Edmonton approves more than half of permits needed to meet 2026 housing target, city says

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The City of Edmonton approved enough residential permits last year to construct more than half of the homes it wants to build before the end of 2026, including nearly all the permits needed to reach its missing middle housing target, according to the municipal government.

The intense push to grow the housing supply comes as the city works toward accomplishing three-year targets it set as part of a funding arrangement with the federal government.

Christel Kjenner, director of the city's housing action team, credited the boom to several initiatives, particularly the zoning bylaw that came into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

The bylaw, which explains what can be built where, allows up to eight residential units on most lots and allows for different forms of backyard housing — previously called garage or garden suites.

"Edmonton is the bright spot in Canada, right now, when it comes to showing how, through policy reform, collaboration with industry and through removing red tape, we really can enable an environment that allows our home-building industry to rise to the challenge of growth and maintain our affordability advantage overall," Kjenner said in an interview.

She noted, however, there is still more work to be done.