Alberta Avenue BIA wants vacant commercial properties taxed as pending businesses
City council rejected by Alberta province in June; BIA proposes treating empty commercial properties like operating businesses for levy purposes.
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Edmonton's city council and Business Improvement Area partners are exploring a new angle after the Alberta government rejected their February request to tax vacant commercial properties the same way occupied ones are taxed.
The Alberta Avenue BIA had asked for the power to charge property owners the BIA levy when properties sit empty — using taxation as a "stick" to pressure landlords to fill vacant storefronts rather than let them attract squatters and drug users. Council sent the request to Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams in February, but a June 29 ministerial order did not include the change.
"Our members are upset because they get to pay taxes and contribute to the BIA levy even when sales are not good, while commercial properties owners get a tax discount and BIA exemption when their properties sit empty, attracting social disorder," said Erick Estrada, Alberta Avenue BIA executive director. "Why would the province not allow the city to give commercial property owners the same treatment that other business and/or tax them at the same rates when they fail to move their inventory?"
On Tuesday, Alberta Avenue BIA board member David Plamondon acknowledged the provincial setback but said the city still has options. "I would encourage council to examine how commercial properties are licensed — most commercial properties are in fact operating as businesses, they are generating revenue for the owners. So I think it would be an option for the city to consider those empty properties as pending businesses and taxing them as BIA levy-paying members as well."
Mayor Andrew Knack said he is open to the idea and noted administration is examining its feasibility. "Vacant businesses are part of the BIA and they benefit from the work of the BIA, but at the same time they're not charged the same fee as a business owner," Knack said. "Now it's a matter of continuing to take the province's feedback and seeing what we can modify internally to support the work of BIAs."
The province has not publicly explained why it denied the city's original request.
What legal mechanism would allow the city to classify vacant commercial properties as pending businesses under municipal licensing?
How many vacant commercial properties in the Alberta Avenue BIA currently qualify as attracting social disorder?
What specific tax discount or BIA exemption do empty commercial properties receive under current rules?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
When did Alberta reject Edmonton's request to tax vacant commercial properties?
The Alberta government rejected the request on June 29, 2026, through a ministerial order from Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams.
What is the Alberta Avenue BIA's new proposal for vacant properties?
The Alberta Avenue BIA proposes that the city treat empty commercial properties as pending businesses and charge them BIA levies the same way operating businesses are taxed.
