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For interior and exterior alterations, renovations, additions, tenant space improvements, selective or partial demolitions, changes to business activities (change of use) and/or site changes to non-residential (commercial, industrial, institutional and similar structures) buildings.
This also applies to changes to large-scale residential (apartments, row houses with five or more units), and mixed-use (mix of residential and non-residential) buildings.
Changes in activity in a space
Construction
Equipment
Installation, alteration or upgrade of equipment affecting the building, such as:
Changes to the existing site
As of June 3, 2024, walk-in inquiries for the following permit and licensing services are no longer available at the Edmonton Service Centre.
Book an in-person or virtual appointment for:
Most projects require:
Make an appointment through the Edmonton Service Centre to talk to City staff to understand which permits will be required for your business.
Consider hiring professional support to design your project and draw your plans, especially for more complex projects.
Working without an experienced, certified designer can significantly increase the application review processing time as City staff may require you to modify your plans to comply with regulations. The plans you submit must meet application criteria and include a comparable level of detail as found in sample plans (see preparing your application section below for details).
Engineer-authenticated drawings are required if the project includes changes to structural components such as beams, posts supporting beams, load-bearing walls, floors, wall opening enlargement, or foundation walls that cannot be checked in tables in the National Building Code (Alberta Edition).
We recommend using a contractor experienced in the type of project proposed.
See Small Business Support for resources specific to small businesses and for one-on-one support with the business licensing and permitting process.
Depending on your business, you may be subject to additional regulatory requirements from other agencies, such as Alberta Health Services, Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis, and other government regulators.
For example, Alberta Health Services has some additional requirements for child care, restaurants, swimming pools, hair salons, massage centres, tattoo parlours, and nail salons.
Additional rules apply to Cannabis businesses.
It is the responsibility of the permit applicant to ensure they are meeting these additional regulations.
See Business-Friendly Support for additional information resources specific to small businesses and for one-on-one support with the business licensing and permitting process.
Submitting an incomplete application may cause significant delays as City staff are unable to begin reviews until all information is collected. Applications are considered incomplete if necessary drawings, documents and details are missing or incomplete.
Carefully review the Minimum Submission Guidelines to submit a complete application. More information may be requested when the application is under review.
Minimize changes after submission whenever possible. Any change to your planned business activities or the project scope can significantly affect the application timeline.
Examples of changes to business activities include:
Examples of changes to the project scope include:
Communicate the changes to the application to City staff as soon as possible.
Any deviation from reviewed plans after permits are issued cannot be endorsed during inspections. When work does not match the permit plans, revised plans must be submitted through the issued permits revision process and reviewed by the City staff before the work being done.
City staff are here to help you understand:
To meet with City staff to discuss the permit requirements for your project, book an appointment through the Edmonton Service Centre.
To make the most of your visit we suggest you bring:
Please note:
All projects require development permit review. There is no charge when City staff determine that a development permit is not required.
Application for development and building permits may be done simultaneously or sequentially.
Building permit review does not begin until after the development permit review is complete.
Multiple inspections will be required during and after construction. Carefully review the conditions written on your permit documents. To understand when inspections will be required, review Commercial Safety Codes Inspections.
When there is a change of business activities in a building, permits are required to ensure that any proposed business activity and development is allowed on site and safe for a new business to operate. For example, if an existing nail salon is to be changed to a restaurant, then a development and building permit would be required.
The following documents are required for change of business activities or intensity of the business activities and/or for interior alterations.
The site plan shows the entire existing property. City staff need the site plan to understand where the proposed business and any other businesses are located on the site. A site plan must include:
There are different ways to make a site plan:
If proposing a child care facility, additional information is needed on the site plan:
Tip: The landlord may provide a site plan for mark-up with the required information.
The key plan shows the exact location where the changes/interior alterations are proposed. For a multi-storey building, this includes the address of the building as well as the location and address of the suite/unit within the building where the work is proposed. A key plan may be combined with the site plan for a single-storey building if done in a legible manner.
Detailed floor plans are needed to make sure your application complies with the zoning bylaw and building code requirements.
The floor plans must include:
Additional requirements for specific business activities:
Depending on the project scope, some of the following may also be required.
| Required Documents | Application Guidance |
|---|---|
| Structural, Mechanical, and Electrical Plans and Specifications |
|
| Mechanical Plans and Specifications |
|
| Electrical Plans and Specifications |
|
| Sections and Details |
|
| Energy Code Documents |
|
| Professional Schedules |
|
| Fire Safety Documents |
|
| Variance/Alternative Solution Request |
|
3.7 and Gender-Inclusive Washroom Guide discussing the requirements for minimum required number of water closets of Section 3.7 Health requirements in conjunction with gender-inclusive washrooms as well as conventional gender-designated facilities.
3.8 Barrier Free and Accessibility Guide discussing the minimum requirements of section 3.8-Accessibility of the National Building Code (Alberta Edition).
Application for Barrier-Free Relaxation of one or more of the requirements of Section 3.8. Accessibility of the National Building Code (Alberta Edition) if it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Provincial Building Administrator that specific requirements are unnecessary, or extraordinary circumstances prevent conformance. This is administered by the Provincial Building Administrator.
Businesses doing commercial interior renovations can request permission to proceed with some interior demolition work while they await approval and issuance of their full interior alteration and associated trades permits.
Selective Interior Demolition Permission can only be requested in conjunction with a complete application for a change to an existing commercial building, where the work involves interior alterations only and no development permit is required. It can not be applied for separately and is not available for work that involves a change of use for business activities, exterior alterations and/or additions. Permanent sign applications remain a separate process.
Permission is limited to the removal of fixtures and finishes, selective deconstruction of partitions, asbestos and hazmat remediation in relation to the project, and plumbing groundwork or underfloor work.
The interior alteration application must meet the minimum submission requirements on the first intake screening to qualify for Selective Interior Demolition Permission. If the application is deemed incomplete, the request for Selective Interior Demolition Permission will be refused and no work may start until the building permit is issued.
Minimum requirements include:
Note: A Selective Interior Demolition Permission is not a full building permit and does not permit new construction activities other than as outlined in the permission conditions.
The installation of storage racking is considered a change to an existing building and requires building permit review when any of the following applies:
Following are the 5 main documents that must be submitted with the application:
Projects involving the exterior of the building have additional application requirements. Review the following to determine what is required in addition to the basic requirements listed under Change of Use and/or Interior Alterations.
Building exterior changes include the installation of new cladding, doors and windows
| Required Document | Application Guidance |
|---|---|
| Elevation Plans |
For exterior changes including new cladding, doors and windows |
| Sections and Details |
Sections and details may be required where they help determine if the work meets the requirements. A section is a view of a building that shows the structure sliced along an imaginary plane. They may clarify building height, headroom heights, floor to floor heights, the building structure Details are close-up views of parts of the building. |
| Energy Code Documents | Required for alterations if the original building permit was issued after October 31, 2016; National Building Code (Alberta Edition): Section 9.36 or National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) as applicable. See more in Energy Code Requirements. |
| Fire Safety Documents |
A completed fire safety plan is required at the time of commercial building permit application. For exterior alterations use the Construction Fire Safety Plan For Major Projects |
All of the below documentation is required when constructing an addition. Additions include any construction that increases an existing building area, building height or interior floor surface area.
| Required Document | Application Guidance |
|---|---|
| Survey Plan | Prepared by a registered Alberta land surveyor. Survey Plan Standards |
| Certificate of Title |
Must be current (dated within the previous 3 months). |
| Lot Grading Plan | See Lot Grading for more information and examples. |
| Landscaping Plan | See Landscaping for more information and examples. |
| Building Plans |
Building permit plan standards are generally more stringent than development permit standards. |
| Elevation Plans |
For exterior changes including new cladding, doors and windows |
| Sections and Details |
Sections and details sufficient to determine if the work meets the requirements. A section is a view of a building that shows the structure sliced along an imaginary plane. They clarify building height, headroom heights, floor to floor heights, the building structure Details are close-up views of parts of the building. |
| Energy Code Documents | Required for additions if the original building permit was issued after October 31, 2016. Additions are subject to National Building Code (Alberta Edition); Section 9.36 (any size) or National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB)(minimum 10 sq m). See more in Energy Code Requirements |
| Professional Schedules |
The requirement for stamped drawings and schedules for National Building Code (Alberta Edition) depends on the project size and complexity. See more in Professional Involvement Standards |
| Fire Safety Documents |
A completed fire safety plan is required at the time of commercial building permit application. For additions use the Construction Fire Safety Plan For Major Projects |
| Geotechnical Report | Prepared by a registered engineering professional |
| New Home Warranty |
Required for new dwellings that will be sold |
Site changes include changes to site access, site layout, landscape islands, parking aisles, parking lot sidewalk or line striping affecting accessible parking stalls. Depending on the project scope, some of the following may also be required.
| Required Document | Application Guidance |
|---|---|
| Site Plan | See requirements for Site Plan. For changes made to the waste storage area or access to multi-unit housing developments, see the design guidelines for more information. |
| Survey | Prepared by a registered Alberta land surveyor. |
| Lot Grading Plan | See Lot Grading for more information and examples. |
| Landscaping Plan | See Landscaping for more information and examples. |
You can apply for permits online at selfserve.edmonton.ca. The project can then be managed by the permit holder or delegated constructor through the project dashboard.
The permit holder can see the status, respond to more information requests, find reviewed plans and permit documents to have on the job site, add and change trades, initiate the revision process if needed, request all inspections, and track inspection outcomes.
For inquiries and questions, please book a virtual or in-person appointment.
For a complete list of fees see:
The 2024 fees are included in the 2024 Planning and Development Fee Schedules (effective January 1, 2024).
Note: Development permit fees are only charged after the development permit review is complete. Applicants will not be charged if City staff determine that a development permit is not required.
There are several ways to make a payment.
Additional fees may apply for revisions to your application.
Permits are documents that provide legal permission to begin construction based on the reviewed plans. Starting construction without a building permit may result in stop-work orders, fines and/or administrative penalties.
Changing business activities without a development permit may result in an inability to obtain a business licence. Learn how zoning affects your business.
City staff will review your application for compliance with the Zoning Bylaw and applicable Safety Codes.
Overall application processing times can be found on the development and construction application processing times web page. Applicants can also check the status of their specific application by visiting their project dashboard in SelfServe.
See up-to-date queue times for building permit applications.
City staff may request additional information at various stages of the Development Permit and Building Permit process. To learn how to reply to a more information request in selfserve.edmonton.ca, see the More Information Requested (MIR) Guide.
To make changes before a Development Permit or Building Permit is issued, consult the City staff assigned to your file.
After a Development Permit or Building Permit is issued, request Permit Revisions in selfserve.edmonton.ca. Additional charges may apply for revisions.
To cancel your application, email the Cancellation/Refund Request form to the person who is handling your application.
After your project has progressed to the right stage, you must request that a Safety Codes inspector visit your site.
Failure to complete required inspections may result in you having to remove finished walls and/or additional inspection costs and delays.
All required inspections for a project are listed in SelfServe after issuing a permit. You can request, cancel, or reschedule them there. You can also request inspections by calling 311 (outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311).
Deviation from reviewed plans cannot be endorsed on-site. When work completed does not match the reviewed plans, revised plans must be submitted for additional review.
Review the Commercial Inspections page to learn:
Application processing times vary based on:
