (attached or detached) for single-family dwellings that are no more than 600 mm above grade.
• Temporary relocation of relocatable industrial accommodations for 28 days or less.

Resources

• Alberta Builder Licensing
• Fee Schedule
• New Home Warranty

Application Process

Processing time for building permits is approximately 5 to 10 business days. The timeline depends on the project.

Permits cover most electrical work, with exemptions for communications, mining, elevators, certain low-voltage systems, and like-for-like maintenance replacements.

Permit Applications

We usually issue electrical permits within a day or two from the application date and fee payment.

• Electrical Permit Application
• Fee Schedule

Before you start

We must receive your application and issue your permit before you start any wiring installation.

Electrical Permit Requirements

An electrical permit is required:

• to install, alter, extend or add to an electrical system.

An electrical permit is not required for:

• Communication systems.
• Electrical installations governed by CSA M421 (mining applications).
• Electrical work related to elevating devices.
• Extra-low-voltage Class 2 circuits, except when used for:
  • Safety controls,
  • Hazardous locations,
  • Electro-medical purposes, or
  • Lighting.
• Replacement of electrical equipment with similar equipment for maintenance, provided there is no change to ratings or system characteristics.

Gas permits cover most system work, with exemptions for vehicles, cargo units, utility meter relocations, small propane systems, oilfield equipment, and straightforward appliance replacements in single-family homes.

Permit Applications

• Gas Permit Application
• HVAC Permit Application
• Fee Schedule

Before you start

• We must receive your application and issue your permit before you start.

Gas Permit Requirements

A gas permit is required:

• to install, alter, or add to a gas system.

A gas permit is not required for:

• Gas systems using propane or natural gas for motor vehicle motive power.
• Gas systems providing conditioned air in cargo transport units.
• Like-for-like replacement of a dryer, range, water heater, or space-heating appliance in a single-family dwelling, provided no gas piping or venting design changes are required.
• Gas meter relocation performed by a gas utility, including related piping changes.
• Small propane containers up to 454 L water capacity, including manifolded containers not exceeding that total.
• Propane containers and installations serving oil field equipment such as pump jacks, flare stacks, or oil tank heaters.

Permits apply to most plumbing system work, with exemptions for services outside the building, straightforward fixture replacements, post–rough-in fixture installs, and residential water treatment devices.

Permit Applications

• Plumbing Permit Application
• Fee Schedule

Before you start

We must receive your application and issue your permit before you start.

Plumbing Permit Requirements

A plumbing permit is required:

• to install, alter, or add to a plumbing system.

A plumbing permit is not required for:

• Installing a water service connecting a building to a municipal or private water supply.
• Installing a building sewer or storm sewer outside of a building.
• Replacing fixtures or components (fixtures, water heaters, faucets, traps, valves) where no piping design change is required.
• Installing plumbing fixtures in a single-family dwelling when rough-in piping was completed under a separate permit.
• Installing residential water treatment devices in a single-family dwelling.

Permits apply to new or altered private sewage systems, with limited exemptions for maintenance replacements and simple, non-tank-connected privies.

Permit Applications

• Holding Tank application
• Open Discharge application
• Treatment Field application
• Treatment Mound application
• Letter of Compliance

A review of all permit applications is required prior to permit issuance. Processing time for private sewage permits is approximately 3-5 business days.

Before you start

We must receive your application and issue your permit before you start any work.

Private Sewage Disposal Permit Requirements

A private sewage disposal permit is required:

• for any private sewage system undertaking (Installation, construction, alteration, addition, relocation or replacement)

A permit is not required for:

• Like-for-like replacement of private sewage system equipment performed for maintenance, provided the system design is not modified.
• Basic privies that are not connected to a holding tank.

Resources

• Alberta Municipal Affairs Design Tools and Forms
• Certified Contractors List