Hot streak: Alberta sets all-time housing record

Alberta is building homes at a record pace, pushing past 50,000 housing starts for the first time and setting a new all-time high for the second year in a row.

The provincial government says Alberta recorded 53,184 housing starts in 2025, a 14 per cent increase from the previous record set in 2024. The province also saw its strongest quarter on record in Q2 2025, when construction began on more than 17,000 new housing units, according to provincial housing market data.

“Once again, Alberta is punching above our weight,” Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services Jason Nixon said in a statement Wednesday.

Alberta led the country in housing starts per capita for the second consecutive year, the government said, adding the province accounted for nearly a quarter of new starts nationally in 2025 despite representing less than 12 per cent of Canada’s population.

The government attributed the gains to measures aimed at speeding up development approvals and encouraging construction, including the Stop Housing Delays portal, along with broader efforts to keep the province attractive to investment.

Industry groups said record construction levels are helping ease pressure on renters, particularly through an increase in purpose-built rental projects.

“Alberta’s record housing starts show what’s possible when barriers are reduced and regulatory systems evolve to support growth,” said Scott Fash, chief executive officer of BILD Alberta, pointing to a surge in rental construction.

The province reported 19,681 purpose-built rental starts in 2025, the highest level on record.

Recent rental market tracking has also shown Alberta rents falling at a faster pace than the national average, with asking rents in the province about $403 below the national average as of October 2025, according to ATB Financial analysis based on national rental data.

Maclab Development Group CEO Bill Blais said a predictable business environment and fewer regulatory hurdles allow builders to focus on delivering new housing supply.

Alongside market housing, the provincial government said it continues to support affordable housing for lower-income Albertans, including rental assistance, as part of its long-term housing strategy.

The national housing picture has also remained strong. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported 259,028 housing starts across Canada in 2025, up 5.6 per cent from 2024.