HVAC Permit - Commercial

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Commercial HVAC permit for new buildings and changes to existing:

Commercial, industrial, institutional or mixed-use (a blend of commercial and residential) buildings
Apartments/condos
Row houses with 5 or more dwelling units
Stacked row houses

Includes kitchen exhaust systems, make up air units, spray applications, roof-top units, dust collecting systems and systems.

For heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work inside a home see Residential Heating and Ventilating Permits.

Service Overview

Fees

Base inspection costs are included in permit fees.

Fees listed below apply to both stand-alone HVAC permits and HVAC permits obtained in connection with a building permit.

New Construction
2025 fees effective January 1, 2025

Project Type	HVAC Permit Fee	Minimum Fee	Safety Codes Fee
New commercial, industrial, institutional, multi-residential development	$0.59 per $1,000 construction value	$185	4% of the permit cost with a minimum of $4.50 and maximum of $560

Altering or Replacing an Existing System
2025 fees effective January 1, 2025

Project Type	HVAC Permit Fee	Safety Codes Fee¹	Total
Commercial building	$185 per unit or address	$7.40	$192.40 per unit or address
Multi-unit residential building	$120 per unit or address	$4.80	$124.80 per unit or address

⁽¹⁾ Construction value is defined as the total cost of materials and services. Construction value does not include: landscaping, parking lots, sidewalks, furnishings, appliances, interior window coverings, temporary service connections, insurance or bonding, interim financing, permit fees, professional consulting fees, GST.

⁽²⁾ Safety code fee is 4% of the permit cost with a minimum of $4.50 and a maximum of $560.00.

For more information see the 2025 Planning and Development Fee Schedules, effective January 1, 2025.

Timelines

Permit Review Timelines

HVAC permit applications submitted in connection to a building permit are typically reviewed within 1-4 business days after the building permit is issued.

Stand-alone HVAC permit applications are reviewed to determine if a development permit and/or building permit is/are required. HVAC permit applications are typically reviewed within 2 business days.

Permits

Do I Need A Permit?

An HVAC permit is required when installing or altering heating and ventilating equipment.

HVAC equipment includes, but is not limited to, HVAC systems, make-up air units, kitchen exhaust systems, heat pumps, air-conditioning units, spray booth exhausts, dust-collecting systems, and ventilating systems.

An HVAC permit is not required for routine maintenance.

Maintenance means the like-for-like repair or replacement of worn or damaged building components or systems, including mechanical and electrical systems, for their preservation or upkeep but not their improvement, renovation, remodel or upgrade.

Stand-Alone HVAC Permits

Apply for an HVAC permit together with the appropriate building permit type:

As part of a New Commercial Building Permit application
A Change to Existing Building Permit application for any existing building or addition

An HVAC permit is not to be applied for separately unless the project is limited to HVAC work only. No fee refunds will be made if a standalone trade permit is applied for when trade permits should be included as part of the building permit project.

Standalone HVAC permits are rare. Many HVAC projects involving changes to the exterior of a building,including the roof, will require a development permit and building permit.

Standalone HVAC permits applications must include:

Architectural drawings
Mechanical drawings

Who Can Apply for Permits?

Permit applicants must meet the following criteria:

Hold a valid business licence with the City of Edmonton
Be a ticketed journeyman registered with the City of Edmonton

To register a ticketed journeyman with the City of Edmonton email the following items to hvactechdesk@edmonton.ca:

Completed HVAC Contractor Journeyperson Form
City of Edmonton business licence number
Copy of sheet metal worker certification
Copy of a government-issued photo identification (driver's licence, passport, or similar ID)

Alternative Solutions/Variances

Variances or alternative solutions are installations, processes, equipment, or actions that are not consistent with the Alberta Safety Codes Act but provide an equal or greater level of safety.

Submit a request for an alternative solution with the permit application using the Variance/Alternative Solutions Request Form.

Contractor Changes

Contractor changes can be completed within the Self-Serve project dashboard until the permit is issued.

After the permit is issued or an inspection has occurred, submit the completed Request for Change of Permit Holder form to HVACtechdesk@edmonton.ca.

A new permit may be required if inspections have occurred.

Apply for Your Permit

Apply Online

Submit the application online. HVAC contractors must be licensed with the City of Edmonton.

Apply Online

Email or Drop off the Application

Download and complete the fillable PDF Application Form , including a description of the location and extent of the proposed work.
Attach Architectural and Mechanical plans and/or specifications (standalone HVAC applications only) to the completed application, and
1. email to HVACTechDesk@edmonton.ca or
2. drop off at the Edmonton Service Centre
  For inquiries and questions, please book a virtual or in-person appointment.
Begin work only after the City of Edmonton has issued the required permits following a satisfactory review of the application.
Request an inspection within the SelfServe project dashboard under the 'Inspections' heading, or if necessary, call 311.

After You Apply

Work cannot be started until permits are issued. Starting construction without a permit can result in stop work orders, fines and/or administrative penalties.

To make changes before a Development Permit or Building Permit is issued, consult the City staff member assigned to your file.

After a Development Permit or Building Permit is issued, request Permit Revisions in selfserve.edmonton.ca. Additional charges may apply for revisions.

To cancel your application, email the Cancellation/Refund Request form to the City staff member assigned to your file.

Inspections

After your project has progressed to the right stage, you must request that a Safety Codes inspector visit your site.

Failure to complete required inspections may result in you having to remove finished walls and/or additional inspection costs and delays.

All required inspections for a project are listed in SelfServe after issuing a permit. You can request, cancel, or reschedule them there. You can also request inspections by calling 311 (outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311).

Deviation from reviewed plans cannot be endorsed on-site. When work completed does not match the reviewed plans, revised plans must be submitted for additional review.

Review the Commercial Inspections page to learn:

How to prepare for your inspection by displaying the address, providing safe access and having the reviewed permit documents printed on site for reference by the inspector
At which stages to request inspections
How to request inspections
What to expect during each inspection type

Technical Information

Resources

Download Free Codes from the National Research Council

Alberta Safety Codes Council

Government of Alberta Municipal Affairs

City of Edmonton - Safety Codes Permit Bylaw 15894

Frequently Asked Questions

When will my permit be issued?

Trade Permit Connected to Building Permit

When a trade permit is submitted in conjunction with a building permit, the following must be completed before the trade permit is issued:

permit application review is complete, and
all fees are paid

Consult with your building permit holder to determine the status of the building permit application.

Stand-Alone Trade Permit

When a permit is submitted for stand-alone work, the following must be completed before the trade permit is issued:

Application for a development permit and confirmation that a development is not required.
Application for a building permit and confirmation that a building permit is not required.

Note: Stand-alone trade permits submitted in error will be refunded less a fee. See Additional Fees for more information.

When does my permit expire?

Permits expire:

90 days from the date of permit issuance if construction has not started, or
24 months from the date of permit issuance

Contact Us

Edmonton Service Centre

Hours of Operation (by appointment):
8am-4:30pm
Monday - Friday

Telephone

In Edmonton: 311
Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311

Email	HVACtechdesk@edmonton.ca

HVAC Permit - Commercial

Service Overview

New Construction2025 fees effective January 1, 2025

Altering or Replacing an Existing System2025 fees effective January 1, 2025

Permits

Apply for Your Permit

Apply Online

Email or Drop off the Application

After You Apply

Inspections

Technical Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

Edmonton Service Centre

New Construction
2025 fees effective January 1, 2025

Altering or Replacing an Existing System
2025 fees effective January 1, 2025