Calgary Proposes a 15% Property Tax Increase for 2027: What It Means for Landlords and Renters

CALGARY, Nov. 12, 2026: Calgary's proposed 2027–2030 budget would raise municipal property tax revenue from existing properties by 15% in 2027. For a typical single residential property, the City estimates municipal tax plus water and waste utilities would rise by about $53 a month. Council has not approved it yet: public submissions and debate begin Nov. 23, 2026, with a final vote in December.

What did Calgary propose?

City administration presented the proposed 2027–2030 budget to Council on Nov. 10, 2026. According to the City of Calgary's 2027–2030 budget page, the plan needs a 15% increase in municipal property tax revenue from existing properties in 2027. The full proposed 2027–2030 budget document is posted with the Council agenda.

How much more would a typical Calgary home pay in 2027?

The City estimates a typical single residential property in Calgary would pay about $53 a month more in 2027 for municipal property tax and utilities combined. That figure uses the median assessed value of $688,000 for 2027 ($706,000 in 2026) and a typical metered water customer.

These are City estimates for the municipal share only. The provincial education property tax is set separately by Alberta; see our explainer on Alberta's education property tax freeze. A property assessed above or below the median, or a non-residential property, will see a different dollar change.

What it means for landlords

For a Calgary landlord with one typical house, the proposal adds roughly $636 a year in municipal tax and utilities, if the landlord pays the utilities. Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act sets no cap on how much rent can rise, but it does control when and how. Under RTA s.14:

• Rent can go up only once a year: at least one year must pass since the last increase or the start of the tenancy (s.14(4)).
• The notice must be in writing, dated, signed by the landlord and state the date the increase takes effect (s.14(2)).
• Notice periods for periodic tenancies are at least 3 full tenancy months for monthly, 12 tenancy weeks for weekly, and 90 days for other periodic tenancies (s.14(1)). A lease that promises longer notice must be honoured (s.14(3)).
• A notice that breaks these rules is void, and a tenant who paid the higher rent can recover it (s.14(6)–(7)).

Worked example: for a monthly tenancy with rent due on the 1st, a notice served in November 2026 can take effect no earlier than March 1, 2027, and only if a year has passed since the last increase. Our guide to rent increase notice in Alberta covers more situations.

What it means for tenants

Renters in Calgary do not receive the property tax bill, but a landlord may raise rent to cover higher costs, following the RTA s.14 rules above. If your lease makes you responsible for water or waste charges, the proposed utility rates would affect you directly. Check that any rent increase notice is written, signed, dated and gives the full notice period; a non-compliant notice is void. The Calgary landlord and tenant guide explains how provincial and city rules fit together.

What to do now

• Follow the debate. Figures can change when Council deliberates from Nov. 23, 2026. Calgarians can make public submissions through the City.
• Landlords: check dates before budgeting a rent change. Find each tenancy's last increase date and work out the earliest lawful effective date.
• Review who pays utilities in each lease, since water and waste rates are proposed to rise too.
• Watch for your 2027 assessment and compare it with the $688,000 median the City used.

For more Alberta and Canada-wide guides, visit the Canadian Landlord Resource Center or the Canadian Tenant Resource Center.