Looking for a few good Housing Heroes
94% of Albertans Agree There’s a Housing Affordability Crisis
Albertans have always taken pride in the Alberta Advantage - low taxes, competitive salaries, and affordable living. While Alberta is setting records for new housing construction it’s not enough to keep up with our growing population. In fact, the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation estimates we are already short 130,000 homes.
Over the past two decades, the time required to build a home has doubled. Approval processes have grown more convoluted and time-consuming, while the costs of materials, labour, fees, and development charges have risen significantly.
Developing land and building homes has become increasingly complex and expensive – putting housing attainability at risk for current and future Albertans.
Behind every home built across the province is a story of real people - skilled, hardworking heroes - who are on the front lines in a battle against powerful forces determined to slow their progress.
Unlock Housing seeks to inform Albertans of the full journey of land development and home building, while encouraging action on the challenges and barriers that impact housing affordability.
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A Hero's job? Building a better tomorrow!
A Blueprint to Defeat The Housing Crisis
Homebuilding is a team effort. It will take the combined expertise of planners, permitters, administrators, inspectors, building and land development professionals, and elected officials working together to solve the housing affordability crisis and build the homes Albertans need.
The good news is that Alberta is already a national leader in affordability and many of our municipalities continue to focus on innovations that support housing affordability.
Unlock Housing is on a mission to ensure Albertans better understand the epic journey, challenges and triumphs of homebuilding and land development.
Behind every home built across the province is a story of real people – skilled, hardworking heroes – who are on the front lines in a battle against the housing crisis and the forces that seek to erode affordability.
The Hero's Journey
From Dirt to Door: How a Community is Built
Every community needs housing heroes—and every home has an origin story. But before families can move in, a journey unfolds behind the scenes. Building a community takes time—often 6 to 15+ years from concept to completion. Here’s how it unfolds
Development Approvals (3-10 Years)
Developers must work with provincial and municipal governments to obtain a variety of planning, environmental, growth management, transportation and other engineering approvals. This determines if a community will be permitted and how it will be designed at a high level.
Land Development
(2-3+ Years)
Developers determine final subdivision plans, pay development charges (offsite levies) and work with engineers to fully design and install infrastructure for building lots.
Building Approvals
(1-9 months)
Builders must apply for and receive building and development permits from their municipality.
Home Construction
(6-14 Months)
Builders and tradespeople bring homes to life.
Final Inspections & Handover (2-3 Years)
The city ensures everything is up to standard.
Rising costs, delays, and limited land slow housing
Issues & Barriers to Housing Affordability
The Tangulator
Power
Ensnares even the simplest project in red tape and strikes fear into anyone who dreams of building a home
Tools
The Tangulator's ribbon-like tentacles feed on every layer of policy and process imposed on a project.
Mission Impact
- Slows the speed at which the superheroes can build the houses Albertans need
- Drives up the cost of housing
Time Involved
The Tangulator can slow down projects by weeks, months, and even years.
Power Drain
The Planner, policy, and the building inspector - who by reducing policy and processes - can easily thwart the Tangulator
The TimeEater
Power
A voracious consumer of any project's most valuable commodity, time, the TimeEater slows projects to a halt.
Tools
The TimeEater loves incomplete paperwork and incorrect development applications. Every clock he eats brings housing projects to a standstill.
Mission Impact
Delay, delay, delay - the TimeEater makes City Hall much less efficient - and prevents worthy homes from being approved and built.
Time Involved
The TimeEater can keep housing from being built for months on end!
Power Drain
The TimeEater is stopped in his track by The Builder, the Developer and The Planner submitting correct information the first time.
The LandBlocker
Power
The LandBlocker's many arms of chainlink fence and dozens of locks can keep even the best housing and communities from being built.
Tools
The LandBlocker loves vacant lots and empty fields. He jealously guards his territory, keeping away even the most determined.
Mission Impact
Unless the LandBlocker faces a planner and developer with the key to unlock him, he can prevent the housing and communities Albertans need from ever being built.
Time Involved
The Landblocker can keep projects from being built for years or decades.
Power Drain
When the planner, developer, and policy work together, they can unlock enough greenfield and inner city land to overwhelm the LandBlocker - increasing supply and driving down costs for Albertan.
No hero works alone. Meet The League of Housing Heroes
Meet the Heroes Tackling the Barriers to Housing Affordability
The Policy Maker
Without them, cities wouldn’t have direction!
Power
Creates the rules that shape Alberta’s communities.
Tools
The Regional Plan and Municipal Development Plan (MDP)—the master blueprints for growth.
Mission Impact
- Controls where and how communities can grow
- Sets the foundation for the entire land development and homebuilding process.
Time Involved
3+ years for planning, consultation, policy updates, and approvals.
Power Drain
- Competing Priorities – Public input, project economics, environmental goals, and infrastructure needs must all align.
- Regulatory Complexity – Policy development can span years, and changes may delay projects.
- Balancing Policy & Affordability – Every new requirement impacts the final cost of homes.
The Planner
They turn a blank map into a living, breathing community!
Power
Works with developers, engineers and surveyors to design the layout of new communities, ensuring they are well-planned and livable.
Mission Impact
- Area Structure Plan (ASP): Zoning, roads, green spaces, and housing layouts.
- Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan (NASP): more detailed sub-plans of the ASP on land use and servicing.
- Growth Management Analysis: Making sure infrastructure can support new homes.
- Zoning: Land is assigned specific uses, like housing or businesses, planners ensure the land uses are permitted before development is approved.
Time Involved
1-3 years, depending on the complexity of the development.
Power Drain
- Lengthy Approval Timelines – Rezoning, environmental impact studies, and public consultations can slow development.
- Infrastructure Readiness – No roads, no water, no development!
- Community Concerns – Balancing growth with neighbourhood expectations.
The Developer
They lay the groundwork for entire neighbourhoods—literally!
Power
Transforms raw land into fully serviced, build-ready lots and ensures infrastructure is completed before transferring responsibility to the city.
Mission Impact
- Invest in land years in advance, taking major financial risks.
- Work with engineers and planners to design communities.
- Build roads, utilities, and essential services.
- Maintain infrastructure until the city officially takes over.
Time Involved
10+ years, Buying land, securing approvals, installing infrastructure, funding new or improved offsite infrastructure and preparing lots for builders.
Power Drain
- Uncertain Timelines – Land can sit for decades before development is approved and viable.
- High Upfront Costs – Developers pay for roads, water, sewer and stormwater systems, and other infrastructure before a single home is built. They also regularly fund improvements to offsite infrastructure and facilities like fire halls, recreation centres, police stations and libraries.
- Market Changes – Interest rates and economic shifts have a rapid and dramatic impact on construction costs and demand for new housing.
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The Builder
Without builders, communities would be empty streets!
Power
Brings communities to life, one home at a time.
Mission Impact
- Purchases lots and takes on financial risk.
- Navigates building codes, permits, and inspections.
- Constructs a variety of homes to meet market demand.
- Ensures homes are high quality, durable, and well-designed.
Time Involved
6-12 months per home, depending on complexity and weather.
Power Drain
- Material Shortages – Delays in lumber, concrete, and other essentials can slow projects.
- Weather Conditions – Harsh winters, heavy rains, and storms can halt work.
- Shifting Buyer Preferences – Builders must adapt to new trends, from energy efficiency to smart home technology.
The Tradesperson
They are the muscle behind every masterpiece!
Power
Uses expert craftsmanship to build safe, high-quality homes.
A Few Mighty Trades Team Members:
- Framers: Create the structure.
- Electricians & Plumbers: Power up homes and provide water access.
- HVAC Techs: Keep homes comfortable in all seasons.
Mission Impact
- Works in specialized teams to ensure quality construction.
- Installs critical home systems like plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.
- Ensures homes meet structural and safety standards.
- Completes final touches like flooring, tiling, drywall, and finishing work.
Time Involved
6-14 months per home, working in phases.
Power Drain
- Skilled Labor Shortages – Not enough trained workers can lead to delays.
- Strict Safety & Quality Standards – Cutting corners isn’t an option, and every detail matters.
- Scheduling & Coordination – Every trade depends on the next; one delay can impact the entire project.
The Building Inspector
Without them, even the strongest heroes couldn’t ensure safe and secure homes!
Power
Ensures everything is built correctly, legally, and safely.
Mission Impact
- Conducts safety inspections at every stage of construction.
- Ensures homes comply with energy efficiency and building codes.
- Approves final occupancy so families can move in.
- Issues Final Acceptance Certificates for roads, parks, and public infrastructure.
Time Involved
6-14 months for full inspections and final approvals.
Power Drain
- Ever-Changing Building Codes – Ensuring new homes meet updated energy and safety regulations.
- Inspection Backlogs – High demand for new homes means inspectors must keep up.
- Ensuring Compliance – A failed inspection can mean costly rework for builders.
Everyone deserves a place to call home.
Alberta’s housing heroes are ready to meet the challenge of our growing province. We want to ensure housing remains affordable and attainable long-term - for every Albertan.
Albertans are looking for housing heroes
Stay Informed
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