Alberta's new home warranty: 1-2-5-10 coverage and the owner builder exception

Alberta's New Home Buyer Protection Act sets minimum warranty coverage on new homes. Buyers who know the periods can claim in time; owner builders who know the rules avoid problems when they sell.

The minimum coverage

Minimum warranty coverage in Alberta is one year for labour and materials, two years for delivery and distribution systems, five years for the building envelope and ten years for structural components. The Act applies to new homes where the building permit was applied for after February 1, 2014.

Owner builders

An owner builder can get building permits without a builder licence through an owner builder authorization, and can choose whether to buy warranty coverage. Eligibility includes being the registered owner of the land and intending to keep the home for personal use for at least 10 years. Multi-family and factory-built homes are excluded.

Building without coverage

When the Registrar authorizes an owner builder to build without warranty coverage, a caveat is registered on title noting that the home lacks the required coverage. Buyers should look for it in a title search.

Selling within 10 years

An owner builder who sells within ten years must provide the remaining warranty for the buyer.

Fees

The province lists owner builder authorization fees online; check the current amounts before applying.

Prevention Checklist

• Buyers: note your possession date and the 1, 2, 5 and 10-year deadlines.
• Report defects in writing to the warranty provider within the right period.
• Buying a newer home: check the title for an owner builder caveat.
• Owner builders: get the authorization before applying for permits.
• Owner builders selling within 10 years: arrange the remaining warranty.

References

1. Government of Alberta. New home warranty, Web page, Coverage overview. Accessed 2026-11-01.
2. Government of Alberta. Owner builder authorization, Web page, Eligibility and fees. Accessed 2026-11-01.
3. Government of Alberta (Residential Protection Program). What about owner-builders?, Web page, Resale and caveat. Accessed 2026-11-01.

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