Edmonton ordered to revert to former zoning bylaw

The Alberta government says it will force Edmonton to revert its zoning bylaw to where it was before 2024 and reinstate minimum parking requirements to where they were before they were removed in 2020. Premier Danielle Smith said at a news conference on Oct. 8 that the current bylaw has led to "irresponsible" infill development, pointing to multifamily complexes in neighbourhoods dominated by single-family homes. "Let me be clear — the goal should not simply be more housing, but more housing that is planned and integrated in a way that works for both existing residents as well as future families," said Smith. Edmonton's zoning bylaw, passed in 2024, led to a record number of housing starts. Since it took effect, the city has permitted 5,187 five- to eight-plexes in mature neighbourhoods, which amounts to about 13% of all homes permitted.

Mayor Andrew Knack urged the province to pause this "chaotic directive", noting that it will result in higher taxes and reduced affordability. He said he will call an emergency council meeting to assess what the directive means for the city and to establish a path forward. He estimated the province's direction will cost the city millions of dollars and take away staff hours from the city's finance team, which is scheduled to release budget documents on Nov. 2 ahead of council deliberations. Plus, reverting the zoning bylaw will have an impact on the budget, because housing growth projections, along with tax revenue forecasting, will change. Alberta Municipalities president Dylan Bressey also spoke against the move. "Enough is enough," he said in a release. "The provincial government's overreach needs to stop."

The provincial government's directive, which followed public protests and includes quotes from infill opponents in Edmonton, could create uncertainty for the private sector, said housing scholar Damian Collins of the University of Alberta. Developers have made investment decisions based on the current rules, he noted. "Even if you don't like eight-plexes that much, the zoning bylaw deals with a lot more than just that specific housing type," Collins told CBC Edmonton. He added that reinstated parking minimums, which would undo work that the city has been recognized for, could slow down development and create extra costs.