Our city is growing at an unprecedented pace. Over the last two years, more than 130,000 people have moved to the Edmonton area. To accommodate this growth in a fiscally, environmentally, and socially sustainable way, we must focus on growing in and up, rather than sprawling outward.
The City Plan, Edmonton’s roadmap for future growth, anticipates that 50% of new development will occur in existing communities as we move toward a population of two million. This means that the number of neighbourhoods experiencing construction will increase as Edmonton’s local construction industry will need to build more homes to provide places for new neighbours and families to live.
Increasing housing in established neighbourhoods brings many benefits:
Stronger communities – More families and neighbours help keep schools and local businesses open.
Sustainable city services – Increased density supports better, more frequent public transit and ensures our recreation centres, libraries, and other public facilities remain viable.
Financial sustainability – Everyone knows that sprawl is bad for the future of our communities and increases costs for all Edmontonians over time. Compact growth reduces infrastructure costs and makes better use of existing city services.
More housing options – A wider variety of homes creates more choices for people at all life stages.
Growth can also bring challenges, especially if construction isn’t managed responsibly. To ensure that infill is done in a way that protects existing residents and strengthens our communities, City Council has been working with administration to implement stronger builder accountability measures.
It's imperative that the City has a robust strategy in place to ensure issues and complaints are addressed promptly and effectively, and that building activity is carried out in a safe manner.
In response to increased infill construction, and to support The City Plan, we're developing tools to assist both existing residents and builders to be good neighbours and increase compliance at construction sites, without creating regulatory burdens which increase housing costs.
We want to ensure that when a builder is doing a good job managing their projects, we do not put arbitrary barriers in the way of building more homes. At the same time, when we are dealing with builders who struggle to responsibly manage projects, there must be safeguards in place to hold them accountable. This incentivizes good behaviour and disincentivizes corner cutting and irresponsible decisions.
I am pleased to see the city taking action to support responsible development in our neighbourhoods.
Strengthening Oversight and Accountability
While the vast majority of builders complete projects responsibly, there have been cases where construction sites were unsafe, disruptive, or non-compliant. Some residents have experienced property damage, hazardous sites, or repeated bylaw violations.
To address these issues, the City has introduced a new centralized system for handling residential development complaints and two key compliance tools:
Project Implementation Plan (PIP)
The PIP was launched December 1, 2024. It ensures builders take a proactive approach to managing construction safely and responsibly.
Builders must submit a detailed project plan outlining how they will manage their construction site.
The PIP is a permit requirement, meaning no project can proceed without a plan in place.
It applies to all phases of a project, from demolition to completion, especially when work affects adjacent private or public properties.
Builders must document excavation and protection strategies, such as shoring and other safety measures.
The PIP also promotes communication with neighbours, helping reduce surprises and disputes.
This tool ensures builders are held accountable for their work and that residents have clear expectations for construction in their community.
Construction Accountability Program (CAP)
The CAP is a major step forward in ensuring that problem builders face consequences for repeated violations. CAP will be implemented in 2025.
The program allows the City to refuse permits for developers with a history of non-compliance.
It prevents bad builders from re-incorporating under new names to bypass enforcement.
This initiative will be included in the Safety Codes Bylaw update in Q2 2025.
By tightening enforcement and requiring better planning from builders, we aim to reduce complaints, improve enforcement, and increase inspections.
Shifting Costs Away from Homeowners
Historically, Edmontonians have been paying for infill inspection and enforcement through property taxes. Starting in 2025, these costs will be shifted to developers through user fees on permits and land development applications, reducing the tax burden by $1.2 million.
Responding to Growth
I am a strong proponent for infill development because it is essential to Edmonton’s environmental, financial, and social viability. In cities like Toronto and Vancouver, restrictive housing policies have priced out an entire generation, making homeownership unattainable for many young Canadians. At the same time, unchecked suburban sprawl has driven up municipal costs, forcing some older Canadians out of their homes as property taxes rise to unsustainable levels.
Edmonton must avoid these mistakes, and we are leading the way in course correcting towards a more sustainable future. We know that infill development is critical for keeping Edmonton affordable, vibrant, and financially resilient. We also know that it must be done responsibly.
The vast majority of builders follow the rules and contribute positively to our city’s growth. However, a small number of bad actors cut corners, ignore regulations, and leave residents dealing with unsafe sites, property damage, and costly enforcement.
I am pleased to see Edmonton strengthening enforcement, increasing accountability, and ensuring fair cost distribution, so that responsible builders can continue the important work of meeting growing housing demand, while those who repeatedly violate the rules face real consequences.
To learn more, check out this City Report.
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