The 2023 Alberta building code
The National Building Code – 2023 Alberta Edition has applied since May 1, 2024. Permit applications submitted from that date are reviewed under the 2023 code; earlier applications stayed under the 2019 edition.
For additions and major renovations, the code that applies is generally the one in force when your permit application goes in, so the timing of an application can matter.
Energy efficiency: Tier 1
The code introduced tiered energy performance requirements. Alberta adopted Tier 1 as the provincial standard for new homes from May 1, 2024, and has not set a timeline for higher tiers. In practice that shapes insulation, windows, airtightness and mechanical choices on a custom home.
The 2024 Canadian Electrical Code
Electrical installations permitted in Alberta on or after April 1, 2025 must meet the 2024 Canadian Electrical Code. Work permitted earlier under the 2021 code stays compliant.
Hail-resistant construction: not yet required
After the August 2024 hailstorm, insurers have pushed for impact-resistant roofing and siding requirements in high-risk areas. As of 2026, Alberta has not added them to the building code. You can still choose Class 4 roofing and impact-resistant siding, and many Calgary homeowners now do.
New homes, warranty and owner-builders
- New homes must carry warranty coverage from a licensed builder, for up to 10 years on key components. Renovations don't require it, unless more than 75% of the finished home is new construction.
- Owner-builders can build with or without warranty. Since December 1, 2025, building without warranty puts a caveat on the land title, and the home can't be sold to consumers during the protection period.
Why it matters when you hire
Codes change faster than most homeowners renovate. Kay2 prepares the drawings and permit applications for its projects, so the current Alberta codes are built into the design from the start. Ask us how the current rules apply to your project.
Sources
- Safety Codes Council: New safety codes in force May 1, 2024
- BILD Alberta: Building codes information and updates
- Government of Alberta: Electrical codes and standards
- Insurance Business: Alberta hail insurance market and building code reform
- Government of Alberta: New home warranty
- Government of Alberta: Owner builder authorization
Checked October 5, 2026. Programs and rules change; confirm current details with the source before you rely on them.
Talk it through with Kay2
Every project starts with a complimentary consultation with one of our estimators.
