Alberta Real Estate News

Edmonton's Property Taxes Are Going Up 6.9% in 2026. Here's What That Actually Costs You

The Direct Answer

Edmonton city council voted 11-2 to approve a 6.9% property tax increase for 2026, its steepest hike in a decade and higher than the 6.4% originally floated at the start of budget deliberations. In dollar terms, the average Edmonton household will pay about $816 in property tax for every $100,000 of assessed home value in 2026, an increase of $53 over 2025 for that same $100,000 of value. This is the final year of the current four-year budget cycle, and council spent four days debating it before the vote.

What Council Actually Decided

Councillors Mike Elliott and Karen Principe voted against the increase; everyone else voted in favour. Alongside the tax increase, council made a handful of specific budget moves: a 3% reduction in waste collection fees, funding for new buses, and a boost to Explore Edmonton's budget. The city has framed the higher number as necessary to keep delivering the services and construction projects already committed to under the 2023-2026 budget.

Why the Impact Varies by Property

The $816 per $100,000 figure is a city-wide average, not a flat rate every homeowner pays. Your actual increase depends on how your property's assessed value moved relative to the broader market. If your home's assessment rose faster than the city average, your tax bill goes up by more than 6.9%. If it rose slower, or fell, your increase could be smaller than that, or in some cases your bill could even go down. The percentage tells you what the city collected overall, not what shows up on your specific notice.

What This Means If You're Buying or Selling

Property tax is a real, recurring carrying cost, and it belongs in the same affordability conversation as rising home insurance premiums, another cost that has climbed sharply and that buyers often underestimate until after closing. For buyers, ask what a specific property's actual tax bill has been, not just the citywide average, since assessment history varies address to address. For sellers, especially in East YEG (East Edmonton), where this week's market update shows months of inventory easing slightly to 3.43, being able to answer a buyer's carrying-cost questions clearly, taxes included, is one more way to stand out in a market where 37.5% of active listings already carry a price reduction.

Thinking About Selling in East YEG?

What Would It Take to Get Top Dollar for Your Home?

Between negotiation trends, price reductions, and how fast homes are actually moving right now, the numbers above only tell part of the story. I'll give you a straight answer on what your specific home is worth today, and what it would take to maximize your sale price in this market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jason Beattie

REALTOR® | eXp Realty | BT Group

780-791-9633  |  Jason.Beattie@eXpRealty.com