This release was issued under a previous government.

Bill 21, the Safety Codes Amendment Act, 2015, brings forward proposed changes in four key areas. If passed, the legislation:

  • will ensure that Alberta is able to adopt the most up-to-date building and safety codes available in a timely manner;
  • improves accountability mechanisms with third-party safety inspectors by moving to an improved fee-for-service model;
  • improves compliance by establishing administrative penalties; and
  • assists municipalities with planning initiatives by allowing them to establish bylaws for private sewage disposal systems.

“Alberta’s Safety Codes Act provides critical protection for Albertans to ensure they are safe. The proposed changes build on these protections by ensuring the most up-to-date safety standards are in place.”

Diana McQueen, Minister of Municipal Affairs

Municipal Affairs completed stakeholder consultations on the Safety Codes Act in 2009 and 2014. The proposed changes have been supported by industry stakeholders, municipalities and safety codes stakeholders.

The Safety Codes Act came into effect in 1994, establishing Alberta’s safety codes system. Since then, the government and its key partners and stakeholders have identified ways to enhance the Act to provide a better framework for the safety codes system in Alberta.