Is there an extra Airdrie fee when a homeowner does their own plumbing?

Yes. Since January 2026, the City of Airdrie charges an additional $100 fee per trade when a homeowner takes out their own trade permit. That surcharge applies on top of the standard permit fee, and it does not apply when you hire a contractor to do the work.

The $100 per-trade surcharge is the key number to build into your budget before you start.

A few other Airdrie rules worth knowing alongside that fee. Homeowner permits are available only for a home you own and live in; you cannot use a homeowner permit for any part of a rental property. The City of Airdrie lists plumbing, hot water tanks, gas work, furnaces and fireplaces among the work that requires permits, so most meaningful plumbing projects will trigger the permit requirement and, if you are doing the work yourself, the surcharge.

What this means for your project

The total permit cost depends on the scope of the work, and the City of Airdrie sets its own fee schedule. Contact the City directly to get the current base permit fee for your specific job, then add the $100 homeowner surcharge on top of that to arrive at your true permit cost.

If you are weighing doing the work yourself against hiring a plumber, factor in not just the surcharge but also the time, tools and skill the job requires. A homeowner plumbing permit is a legitimate option for straightforward work in a home you occupy, but concealed piping, drain venting and sewer connections are genuinely technical and an inspection will catch anything that does not meet the National Plumbing Code of Canada 2020.

Before hiring a plumber for any Airdrie job, ask to see their trade certificate (plumbing is a compulsory certification trade in Alberta under the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act), a WCB-Alberta clearance letter confirming their account is in good standing, and their Alberta prepaid contracting licence if they are collecting any deposit before the work is finished. Get the contract in writing before any money changes hands.

When you have two written quotes in front of you, line up the permit fee and who is responsible for pulling it, the equipment or materials specified by model or type, whether wall or floor patching is included, the warranty terms on both parts and labour, and the payment schedule against the completion date.