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Part of New home warranty

New home warranty – Owner Builder Authorization

Learn how to apply for authorization to build your own home.

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New home warranty

Overview

Under Alberta’s New Home Buyer Protection Act, owners who wish to build their own homes must apply for an Owner Builder Authorization that is issued by the Registrar.

An Owner Builder Authorization enables an owner builder to obtain building permits without a builder licence and choose whether or not to purchase warranty coverage through one of the warranty providers operating in Alberta.

Owner builders are responsible for the construction quality of the homes they build, just like licenced residential builders. For this reason, owner builders cannot sell or offer sell their homes within the 10-year warranty period unless they have purchased the required home warranty coverage.

A caveat will be registered against the certificate of title to the land when an owner builder authorization is issued without warranty on or after December 1, 2025, based on changes to the New Home Buyer Protection Act.

Owner Builder Authorization

  • General criteria

    Owner Builder Authorizations are for single-family, site-built homes for personal use by the owner builder. 
    Owner Builder Authorizations DO NOT apply to:

    • multi-family homes (such as duplexes or 4-plexes)
    • factory-built homes (such as modular or manufactured) constructed wholly or partially off-site

    An owner builder must:

    • intend to keep the home for personal use for at least 10 years
    • be the registered owner of the land where the home will be built (either be the sole owner, in a joint tenancy or in a tenancy in common; corporations are typically not eligible)
    • intend to personally engage in, arrange for or manage all or most of the construction, including:
      • controlling, supervising and overseeing the building site
      • procuring materials
      • hiring, directing, scheduling and paying tradespersons and other labourers
    • not have previously contravened New Home Buyer Protection Act
    • not have provided any false or misleading information on a previous application
    • not have been approved for a previous owner builder authorization within the past 3 years

    If you do not meet the above criteria, contact us with an explanation as to why your situation should be considered.

  • New home warranty coverage

    Purchasing new home warranty as part of the applying for an Owner Builder Authorization is optional. 
    If you purchase new home warranty coverage:

    • the home can be sold at any point within the 10-year protection period
    • future owners are protected from issues related to your workmanship and construction quality

    If you do not purchase new home warranty coverage: 

    • there are restrictions on selling or offering to sell the home within the 10-year protection period
    • you are responsible for the quality of your home’s construction during the full 10-year protection program

    Note: Once a newly built home has been occupied, obtaining new home warranty coverage becomes more expensive and, in some cases, may not be possible.

  • Caveat

    If an owner builder chooses to build without obtaining the required new home warranty coverage, the Registrar will file a caveat against the Certificate of Title for the land.

    This caveat provides public notice that there is no home warranty coverage and the home cannot be sold to a consumer within the 10-year protection period.

    When the 10-year period has expired, the caveat will be discharged. 

    For information on the discharge of a caveat, contact us.

  • Protection period

    Owner builders are required to inform the Residential Protection Program of the date when either:

    • the home is first occupied, or
    • an occupancy permit or final inspection is issued by the municipality or the authority having jurisdiction

    The earlier of the dates provided will be considered as the beginning of the 10-year protection period, during which the home cannot be sold without obtaining the new home warranty coverage.

Before you apply

Consider the following before applying:

  • Financial lenders may require warranty. Discuss your plans with your lender before you submit your application.
  • If you build without warranty but decide to sell before the end of the 10-year protection period, you will need to obtain home warranty coverage before selling the home. A warranty provider may:
    • request detailed information about the home and the construction process
    • determine the cost of warranty coverage by using a risk assessment model
    • refuse to provide new home warranty coverage

Note: There is no guarantee that you will be able to obtain warranty coverage during or after your home is constructed and lived in.

How to apply

Step 1. Request access

Step 2. Complete the application

  • Once you have access to the NHBPS, fill out the online application for Owner Builder Authorization. Include information for all owners and adults who will live in the home.
  • List major subcontractors, upload the final inspection report after occupancy and pay the required fee online ($95 with warranty, $750 without warranty).

No statutory declaration is needed. All acknowledgements are completed online.

Step 3. Application review

  • Applications are reviewed in the order received. Most decisions are made within 14 business days after a complete submission.
  • You will receive your Registrar’s Certificate by email once approved.

Resources

Contact

Connect with the Residential Protection Program:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-644-1010 (within Canada and United States)
Toll free: 1-866-421-6929 (within Canada)
Email: [email protected]

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