City approves tax forgiveness program for owners who clean up derelict properties

A derelict property in Edmonton. (CTV News Edmonton)

The city has approved a prorated tax forgiveness for derelict property owners.

The move is being billed as an incentive for owners to clean up their properties and comes after the establishment of a derelict residential subclass last fall.

Under the new subclass, properties assessed as derelict are charged at a tax rate approximately three times higher than the general residential tax rate.

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With the new policy, owners could apply for a refund of the derelict property tax for the portion of the year that their property was cleaned up.

The city says cleaning up derelict properties is a priority because they have a negative impact on neighbourhoods and cost the city more in services like fire rescue response and bylaw enforcement.

"It all goes to what we're trying to achieve with our derelict property class," Cate Watt of the city told reporters on Wednesday. "We also recognize it's about fairness, so we're ensuring those who have done their part to clean up are recognized for those efforts and are no longer having to pay that higher rate."

The new policy takes effect immediately, which will allow any property owners who have abated their properties this year to apply for reimbursement of additional taxes.

The city says more than 200 properties have been assessed as derelict in 2024 and 24 have been demolished to date. 

Edmonton is the first city in the country to implement a derelict properties tax subclass.