AlbertaBuilderLicensing.What You Need to Know

Frequently Asked QuestionsQ. How do I apply for a builder licence?• Throughanonlineapplicationat

www.builderlicensing.alberta.ca.

Q. What are the fees? • Aninitialapplicationcosts$600.• Eachrenewalapplicationcosts$500.

Q. How long is the licence valid?• Oneyearfromthedateofissue,unless

otherwisestatedbytheRegistrar.

Q. What happens on December 1, 2017?• Fromthatdateforward,residential

builderswhoplantoobtainbuildingpermitsfornewhomeswillneedalicence.

Q. How will consumers know if a builder is licensed?• Thepublicregistrywilllistalllicensed

buildersinAlberta.

Q. Where can I go for more information? • Web:www.builderlicensing.alberta.ca• Email:builderlicensing@gov.ab.ca• Phone:1-866-421-6929

Key DatesDecember 1, 2017 –Programrequirementscomeintoeffect.Provisionallicencesareissuedtoexistingbuilderswithacleanrecordofcompliance.

March 31, 2018 –Allbuilders,includingthosewithaprovisionallicence,areencouragedtoapplyfortheirlicencebeforethisdatetoavoidprocessingdelaysthatcouldimpacttheirbusiness.

May 1, 2018–Provisionallicencesexpire.AllbuildersmustpossessalicencetobuildnewhomesinAlberta.

Contact UsWeb:www.builderlicensing.alberta.caEmail:builderlicensing@gov.ab.caPhone:1-866-421-6929

November2017v3

What’s Changing?BeginningDecember 1, 2017,all residential home builders are required to have a licencewhentheygotoobtainabuildingpermitforanewhome.BuilderlicensingappliestotheconstructionofnewhomestowhichtheNew Home Buyer Protection Actapplies,includingcondominiums.

Provisional LicenceExperiencedbuilderswhohavebuiltatleasttwonewhomesinthelasttwoyearsmayqualifyforatemporarylicence.Thereisnoapplicationrequired.Thisprovidesbuilderswithadditionaltimetosubmittheirapplica-tionforafullbuilderlicence.A provisional licence expires on May 1, 2018.

Full LicenceNewbuildersorexistingbuilderswhodonotqualifyforaprovisionallicencemustapplyforafullbuilderlicenceiftheyintendtobuildhomesinAlbertaafterDecember1,2017.ApplicationscanbesubmittedthroughtheNewHomeBuyerportalbeginningDecember1,2017.Thelicencefeeis$600andisvalidforoneyear,unlessotherwiseindicated.Licencerenewalis$500.

Owner Builder AuthorizationIndividualsplanningtobuildtheirownhomemustapplytotheRegistrarforanOwnerBuilderAuthorization,whetherbuildingwithorwithoutwarranty.Formoreinformation,visitwww.homewarranty.alberta.ca.

Information for Permit IssuersCurrentlyundertheNew Home Buyer Protection Act,abuildingpermitcannotbeissuedunlessappropriatewarrantycoverageoranexemptionfromthecoveragerequire-mentisinplaceontheproperty.Thatprocessremainsinplace,andbeginningDecember1,2017,thepermitapplicantisalsorequiredtoprovideproofofabuilderlicence.

Permitissuers,accreditedmunicipalitiesandaccreditedagenciescanconfirmanappli-cant’slicencestatusbycheckingtheappli-cant’sRegistrar’sCertificate,theirCertificateofLicence,aswellasthebuilderregistryatwww.builderlicensing.alberta.ca.

Applying for a Builder LicenceBuilderscanapplyforalicenceonlineatwww.builderlicensing.alberta.ca.Theapplicationwillaskfor:• Basicbusinesscontactinformation,

includingcontactinformationfordirectors

• Listofassociatedbuildingcompanies• Proofofacceptancebyawarranty

provider• Anyhistoryoffraud• Anyundischargedbankruptciesor

arrangementsundertheCompanies’ Creditors Arrangement Actthathavenotbeencompleted

• Building-relatedcourtproceedings• Compliancerecordwithsafetyand

consumerprotectionlegislation• Photocopiesofthedriver’slicencesor

government-issuedidentificationassociatedwithallcompanydirectors

Two Licence ClassesBuilderscanapplyaseitheradeveloperorageneralcontractor,dependingonwhattypesofhomestheyintendtoconstruct.Bothmaysellnewhomesdirectlytoaconsumer.

1. Licensed Developer• Alicenseddevelopertypicallybuilds

residentialprojectswithfiveormoredwellingunits,suchascondominiums.

• Whentheprojectrequirestheinvolve-mentofacoordinatingregisteredprofessional,thebuilderisrequiredtohaveadeveloperlicence.

• Acoordinatingregisteredprofessionalcoordinatesthedesignworkandfieldreviewoftheotherregisteredprofession-alsrequiredtocomplywiththeAlbertaBuildingCode.

2. Licensed General Contractor• Ageneralcontractorbuildssingle-family

homesormultiple-familydwellingsuptofourdwellingunits.

• Theseresidentialbuildingsdonotrequireacoordinatingregisteredprofes-sionalbutmayrequiretheinvolvementofregisteredprofessionalsforcertainaspectsofthebuilding.

Formoreinformation,visitwww.builderlicensing.alberta.ca