To ensure that all Edmonton property owners pay their fair share of property taxes, the City follows the guidelines established by the provincial government and uses a property assessment process.

Non-residential property, as defined by the Municipal Government Act, refers to linear property, components of manufacturing or processing facilities that are used for the cogeneration of power or other property on which industry, commerce or another use takes place or is permitted to take place under a land use bylaw passed by a council, but does not include farm land or land that is used or intended to be used for permanent living accommodation.

Assessment Details by Property Type

Commercial

Commercial properties are designed for general commercial occupancy and used for business activities. They include government and corporate offices, retail properties (for example, shopping centres, stores and restaurants) and accommodation properties (hotels and motels).

Assessment methodology guides for commercial properties are available in Assessment Reference Materials.

Industrial

The industrial group typically includes properties that are used for manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, contractors’ shops and other industrial purposes.

Assessment methodology guides for industrial properties are available in Assessment Reference Materials.

Land

Non-residential land properties are those that have been zoned for a variety of different uses: for example, industrial, commercial, multi-family and future development.

Assessment methodology guides for land are available in Assessment Reference Materials.

Multi-Residential

Properties within the multi-residential group include properties of four or more dwelling units, on one legal title. A common form of a multi-residential property is an apartment building.

Properties within this class also include fourplexes, low-rise and highrise apartment buildings and some townhouses.

Assessment methodology guides for multi-residential properties are available in Assessment Reference Materials.

Special Purpose

A special purpose property is a unique property that was built to suit a specific purpose and, therefore, presents limited opportunities to be used in a way that was not originally intended. 

Most of the time, a special purpose property needs significant investment to be converted to an alternative use, making most conversions financially unfeasible. 

Properties in the special purpose group are, for example, churches, schools, manufacturing plants, prisons, museums, legislative buildings, recreational facilities and railways.

Cost Approach

The cost approach produces the most accurate assessment for properties that are not actively traded in the marketplace due to their features or use, or where there is insufficient income and expense data available to effectively apply an income approach, or where the property is under construction.

Assessment methodology guides for special purpose properties are available in Assessment Reference Materials.