Project Overview

The City of Edmonton is currently reviewing the Vehicle for Hire Program and Bylaw. The goal of the Vehicle for Hire Mandate project is to:

  1. Define the program’s role in regulating and intervening in the Vehicle for Hire industry
  2. Develop and implement the resulting governance, service delivery and operating model to support the chosen mandate

The City’s Vehicle for Hire Program and Bylaw

Vehicles for Hire in Edmonton transport passengers from one destination to another for a fee. These vehicles could include limousines, shuttles, taxis, rideshare companies, or other types of private transportation services.

The Vehicle for Hire Bylaw 17400 allows the City of Edmonton to regulate transportation services to ensure:

  • Public safety and consumer protection
  • Accessible vehicle-for-hire services
  • Fair competition and open innovation

Project Phases

The Mandate project is currently scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026, with final subsequent Mandate and Fee and Fare bylaw amendment implementation scheduled for first and second quarters of 2027. The project will include the following phases:

  • Phase 1: Foundational Research and Current State Analysis
  • Phase 2: Internal Strategic Planning
  • Phase 3: Future Mandate Option Development and Impact Analysis
  • Phase 4: Mandate Option Refinement & Finalization
  • Phase 5: Governance, Service Delivery Model, and Operating Model Development
  • Phase 6: Implementation and Transition Planning
     

Share Your Feedback

Engagement is a critical component of defining the future mandate and regulatory scope. The project will involve consultation with various impacted groups to gather feedback on impacts of proposed solutions, including but not limited to:

  • Vehicle for Hire Industry Dispatchers and Drivers.
  • Users of vehicle for hire services.
  • The Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) and Women’s Advocacy Voice of Edmonton (WAVE)

The project team will be reaching out to engagement groups in spring 2026 to discuss additional details regarding the project and where groups will be engaged throughout the project phases.

History of Vehicles for Hire in Edmonton

Vehicles for Hire play a critical role within Edmonton’s mobility network, providing on-demand transportation options for citizens. Key milestones in the evolution of this industry in Edmonton include:

Early Regulation and Market Stabilization (early 1900s): 

Motorized taxi cabs emerged as a luxury service in Edmonton in the 1920s, leading to early regulations. The intense competition that followed was marked by low fares and prompted calls from established operators for municipal intervention. This resulted in the implementation of regulated taxi fares by meters in 1937 to ensure a living wage for drivers.

Formation of the Taxi Commission and Supply Management (1980s): 

In 1980, the "Taxi Bylaw" was introduced, establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for taxis. This included setting standards for vehicles, fares, licensing, and governance through the newly established Edmonton Taxi Commission.

Responding to concerns about market oversaturation and its impact on drivers' livelihoods, the City began to limit the number of taxi licenses. This era marked a key shift towards supply management, culminating in a freeze on new taxi plate issuance by 1986 to ensure market stability. 

Governance Restructuring (2008-2012): 

In 2008, the vehicle for hire bylaw was updated and introduced new regulations for all types of for hire vehicles, including accessible taxis, within its broader framework

The roles of the Commission and City Administration were clarified through the separation of governance and operational activities in 2008. In a subsequent change,The Edmonton Taxi Commission was dissolved in 2012, and its mandate was transferred to City Administration under the Vehicle for Hire unit.

Market Entry of Rideshares and Regulatory Modernization (2015-Present): 

Edmonton was the first Canadian municipality to formally regulate rideshare services, introducing the current Vehicle for Hire Bylaw 17400 in 2016. This modernized regulatory framework was developed to integrate app-based business models and dynamic pricing while applying consistent safety standards across all providers, resulting in a more tailored and complex regulatory environment.
 

Project Questions

For any inquiries on this project, please contact the Vehicle for Hire team at vehicleforhire@edmonton.ca