Safety codes permit (Alberta)

Buyers of an Alberta trades business may meet this term in the seller’s job files, where a permit was pulled for a job. The Alberta Safety Codes Council says a variety of local bylaws and provincial regulations govern when you need a permit. See selling a trades business in Alberta.

What the Act says

Section 43(1) of the Safety Codes Act says that where the Act requires a permit to sell, construct, control or operate a thing, or to supervise, operate or undertake a process or activity, no person shall do so without the appropriate permit. Under s.44(1), a safety codes officer or other designated person may issue a permit to a person who complies, or with respect to a thing, process or activity that complies. Section 44(2) lets the issuer include terms and conditions, and under s.44(5) a person refused a permit may appeal the refusal to the Council in accordance with the Council’s bylaws. Under s.46(1), a safety codes officer may suspend or cancel a permit if, on reasonable and probable grounds, the officer is of the opinion that the holder, or the thing, process or activity, does not comply with the Act; s.46(3) allows an appeal to the Council. A permit does not authorize anything that breaches another enactment (s.43(4)). The Act also defines an accredited municipality as one designated as such under it.

What to ask

• Which permits are open on current jobs, and which have been closed after inspection.
• Whether any permit has been suspended, cancelled or refused, or carries unusual conditions.
• Whether each permit was issued to the business or to a named person, and who issued it.

This entry covers Alberta only; check the rules where the business is. Compare development permit, a municipal land use permit.