Permits and inspections in High River
A short guide with links to the official pages. It is not permit advice: rules, forms and fees change, so check with the permit office before work starts. Parts of this page are still being researched.
Other towns: Okotoks · Foothills County · Diamond Valley
Who issues plumbing, gas and electrical permits
The Town of High River. It is an accredited municipality under the Safety Codes Act (accreditation M000327). Applications go through the Town's online permitting portal.
Sources: Safety Codes Council: accreditation search; Town of High River: safety codes, permits and inspections (accessed 2026-10-08)
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
The Town issues HVAC permits as well (stated in its 2026 request for proposals for inspection services).
Sources: Town of High River: safety codes services RFP (May 2026); Safety Codes Council: accreditation search; Safety Codes Council: building discipline (accessed 2026-10-08)
Who handles inspections
To be researched
The Town contracts inspections to an accredited agency, but which agency holds the current contract (August 2026 to July 2027) isn't named in any public source we found.
Sources: Town of High River: safety codes services RFP (May 2026); Town of High River: safety codes, permits and inspections (accessed 2026-10-08)
Official permit page and contact
Phone: 403-603-3412 (Safety Codes Division, from a Town PDF updated January 2025; the current permit page gives [email protected] and Town Hall at (403) 652-2110)
Sources: Town of High River: inspection information (PDF, January 2025); Town of High River: safety codes, permits and inspections (accessed 2026-10-08)
Trade certificates
- Plumbers
- Plumber
Alberta journeyperson certificate, a compulsory certification trade. Finishing the plumber program also earns a Gasfitter – Class B certificate. Red Seal is optional.
Source: Designated Trades and Restricted Activities Regulation, AR 161/2022 (accessed 2026-10-08) - Gasfitters
- Gasfitter – Class A, Gasfitter – Class B
Both are Alberta journeyperson certificates and compulsory certification trades. Class B covers appliances up to 400,000 BTU; Class A is needed above that. There is no master gasfitter credential in Alberta.
Sources: Designated Trades and Restricted Activities Regulation, AR 161/2022; Permit Regulation, AR 204/2007; Safety Codes Council: where to get a permit (accessed 2026-10-08) - Electricians
- Electrician, Master Electrician
The Electrician journeyperson certificate (construction and industrial branches) is a compulsory certification trade. Taking out electrical permits as a contractor needs a separate Master Electrician certificate of competency, issued under the Safety Codes Act and certified by the Safety Codes Council.
Sources: Designated Trades and Restricted Activities Regulation, AR 161/2022; Safety Codes Council: about master electricians; Permit Regulation, AR 204/2007 (accessed 2026-10-08) - HVAC
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, Sheet Metal Worker, Gasfitter – Class A, Gasfitter – Class B
Alberta has no HVAC trade certificate. Depending on the job, heating and cooling work falls under related compulsory certified trades: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, Sheet Metal Worker and Gasfitter (Class A or Class B), with Plumber or Steamfitter-Pipefitter for hot-water (hydronic) heating.
Sources: Designated Trades and Restricted Activities Regulation, AR 161/2022; Permit Regulation, AR 204/2007 (accessed 2026-10-08) - Sewer & Drain
- Private Sewage Installer
Alberta has no apprenticeship trade for sewer work as such. A Private Sewage Installer certificate of competency (Safety Codes Act) covers private sewage systems and lets the holder take out the plumbing permit for the part outside the building.
Source: Permit Regulation, AR 204/2007 (accessed 2026-10-08)
Municipal business licence
To be researched