Residential Construction Practices

As part of this government’s commitment to ensure Alberta remains a safe place to live, work and raise a family, Municipal Affairs supports continual improvements in the residential construction industry that will provide reasonable assurance of the safety and construction quality of homes built in Alberta. 

During the recent housing boom, Municipal Affairs received a number of complaints from homeowners concerned with the construction quality of their recently built homes, which prompted the Ministry to proactively look into the matter.

Together with the City of Calgary, the Ministry looked at a sample of 20 residences that had experienced failures with their building envelopes (a home’s outer walls and ceiling). The purpose of the survey was to gain a better understanding of the reasons for these building failures, which can lead to mould growth in homes and be costly to repair. The homes surveyed were all found to be non-compliant with the Alberta Building Code.

Although the results indicated that Alberta Building Code requirements remain appropriate, the survey demonstrated a need for provincial and municipal governments, and the residential construction industry to take steps to safeguard the quality and integrity of new home construction in Alberta. 

With this in mind, the Minister of Municipal Affairs established a committee to examine the broader issues facing the residential construction industry. The committee was led by MLA Thomas Lukazsuk and included senior staff from Municipal Affairs, Advanced Education and Technology, Finance and Enterprise, Service Alberta, and Justice.

In the summer/fall of 2008, the committee led a series of consultations with stakeholders from the construction industry, warranty companies, and the Safety Codes Council to gather input and recommend solutions. Together they discussed:

  • Accountability of the Construction Industry
  • Consumer Protection and Recourse
  • Appropriate Worker Certification and Skills Development
  • Appropriate Inspection and Enforcement Processes

Recommendations from the committee’s work are currently under review.

If you have any questions about residential construction practices in Alberta, please call 1-866-421-6929.