Bill 28: Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes Amendment Act, 2026

The businesses most directly affected are Alberta-based developers and aggregate/pit operators who extract gravel or other materials — when they have a registration under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, municipalities must now approve matching land use amendments within 90 days, streamlining what has historically been a slow and uncertain approvals process. Property developers and builders in larger Alberta municipalities (15,000+ population) will face new transparency requirements, as those municipalities must publish development permit statistics starting in 2027, which may indirectly pressure faster processing times. Real estate investors and landlords who own Alberta residential properties as non-primary residences could see changes to how municipal tax sub-classes apply — the bill protects Alberta residents from being caught by higher-rate residential sub-classes intended for non-resident or vacant property owners. Businesses operating in or supplying services to municipal public utilities, housing management bodies, or public libraries in Alberta should also take note, as the bill expands ministerial oversight and adjusts funding and governance frameworks across those sectors.