Building a Commercial Space

All new projects must comply with the Land Use Bylaw and Alberta Safety Codes.

This page is to provide information relating to new development/building projects which are commercial, industrial, institutional or mixed-use.

Business owners and contractors should consult with a design professional before financially committing to a location, as the cost to make necessary upgrades or changes to a building may be expensive. A business license cannot be issued for a space that does not satisfy the requirements of the Alberta Building Code.

Commercial Development Permits

A development permit is always required for any proposed commercial, industrial, institutional and mixed-use building. Depending on the intended land use district, the proposed development may be permitted, not permitted or it may be at the discretion of the City Planning Officer.

Apply for a commercial, industrial, institutional or mixed-use development permit:

Apply online

New to ePermit?
See user guide

We can help you apply online. Contact us by email or phone (403) 529-8374.

To learn more about land use districts and rezoning land, visit:

Zoning

Commercial Building Permits

A building permit is required for all new construction projects. It may also be required when a new type of operation will be moving into a space, or when a business is changing ownership, even if no construction is planned. This ensures that the building meets health and safety requirements, as the approvals may differ from the previous operator in the location.

To apply for a building permit, visit:

Building Permits

A commercial, industrial, institutional or mixed-use project may also require trade permits for plumbing, gas, electrical or mechanical work. These must be obtained by professional trades contractors prior to any such work being done.

To apply for a trade permit, visit:

Trade Permits

A building permit is required when:
  • The space has a new use (e.g. a retail store changes to a restaurant)
  • Any construction is being done, including structural or partition wall changes, mechanical, plumbing, gas or electrical work
  • The mechanical equipment needs to be upgraded to meet building code, due to a change in use (e.g. car detailing to engine repair affects ventilation rates; using a forklift in a warehouse may require additional ventilation)
  • Adding an accessory building or sea-can which is over 10m2 in area to the property
  • You are the first tenant in a space
  • A health review is required: restaurants, daycares, pools, personal services (such as hair salons, massage centers, tattoo parlours, nail salons)
  • There is a change in kitchen or mechanical ventilation equipment or new equipment being installed.
  • There is a change to the occupant load

A building permit is not required when:
  • The use and space remain unchanged (e.g., office to office or retail to retail).
  • The updates are cosmetic only (e.g., painting or changing fixtures).

How long does it take?
  • Development permits: Timelines vary based on application type and the impact to the community.
  • Building permits: Typically within 15 business days, provided that an approved Development permit (if required) has been issued. The timeline of a Building permit application will increase if amendments or resubmissions are needed from the applicant.
  • Trade permits: Typically within 5 business days, provided the associated Building permit (if required) has been issued.

Commercial kitchens

NFPA 96: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 96 is the Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations. Information on this subject can be obtained from a mechanical designer, contractor or engineer. It is also available for purchase from the NFPA.

NFPA 96 Standards

 Commercial kitchen ventilation system requirements
The requirements in NFPA 96 must be met when cooking processes have the potential to produce significant smoke or grease laden vapours. Kitchen cooking equipment must be protected with an automatic fire suppression system and ventilation hood.
When a NFPA 96 system is required:

A NFPA 96-compliant system is required when cooking or using appliances (including griddles, broilers, woks, fryers, ranges and stoves) that have the potential to produce grease laden vapours or smoke.

Examples:
  • Frying eggs, bacon or hash browns
  • Cooking raw meat products
  • Donairs or other food products cooked with oil

For more information on when the NFPA 96 standard is required, please contact your mechanical designer.

When a NFPA 96 system is not required:

A NFPA 96-compliant system is not required when cooking processes do not produce grease laden vapours or smoke.

Examples:
  • Warming pre-cooked food (e.g. hot dogs, soups, stews, etc.)
  • Boiling water for pasta
  • Cooking potatoes or rice
  • Poaching eggs
  • Heating beverages
  • Baking foods in a closed oven (pizza, cookies, bread, cakes, eggs)
If I do not need to meet the NFPA 96 standard, what type of ventilation is required?
  • A mechanical ventilation system that includes canopies, ductwork and fans to remove odours, smoke, steam or heat to the exterior of the building is required when there is cooking, baking or reheating food in a space.
  • The above canopies, hoods and ductwork must be constructed of stainless steel.
  • Additionally, make-up air is required if more than 180 cubic feet per minute (cfm) must be exhausted. Make-up air that exceeds 300 cfm must be heated.
 Commercial kitchen exhaust requirements
Where can my NFPA 96 kitchen exhaust duct be terminated?
  • Exhaust ducts may terminate above a roof or at a wall. The exhaust must be located 10 feet or more from property lines or air intakes.
  • Refer to NFPA 96 for detailed requirements.
Can I terminate my kitchen ventilation system into a City-owned lane?
  • It is preferable to have the exhaust system terminate on the roof of a building. In cases where this is not possible, a wall exhaust termination in a City lane may be permitted, provided that an ecology unit is installed.

Enlisting help from professionals

Changes to existing commercial buildings

For reasons of public safety, hiring a professionals such as an engineer and/or architect is often mandatory in the design and field review of a commercial project. For full information about professional involvement standards, click below:

Professional involvement

Building classification

Each business activity is associated with a building classification in the Alberta Building Code. Due to the complexities involved, a designer or architect should do a building code analysis of the building and ensure it is suitable for your business. A professional analysis will identify the building occupancy classification of the building and the rules related to that class.

Alberta Building Code

Barrier-free design

Building codes which deal with accessibility, or barrier-free design, exist to allow proper and safe access to buildings and facilities for all people regardless of physical, sensory or developmental disabilities. The rules for barrier-free design are found in section 3.8 of the Alberta Building Code.

To help explain barrier-free requirements in Alberta, the Safety Codes Council of Alberta has updated its Accessibility Guidelines to meet current Alberta Building Code requirements.

Download the guide:

2024 Accessibility Design Guide

For further questions regarding barrier-free requirements, email us.

Energy Codes

When applying for a building permit for a new building or an addition, drawings must include details which show compliance to:

  • Section 9:36 of Alberta's Building Code, or
  • Canada's Energy Code NECB

Drawings

When applying for a building permit, the requirement list will indicate what you need to apply. Drawings must be accurate, legible and contain necessary information on mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems, as well as details on washrooms, fire ratings and any other affected areas covered by the Alberta Building Code. Review the requirement list carefully to ensure all necessary items are included.

Codes and standards available online

Electronic editions of the following codes are available free of charge: