Edmonton city councillors vote against 8-unit mid-block infill cap

Edmonton will continue to allow eight-unit mid-block infill builds after city councillors voted against a proposal to lower the limit to six.

But as city council contends with those in mature neighbourhoods wanting more restrictions on infill, Edmonton’s mayor hopes new restrictions on size will satisfy concerns.

“About 38 per cent of lots that could still have eight units on them, which is what the amendment would still allow for, that’s the case,” said Mayor Andrew Knack. “There’s obviously about 62 per cent of lots that don’t allow for that many units already.

Mayor Knack has concerns about that six-unit cap eventually would be lowered, reminding not all lots are big enough to allow for eight units under the current bylaw.

Knack adds those in mature neighbourhoods are able to create a “restrictive covenant” — a private contract between neighbours that would dictate what could be built on a lot in the future.

“That discussion last week in Laurier, different blocks are choosing to restrict their property rights in different ways,” Knack said. “So even there, there isn’t unanimous agreement around whether it should be two, whether it should be four, whether it should be building height, whether it should be building width.

“Those are the things, at the end of the day, our role is to try and find rules that generally benefit and support the vast majority of what we’re hearing.”

Councillor Jo-Anne Wright supports keeping the cap on units where it is, with Wright’s Ward Sspomitapi covering new neighbourhoods in southeast Edmonton. She says she’s seen the impacts first-hand of the city expanding outward.

“I see the cost impacts of building new in the green field,” Wright said. “That urban sprawl, we do have to focus more on infill.”

Edmonton city councillors vote against 8-unit mid-block infill cap

Edmonton will continue to allow eight-unit mid-block infill builds after city councillors voted against a proposal to lower the limit to six. But as city council contends with those in mature neighbourhoods…

February 18, 2026 10:14 am MST MST

Edmonton city council hears from public on proposed infill changes

There was a full house at Edmonton City Hall on Monday, as both sides of the infill debate made their case to city council on tightening infill building rules. “Myself and numerous other people in…

February 9, 2026 4:48 pm MST MST

Planned 171-unit apartment building in Edmonton’s Belmont gets pushback from neighbours

Some residents of northeast Edmonton’s Belmont neighbourhood are pushing back against a planned large housing development. They say the 171-unit apartment building is too big for the area. “One-hundred…

December 22, 2025 12:10 pm MST MST

Northwest Edmonton senior ready to chain herself to tree to stop infill project

Frustration with infill is reaching new heights in Edmonton’s Dovercourt neighbourhood. Constance Williams, who lives near infill development, says she’s prepared to chain herself to a tree to stop…

December 16, 2025 6:30 pm MST MST

Late Tuesday, Edmonton city council passed amendments to limit the height of new infill builds at 9.5 metres – one metre shorter than currently allowed.

Councillors also voted to create a bylaw that would protect mature trees on private property when a developer builds infill housing.

Both of those changes will go to a public hearing later this year.