March 4, 2025
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) announced that Edmonton ranked number one in its 2024 Municipal Benchmarking Study. This is the second time in a row Edmonton has taken top spot on the survey, which examines how local development processes, approvals and charges affect housing affordability and housing supply in major housing markets across the country.
The report evaluated 23 municipalities across Canada in several areas that have direct links to issues related to housing supply and/or housing affordability, including:
- Approval timelines
- Charges and fees on new development
- Planning approval processes and features
“The City has been working to reduce barriers to housing development for more than a decade, and today’s announcement reaffirms our efforts are not only making a real difference but making Edmonton a national leader in housing affordability,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “We are making transformational policy changes and forging strong relationships with our development partners to ensure Edmonton remains a place of opportunity and affordability long into the future.”
According to CHBA, among Canada’s largest six municipalities Edmonton ranked:
- Second in planning features with an overall score of 85 per cent
- First in approval timelines with a reduction from 10.5 months to 3.4 months over the past two years
- Best in low-rise government charges
- Best in high-rise government charges
“Today’s announcement is a moment to recognize the extraordinary progress we’ve made as a city but we must continue to build on this momentum to keep Edmonton at the forefront of planning and development,” said Katrina Rowe, BILD Edmonton Metro’s Chair of the Board and President, Communities of Cantiro. “We must adapt to market conditions, address barriers to development and continue to plan for this growth. By ensuring abundant and accessible housing, we lay the groundwork for everyone to pursue their dreams and realize their full potential.”
Like many municipalities across Canada, Edmonton continues to experience unprecedented growth. From 2021 to 2024, more than 100,000 people moved to Edmonton with similar growth numbers expected over the next three years. Current forecasts have Edmonton’s population reaching two million between 2060 to 2065. Edmonton is ahead of the curve nationally when it comes to housing starts. The City has 2.5 per cent of Canada’s population, yet accounted for six per cent of the national housing starts in 2024.
In 2024, Edmonton’s housing development included:
- 16,000 net new dwelling units
- 50 per cent more permits for new residential construction in 2024 than in 2023
- 178,803 safety inspections, approximately 700 per day
