Compliance Certificates
The City of St. Albert doesn't require Compliance Certificates but does provide them as a service to the public.
When you sell or remortgage your home, typically, your financial institution will require a Compliance Certificate from the City prior to releasing mortgage funds, or it will be a condition placed on an offer to purchase your home. A Compliance Certificate is a confirmation provided by the City of St. Albert that developments and improvements on your property comply with the Land Use Bylaw. The City does not require Compliance Certificates, but instead provides them as a service, at the request of an applicant.
In St. Albert, a Compliance Certificate consists of a letter or a stamped Real Property Report advising if the use complies with zoning and how the developments shown on a Real Property Report relate to land use bylaw regulations. The City of St. Albert is not able to comment on the compliance of buildings, improvements or measurements that are incorrectly shown, or not shown, on the information provided.
It can take up to 15 working days for you to receive a Compliance Certificate. If you require accelerated service, the City can process your application within five (5) business days. Accelerated service is not available for commercial, industrial or residential multi-family sites.
Since most real estate transactions now require a Compliance Certificate, you should strongly consider applying for one at the time you list your property for sale rather than waiting until an offer is pending.
The City requires a Real Property Report to process Compliance Certificates and may refuse to accept an incomplete or illegible document. A Real Property Report can only be prepared by a registered Alberta land surveyor. A Real Property Report Brochure describing a Real Property Report is available from the Alberta Land Surveyor's Association.
Application Checklist
To receive a timely decision on your application, please ensure that your application is clear, legible and accurate. If any part of your application is missing, unreadable or inaccurate, your application will be deemed incomplete, and a decision will not be rendered.
Your application must include
- Complete application form
- Payment of fees:
| Development Type | 2024 Fees |
|---|---|
| Single-Family Residential Regular Service (within 15 working days) | $270.00 |
| Accelerated (within five working days) | $425.00 |
| Multi-Family Residential (accelerated service unavailable) | $1,220.00 |
| Commercial/Industrial (accelerated service unavailable) | $1,220.00 |
- Provide at least two original Real Property Reports (obtained from a registered Alberta land surveyor) that have been produced no more than five years prior to the date of submission.
- Apply for your compliance certificate early - prior to listing a property, if possible.
- Obtain a development permit before you build; if not, it may delay the sale of your home.
Note: If applying via email, please submit original stamped and signed copies in portable document format (PDF). Poor or incomplete scans will not be accepted.
Related Pages
Last edited: January 31, 2024