How do I file a complaint about unlicensed electrical work in Calgary?

To report unlicensed or unpermitted electrical work in Calgary, contact the City of Calgary's Planning and Development department or file a complaint through the Alberta Municipal Affairs Safety Services branch, which oversees enforcement of the Alberta Safety Codes Act. You can also contact the Safety Codes Council for guidance on the complaint process. Taking action on unlicensed electrical work protects not just one property but the broader community — faulty electrical work is a leading cause of residential fires.

If the unlicensed work is occurring or has occurred within Calgary city limits, your first point of contact is the City of Calgary's Planning and Development department. You can report unpermitted or unlicensed construction and electrical work through the City's 311 service — call 311 from within Calgary or 403-268-2489 from outside the city, or submit a complaint through the City's online portal. Provide as much detail as possible: the address where the work is occurring, the nature of the electrical work, the name of the person or company performing the work if known, and any evidence such as photographs. The City's compliance team investigates complaints and can issue stop-work orders, require permits to be pulled retroactively, and mandate inspections of completed work.

For communities outside Calgary city limits — Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Chestermere, Rocky View County, and surrounding areas — contact the respective municipality's development or safety codes department to file the complaint. Each municipality enforces the Alberta Safety Codes Act within its jurisdiction.

At the provincial level, Alberta Municipal Affairs — Safety Services oversees the safety codes system across Alberta. If you believe the municipal response is inadequate, or if the unlicensed work involves a broader pattern (such as an unlicensed operator advertising electrical services across multiple communities), you can escalate to the provincial level. The Safety Codes Council can also provide guidance on the complaint process and direct you to the appropriate authority.

If you are a homeowner who has already had unlicensed work done on your property — perhaps by a previous owner or a contractor who claimed to be licensed but was not — the path forward is to contact the City of Calgary, disclose the situation, and work with a licensed electrician to bring the work up to code. This typically involves pulling a retroactive permit, opening walls to expose the wiring for inspection, correcting any deficiencies, and having a Safety Codes Officer inspect and approve the remediated work. While this is costly and disruptive, it is far better than discovering the problem after a fire or during a home sale. A licensed electrician can assess the scope of remediation needed — Calgary Electrical Services can match you with a qualified professional through the Calgary Construction Network.