Property Records Roundup: October 2026
Published 2026-10-14 · 4 min read · Property Proof
Tags: Edmonton, Alberta, Building Permits, Zoning, Insurance
Four things on the public record this month that matter to anyone buying a home in Canada, and Edmonton in particular: permit volumes climbing, a lower height cap in Edmonton's most common residential zone, neighbours writing their own limits onto land title, and the one record a buyer still can't see.
Building Permits Climb in August
Statistics Canada reported $13.6 billion in building permits for August 2026, up 8.8% from July and up 15.8% from August 2025. Residential permits drove the increase at $8.5 billion, up 15.3% from July, with multi-unit permits up 23.8%. Alberta permits reached $2.0 billion, up 21.7% from July, and Edmonton reached $607.1 million, up 19.2%.
Every one of those permits becomes part of a property's record. Work that is permitted but never inspected stays open , and an open permit passes to the next owner.
Source: Statistics Canada, Building permits, August 2026 (released October 14, 2026).
Edmonton's RS Zone Height Limit Drops to 9.5 Metres
Since August 1, 2026, the maximum building height in Edmonton's RS (Small Scale Residential) zone has been 9.5 metres, down from 10.5 metres. Applications submitted before the City's transition cut-offs were assessed under the old limit, so homes built or approved in 2026 may have been permitted under either rule. Check the permit date rather than assuming.
More changes are on the way. On October 8, the province ordered Edmonton to repeal its 2024 zoning bylaw, return to the rules that came before it, and restore minimum on-site parking requirements. The City has three months to comply, and the current bylaw stays in effect until then. As of mid-October, council had not received the directive's exact wording.
Sources: City of Edmonton Zoning Bylaw 20001, as amended by Bylaw 21474; Government of Alberta directive announced October 8, 2026.
Restrictive Covenants in Duggan and Rideau Park
Homeowners in south Edmonton's Duggan and Rideau Park neighbourhoods have organized a 20-year restrictive covenant to limit redevelopment. Reported terms include a height cap of two storeys or eight metres, a limit on the number of units, and required on-site parking. Organizers told Global News that 293 homeowners had registered and paid to join.
A restrictive covenant registered on title under Alberta's Land Titles Act can bind future owners, not just the neighbours who signed it. A covenant can also prohibit building that zoning allows, so a lot zoned for a fourplex may be limited by its title. If you're buying in these neighbourhoods with plans to build, check the title for registered encumbrances, not just the zoning.
Source: Global News reporting, September 2026.
The Claims History Gap
Insurers look at a property's claims history before they quote a buyer. Past claims are often an insurer's best predictor of future claims activity, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. A seller can ask their own insurer for their claims record. A buyer has no way to see it before closing.
We've written about why that gap exists and what would close it . Until it closes, the permit record is the closest substitute a buyer has. A permit for a basement repair or a roof replacement doesn't say why the work was done, but it does tell you something was.
Source: Insurance Bureau of Canada.
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Get an Edmonton property history report →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum building height in Edmonton's RS zone?
9.5 metres, effective August 1, 2026. It was 10.5 metres before that. Applications submitted before the City's transition cut-offs were assessed under the old limit.
Does a restrictive covenant bind future owners in Alberta?
A restrictive covenant registered on title under Alberta's Land Titles Act can bind future owners, not just the people who signed it. It can also prohibit development that zoning would otherwise allow, so buyers planning to build should check title for registered encumbrances as well as zoning.
Can a Canadian homebuyer see a property's insurance claims history?
No. A seller can ask their own insurer for their claims record, but a buyer has no way to see a property's claims history before closing.