Projects
Text Amendment Process
Public involvement is an important part of the text amendment process. Text amendments to the Zoning Bylaw follow the following four stage process:
Information Gathering
During the information gathering stage, City staff research text amendment options and any associated land use issues. At this stage, information may be compiled into a report and presented to the Urban Planning Committee of Council. The Urban Planning Committee may recommend that City Council consider a Zoning Bylaw text amendment.
Public Involvement: Many of the projects listed on this page will have a public engagement component. We welcome public involvement, as it helps to inform recommendations and reports to City Council.
Draft Amendment
During the draft amendment stage, City staff use the findings obtained during the information gathering stage to craft a draft Zoning Bylaw amendment.
Public involvement: The draft amendment will be sent or presented to interest groups such as community associations, business groups, City of Edmonton departments, external government agencies, or the general public in order to get feedback. The amendment may be redrafted several times at this stage to reflect the comments received.
Proposed Amendment
During the proposed amendment stage, a draft bylaw containing the amendments is finalized and a report is prepared for a public hearing and Council vote.
Public Involvement: If you wish to offer feedback at this point in the process, you must register to speak to City Council at the public hearing where the proposed amendments will be heard or submit written comments. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office for further information about registering to speak at a public hearing or submitting written comments.
Council Decision
At the council decision stage, the proposed text amendment must receive three readings from Council in order to be added to the Zoning Bylaw.
Public Involvement: There is no public involvement at this stage of the process.
Purpose
At the June 30, 2025, City Council Public Hearing, Council approved Zoning Bylaw amendments to reduce the maximum building length for development on mid-block lots in the RS - Small Scale Residential Zone and improve design regulations for front facades and articulation requirements that apply to row housing and multi-unit housing.
At the February 17, 2026, City Council meeting, the following additional motion was passed:
That Administration prepare amendments to the Zoning Bylaw, Section 2.10 RS - Small Scale Residential Zone to reduce the maximum building height (Section 4.1.6) to 9.5 metres and return to a future City Council Public Hearing.
Proposed Changes
The City is proposing changes to reduce the maximum building height of the RS Zone from 10.5 metres to 9.5 metres. This change, in combination with the other recent amendments made to the RS Zone, are intended to encourage better building design outcomes.
City Council Public Hearing Date
The Public Hearing for these changes began on April 7 and has been carried over to April 27 (see item 4.1).
Next Steps
If City Council approves the Zoning Bylaw amendment to the RS Zone, the City proposes that the new height limit not take effect until August 1, 2026. This means the 9.5-metre requirement would only apply to development permit applications approved on or after that date.
For More Information
Infill Development in Your Neighbourhood
Purpose
As part of the October 29, 2024 Urban Planning Committee Trees on Public and Private Property report (Item 7.2), it was identified that ensuring new developments comply with the City’s private property landscaping requirements is necessary to meet the City’s 20 per cent tree canopy target.
Currently, Zoning Bylaw 20001 only requires landscape securities for large-scale residential, mixed-use and non-residential development.
At the November 13, 2024 City Council meeting, the following motion was passed:
That Administration engage with city building partners and prepare amendments to Zoning Bylaw 20001 to expand the landscape securities program to enable the administration of landscape securities for small-scale residential developments and return to a future City Council Public Hearing.
Proposed Changes
To respond to the motion, the City is proposing to expand the requirement for landscape securities to small-scale residential developments including single detached, semi-detached, duplex, and row housing in two phases.
Target City Council Public Hearing Date
May 26, 2026
Members of the public can share their thoughts on the proposed changes directly with City Council by registering to speak once the Public Hearing agenda is posted at edmonton.ca/meetings.
Next Steps
If approved by City Council, the proposed changes to implement the first phase of the program will come into effect on January 1, 2027.
For More Information
Landscaping for Small Scale Residential Developments
Landscaping for Multi-Unit, Commercial and Industrial Developments
Purpose
At the October 16-23, 2023 City Council Public Hearing, the following motion was passed:
That Administration, as part of the Zoning Bylaw (Charter Bylaw 20001) one-year review report, include analysis on the Child Care Services provision since enactment of Charter Bylaw 20001 and provide options for amendments to further expand opportunities for Child Care Services, if required.
Proposed Changes
To support more opportunities for child care, the City is proposing to amend Zoning Bylaw 20001 to reduce the pick-up and drop-off requirement for child care services citywide and make child care services a permitted use in 17 Special Area Zones.
Previous Council Reports
June 17, 2025 Urban Planning Committee One Year Review of Child Care Services report (see item 6.2)
Public Engagement
Child Care Services What We Heard Summary
The full What We Heard report will be provided as an attachment to the upcoming City Council Public Hearing report.
Target Public Hearing Date
June 23, 2026
Members of the public can share their thoughts on the proposed changes directly with City Council by registering to speak once the Public Hearing agenda is posted at edmonton.ca/meetings.
Purpose
At the June 30, 2025 City Council Hearing, the following motion was passed:
That Administration prepare an analysis of how lodging houses are defined, regulated and permitted, and provide options to further regulate their size and location to ensure that impacts and their operations are regulated appropriately through Zoning Bylaw 20001 or Business Licence Bylaw 20002.
Project Status
To address concerns about lodging house operations, hourly short-term rentals, and to support better compliance and enforcement, the City is exploring changes to Zoning Bylaw 20001 and/or Business Licence Bylaw 20002.
Target City Council Dates
Urban Planning Committee: July 2, 2026
Public Hearing: To be determined
Members of the public can share their thoughts directly with members of City Council by registering to speak once the meeting agendas are posted at edmonton.ca/meetings.
For More Information
Lodging Houses