Tips for Planning Your Project
Heritage Properties: Property listed on the Inventory of Historic Resources in Edmonton will require submission of additional information; see Zoning Bylaw Section 14.12 — Municipal Historic Evaluation. All proposed demolitions of buildings on the Inventory are vetted through the Heritage Conservation Unit prior to the issuance of the Development Permit. This process involves contact with City Council to determine if the City will intervene to formally protect the building from demolition. Contact heritageplanners@edmonton.ca for more information.
Development Permit Notification Signs: The notification signs are mandatory for the demolition of residential structures in mature and established neighbourhoods; excluding accessory structures (sheds/garages) in the rear yard that are not visible from the street.
Installation instructions will be provided to you once a Development Permit approval is granted. See
Infill Signage Requirements
for additional information on onsite signage.
Utility Location: Even small excavations can lead to unintended consequences! Alberta One-Call or 1-800-242-3447 provides a no-fee utility line marking service.
Natural Gas Service Line Management: A charged natural gas line struck during demolition may cause inconvenience and/or serious harm to persons and property. Demolition permit issuance follows primary line cutback confirmation, if applicable, by ATCO Gas. Arrangements for disconnect can take time so do not delay contacting them.
Do not confuse meter removal with a confirmed cutback of a utility line.
Secondary gas lines (For example, between house and detached garage) must be properly managed; these are usually not ATCO property or responsibility. Contact a gasfitter or search ‘Edmonton utility locate service’ for private line location and disconnection.
Asbestos Management: Anyone demolishing a building shall first ensure that any asbestos-containing materials with the potential to release fibres have been dealt with as per Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations. OHS provides guidance and administers oversight of asbestos remediation. Except for:
-
Detached garages, carports or accessory structures built entirely of wood, metal or plastic with NO interior wall covering, cavity or attic fill, and NO exterior stucco or brick cladding (attach an interior and exterior photo to the application), and
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Structures built after 1990
Arrangements for bulk sampling and asbestos removal can take time, so contact a consultant early in the planning process. Demolition Permit will not be issued until every structure to be demolished is determined to be clear of asbestos.
Residential Construction Guide: We recommend you review the
guide
. Considerate construction requires a conscious effort in applying precautionary measures and establishing communication with surrounding residents. Strong communication and construction management should improve relationships with neighbours and the City, reducing risk of fines and "stop work" orders being issued.
Construction Site Management Practices: As outlined in the Construction Site Management Practices Acknowledgement form, builders are responsible for ensuring a safe workplace and following the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation and Code. Also, if the intention is to continue directly from demolition to excavation for a new foundation (under separate permits for new construction) and site space-limitations rule out excavating per OHS requirements, an engineer-designed shoring system must be installed to contain the work within the site boundaries if extending the excavation onto an adjacent property is not expressly permitted by that property’s owner. Provide a copy of the engineer-stamped shoring design with the related building permit application.
Use of road right-of-way and public land-roadway, boulevard, sidewalk, alley or park lands for your project materials, equipment or temporary curb crossing access may only occur with approval through the Roadways Operations OSCAM office.
As per Alberta Building Code, it is the building permit holder’s and property owner’s obligation to ensure measures are in place for the protection of persons on or about the work site. A strongly-constructed fence at least 1.8 m high must be set up around the site perimeter, with gate(s) locked closed when the site is not active, to secure it if the demolition takes more than one day, if all debris is not yet cleaned up, or if excavation for new construction follows the demolition and the ground is not roughly levelled so as not to accumulate water.
Fire Safety Plan: We recommend you review Fire Code-mandated Fire Safety Planning For Construction, Renovation and Demolition Sites, and more specifically Small Building Evacuation Plan.