Alberta recorded another banner year for housing starts in 2025, surpassing 50,000 new units by the end of December. The second quarter alone set a new provincial record, with more than 17,000 starts — overtaking a benchmark that had stood for nearly a decade and marking the strongest quarter for housing construction in Alberta’s history.
“Once again, Alberta is punching above our weight,” said Jason Nixon, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services. “Our province is shattering housing records and building at unprecedented rates, keeping pace as more people than ever before call our great province home.”
For the second consecutive year, the province has led the country in housing starts per capita, crediting initiatives like the Stop Housing Delays portal for cutting red tape and accelerating approvals. The government also highlights its support for innovative housing strategies and its investment‑friendly, low‑tax environment, which together have spurred construction across Alberta as record numbers of people choose to make the province home.
“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, BILD Alberta. “These conditions have especially helped unlock record rental construction, easing pressure on renters and strengthening long-term affordability.”
Increase in rental builds leads to rental asking prices going down
2025 also delivered good news for Alberta renters: average rents remained roughly $400 per month below the national average, and outside the major cities, Alberta communities accounted for six of the 10 most affordable small- and mid‑size rental markets in the country. The surge in affordability was matched by a boom in supply, with purpose‑built rental construction climbing to nearly 20,000 starts in 2025, almost triple the volume recorded a decade earlier.
“The work of the provincial government to create a place with well-paying jobs, predictable, market responsive regulatory framework and a focus on red tape reduction allows businesses like ours to focus on supplying housing,” said Bill Blais, president and chief executive officer, Maclab Development Group. “The business environment created by the provincial government keeps Maclab here, reinvesting in new projects.”
In addition, the Alberta government says it remains committed to ensuring that low‑income Albertans have access to safe, stable and affordable housing. More than 60,000 households across the province currently receive affordable housing support, including rental assistance for over 13,000 households. Since launching the Stronger Foundations 10‑year affordable housing strategy in 2021, the province has already moved nearly halfway toward its goal of supporting an additional 25,000 affordable households by 2031.
