Building Permits

Read more about the requirements for specific types of projects:

Fences
Decks
Solar Panels
Signage
Accessory Buildings
Accessory Dwelling Units
Green Buildings - Residential
Green Buildings - Large Residential and Commercial

The following documents and the applicable fee(s) are required for a complete application.

Use one of the application checklists below to help you prepare a complete application submission.

Residential Improvements

Uncovered Deck
Accessory Buildings (Garage, Shed, Carport)
Residential Addition (Covered Deck, Sunroom, Second Story, Adding Floor Area)
Interior Alterations and Basement Development
Accessory Dwelling Units, Attached (Secondary Suite)
Accessory Dwelling Units, Detached (Garden Suite)
Solar Panels
Wood Burning Fireplace
Hot Tub and Pools

Residential Buildings

New Detached or Duplex Dwelling
New Multi-Unit Residential
New Manufactured Dwelling

Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Buildings

New Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Buildings
Tenant Improvements to Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Buildings
Tent and Events
Bed and Breakfasts

Partial Foundation

Partial Foundation

Demolition

Demolition Building Permit Requirements Checklist

Demolition Permit - Mobile Home Move

Fences

For applications accepted on the Online Portal, please submit all application documents via the online portal. For all other applications, email a completed Building Permit Application Form and the required information outlined in the applicable application requirements list to planning@canmore.ca.

For application submissions that exceed 20MB, email planning@canmore.ca in advance of submitting your application. You will be provided with a file share link to upload your application submission. Please do not submit files using Dropbox.

• Before you can submit an application online, you must create an online portal account. 
  
• We are only processing select application types via the online portal. Review the information above to ensure that you are submit your application using the right channel. Continue to submit all other applications via email to planning@canmore.ca 

• You will only be able to see new Portal applications. Any previous or active applications will not be visible online. 

• Prepare your required documents separated in individual files, as you will be required to upload them individually. 

• You have 20 mins of inactivity for each section of the online application before it times out. 

• Save your progress often, as we do not have the ability to retrieve any information that may have been entered prior to timing out.  

• Check your spam/junk mail for emails from (donotreply – it will include your name, permit number, and further instructions) 

• Check your Portal account for regular updates. 

• If applications are submitted via the Portal, all subsequent documents and correspondence will come through the Portal.

• All issued documents will be available through the online portal via the “Docs and Images” section of your account. We will not email them to you seperately. 

• We will not retain any payment related information you use to pay your application fees. It will need to be re-entered for each new application.

• Payment will be required before your application is submitted for review.  

• We can only accept payments of up to $150,000. Payments that exceed that amount will require a cheque.  

• If we don't receive your payment within seven business days, your application will be cancelled.

If you encounter issues with the Portal, submit an online inquiry. Select CityView Portal Help from the top of the list. 

Development with a Total Construction Value (TCV) of less than $50,000 will have up to one year to complete construction. Development with a TCV of $50,000 or greater will have up to two years to complete construction. 

The Safety Codes Officer may set an expiry date longer than two years to complete a development, if in their opinion the development requires a longer construction period due to the projects size, complexity, or falls tragedy to fire or natural disaster. 

Should you not be able to complete your project by the original expiry date issued with your Building Permit, a one-time 12-month extension can be requested (subject to applicable fees). Should the development not be completed within the 12-month extension period, the applicant will have to re-apply for a new Building Permit and pay the applicable permit fees.

The building permit MUST be posted on site until all work is complete. 

Once the review of an application is approved the following responsibilities apply. These are excerpts from the Town of Canmore's Building Permit Bylaw.

SECTION 11 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PERMIT HOLDER
On the issuance of a Permit, the permit holder must:
(a) comply with the terms and conditions of the Permit; and
(b) undertake the construction, process or activity in accordance with the Act and
applicable codes and standards; and (c) notify the Town:
(i) if the permit holder does not intend to complete the undertaking, or
(ii) if there is a change in ownership from the owner as stated on the Permit
application, (d) ensure that all plans and specifications required to apply for the Permit are available at the construction site at all reasonable times for inspection by a Safety Codes Officer, and
(e) ensure that the Permit is posted, or otherwise identified, at the construction site.

SECTION 12 TERM OF A PERMIT
In the absence of a different term set under Section 10, a permit expires if the undertaking to which it applies
(a) is not commenced within 90 days from the date of issue of the permit, or
(b) is suspended or abandoned for a period of 120 days, or
(c) is in respect of a seasonal use residence and the undertaking is suspended or abandoned for a period of 240 days after the undertaking is started. Despite subsection (1), when the term of a Permit has not expired, the Town may, in writing, and on the request of the Permit holder, extend the permit for an additional fixed period of time that the Town considers appropriate.

SECTION 14. DEVIATION FROM PERMIT CONDITIONS
No person shall deviate or authorize a deviation from a Permit or terms or conditions of a permit without first obtaining the written permission of the Town.

SECTION 15 PERMIT TRANSFER, TERMINATION
If a holder of a Permit relinquishes the holder’s interest or participation in the undertaking governed by the Permit before the undertaking is completed, the Permit or any label or identification number issued as part of a Permit:
(a) is terminated, and
(b) applies only to the part of the undertaking completed before the termination unless the Town authorizes the Permit or label or identification number to be transferred. A Permit is not transferable to any other person unless the transfer is authorized in writing by the Town.

Once the final inspection has been passed and unconditional occupancy granted, the building permit file will be closed by the Town. As part of closing the file, a Permit Services Report (PSR) will be issued to the building permit holder.

PSRs are issued for all files that are closed. Please note that in some cases a PSR will be issued where conditions of a building permit are not complete or the work does not comply. This is done when a building permit expires and there has been no renewal applied for by the applicant. 

The Alberta Building Code requires some homes to use different construction materials and designs to improve fire resistance.

An Occupancy Certificate is a required document that is issued by the Town of Canmore, which grants a permit holder the ability to occupy a building. An Occupancy Certificate is required for a building after construction, relocation, partial demolition or after a change of the existing occupancy classification has taken place.

View a detailed process map outlining the various steps to obtaining an Occupancy Certificate.

The Occupancy Certificate process cannot be started until a final inspection of the project has been passed by the Safety Codes Officer. Final inspections can be arranged by contacting Superior Safety Codes Inc. office at 1.888.717.2344, allowing a minimum of 48 hours to book. 

Depending on the scale of development, the requirements to obtain an Occupancy Certificate will differ. 

To initiate the Occupancy Certificate process, please submit the required information to the Planner assigned to your Building Permit application. Only Occupancy Certificate requests that provide all required information will be reviewed. Incomplete submissions will be sent back to the applicant. 

It is important to read and understand your Occupancy Certificate and ensure that any conditions that are listed on it are met by the prescribed date (where applicable). Should the conditions of occupancy not be met by the outlined dates, the occupancy for the building may be revoked and the water turned off. A building permit is still open until all conditions of occupancy are completed. 

Permits are available through municipalities that are accredited to administer the Safety Codes Act, and through agencies who provide inspection services on behalf of the Alberta Safety Codes Authority (ASCA) in unaccredited municipalities. Where to get a Permit: Safety Codes Council

Water meter installation requests are managed by the Town of Canmore. If you need to have a water meter installed or removed, please complete the following online Water Meter Installation or Removal Request Form. 

NOTE: For smaller developments requiring a meter(s) ranging in size from 15-20 mm, requests must be received a minimum of 5 business days in advance. For Larger size water meters, requests must be made up to 4 months in advance. For further information please contact water@canmore.ca .

The Town of Canmore doesn't issue HVAC or mechanical permits, but any Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning work will require the appropriate permits where that work is covered by the Alberta Building Code, Canadian Electrical Code, Alberta Gas Code, or Alberta Plumbing Code. Furnace and heating appliance installations require gas permits, and all wood-burning fireplaces and stoves require a building permit.

An accessory building can be built in any yard except the front yard of a residential property and must maintain the required setbacks. If an accessory building is attached to the house it is subject to the same setback regulations as the principal building.