Alberta is getting shovels in the ground and roofs over Albertans’ heads at record pace. In 2025, the province delivered a second record year for housing starts, breaking several all-time records along the way. For the first time in Alberta’s history, more than 50,000 housing starts were reached in a single year, with more than 53,000 homes breaking ground in the past 12 months – 14 per cent higher than the previous record set in 2024.

Q2 2025 marked the strongest quarter for housing construction in provincial history, with more than 17,000 housing starts, eclipsing a record set almost 10 years ago.

“Once again, Alberta is punching above our weight. Our province is shattering housing records and building at unprecedented rates, keeping pace as more people than ever before call our great province home.”

Jason Nixon, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services

Alberta is setting the pace for housing construction in Canada. For the second year in a row, the province led the country in housing starts per capita. Despite making up less than 12 per cent of Canada’s population, Alberta built almost a quarter of housing starts across the country in 2025, and more than 80 per cent of all starts across the prairies.

These results show the province’s plan is working. Alberta is slashing red tape through initiatives like the Stop Housing Delays portal, supporting innovative housing strategies and fostering an investment-friendly, low-tax environment that has incentivized housing construction provincewide as more people than ever before choose to call Alberta home. By removing barriers and enabling builders, Alberta has cemented its place as a heavyweight in the housing world.

“Alberta’s record housing starts show what’s possible when barriers are reduced and regulatory systems evolve to support growth. These conditions have especially helped unlock record rental construction, easing pressure on renters and strengthening long-term affordability.”

Scott Fash, chief executive officer, BILD Alberta

Increase in rental builds leads to rental asking prices going down

This year also brought good news for renters, with rents in Alberta decreasing almost double the national average. As we enter 2026, Alberta’s average asking rent is about $400 per month below the national average, and outside of the larger cities, Alberta communities made up six out of the top 10 most affordable small- and mid-size rental markets in Canada, including taking all four of the top spots. Notably, the number of purpose-built rentals being developed in the province soared in 2025 to nearly 20,000 starts – almost triple the levels seen a decade ago.

“The work of the provincial government to create a place with well-paying jobs, predictable, market responsive regulatory framework and a focus on red tape reduction allows businesses like ours to focus on supplying housing. The business environment created by the provincial government keeps Maclab here, reinvesting in new projects.”

Bill Blais, president and chief executive officer, Maclab Development Group

Building affordable housing for low-income Albertans

Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring Albertans with low incomes have access to safe, stable and affordable housing. Alberta’s government is currently providing affordable housing to more than 60,000 households across the province, including rental assistance for more than 13,000 households. Since the launch of the Stronger Foundations 10-year affordable housing strategy in 2021, Alberta’s government is almost halfway to achieving its goal of supporting an additional 25,000 affordable households by 2031.

Quick facts

  • Housing starts:
    • In 2025, Alberta is building 53,184 new homes, currently under construction, surpassing the previous record by 14 per cent.
    • Alberta has led the country in housing starts per capita for two consecutive years (2024-2025).
    • Despite making up less than 12 per cent of Canada’s population, during 2025 Alberta built almost a quarter of housing starts in the country.
    • Alberta was responsible for more than 80 per cent of all housing starts across the prairies.
    • Housing starts for 2025 compared with 2024:
      • Provincewide: 53,184 compared to 46,632 (up 14 per cent)
      • Edmonton: 21,337 compared with 18,834 (up 16 per cent)
      • Calgary: 27,684 compared with 24,396 (up 14 per cent)
      • Red Deer: 405 compared with 354 (up 14 per cent)
      • Grande Prairie: 366 compared to 194 (up 89 per cent)
      • Medicine Hat: 317 compared to 193 (up 64 per cent)
  • Rentals:
    • In 2025, Alberta had 19,681 purpose built-rental starts – the highest number in Alberta’s history, and almost triple the levels seen a decade ago.
    • In the last five years, Alberta has built more purpose-built rentals than in the previous 30 years combined.
    • In 2025, rents in Alberta decreased by almost twice the national average.
    • The average asking rent in Alberta is almost $400 per month less than the national average.
    • Alberta communities made up six out of the top 10 most affordable small- and mid-size rental markets in Canada:
      • Lloydminster (first)
      • Fort McMurray (second)
      • Medicine Hat (third)
      • Grande Prairie (fourth)
      • Red Deer (sixth)
      • Lethbridge (ninth)

Related information

Related news

Multimedia