One of the first questions people ask when they reach out is some version of: “Do you build out here?” Fair question. A lot of builders market broadly and then quietly limit where they’ll actually take on a project.
Landry Homes builds in Edmonton, Sherwood Park, and St. Albert. That’s our service area — and it’s deliberate. We’re not trying to cover the entire Capital Region. We’d rather know the permit offices, the lot conditions, the community rules, and the trade schedules in the areas we serve than spread thin across a map.
Here’s what you should know about building in each of the three communities we work in.
| “We build in three communities. We know all three well — the permits, the lots, the quirks, and what to watch for before you sign on a property.” |
Edmonton
| Edmonton, AB New communities, established neighbourhoods, and infill lots across the city |
New Community Lots
Edmonton’s newer residential communities — Windermere, Keswick, Crystallina Nera, Trumpeter, Secord, and others still in development on the city’s southwest and northwest edges — are where a lot of our new custom builds happen. Lot sizes in these communities typically run 32 to 44 feet wide, with serviced lots, active construction, and straightforward access for trades.
Permit timelines with the City of Edmonton average 4 to 8 weeks for residential building permits. Development levies are higher inside city limits than in surrounding municipalities — budget $12,000 to $22,000 for permits and connection fees depending on the community.
Infill — Mature Neighbourhoods
We also build infills in established Edmonton neighbourhoods: Glenora, Westmount, Bonnie Doon, Strathcona, Hazeldean, Pleasantview, and others. Infill is a different process — longer permits, tighter lots, more coordination with the city — but the neighbourhood access is something new communities simply can’t offer.
A few things that are specific to infill in Edmonton’s mature areas: front yard setbacks are calculated based on the average setback of adjacent homes on the block face, not a fixed number. Mature trees near property lines can require arborist reports before excavation. And older utility services at the lot line sometimes need upgrading. None of these are surprises if you know to look for them.
What Makes Edmonton Builds Distinct
- Widest range of lot types — from 28-ft infill lots to 50-ft new community lots
- City of Edmonton permit process — thorough but can run 6–8 weeks in busy periods
- Development levies are higher than surrounding municipalities
- Infill zoning rules require careful design review before any drawings are finalized
- Largest variety of neighbourhoods, price points, and community characters
Sherwood Park
| Sherwood Park / Strathcona County, AB One of our most active build areas — competitive lots, faster permits, strong community |
Sherwood Park sits just east of Edmonton’s city limits within Strathcona County, and it’s where a significant portion of our builds happen. The reasons are practical: lot sizes are generally more generous than Edmonton’s new communities, the permit process through Strathcona County is typically faster, and the community has strong schools, good infrastructure, and a family-oriented character that a lot of our clients are looking for.
Lot Sizes and Communities
Newer developments in Sherwood Park — Summerwood, Emerald Hills, Aspen Trails, Lakeland Ridge, and others — tend to offer 36 to 50-ft lots with room for triple garages and larger home footprints. If you want a wider home, a bigger backyard, or a lot that doesn’t require creative design to fit what you’re after, Sherwood Park often delivers more for the money than comparable Edmonton lots.
Established Sherwood Park neighbourhoods also have lots that come available from time to time — older homes on mature streets where the land value has grown and the case for a new build makes sense.
Permits and Process
Strathcona County’s development permit review typically runs 2 to 4 weeks — noticeably faster than Edmonton’s process. Fees are generally lower as well. In many newer Sherwood Park developments, utility connection costs are already factored into the lot servicing, which simplifies the pre-build budget.
A few Sherwood Park developments have architectural control requirements — exterior finish standards, roofline restrictions, or garage door specifications. These vary by community. We review any applicable guidelines before your home design is finalized so there are no permit surprises.
What Makes Sherwood Park Builds Distinct
- Faster permit timelines through Strathcona County than City of Edmonton
- Generally lower development fees than inside Edmonton city limits
- Larger lot widths give more flexibility on floor plan and garage configuration
- Architectural control requirements in some communities — reviewed before design is locked
- Strong resale market with consistent demand from families relocating to the Edmonton area
St. Albert
| St. Albert, AB A city with its own identity, excellent schools, and a planning process that rewards doing things properly |
St. Albert is consistently one of the most requested build locations for our clients. It has a strong community identity, some of the best-regarded schools in the Capital Region through both the public and Catholic systems, and a mature urban amenity base that newer Edmonton communities are still building toward. Clients who choose St. Albert typically know why they want to be there.
Where We Build in St. Albert
We build in St. Albert’s newer residential communities — Riverside, Erin Ridge North, Kingswood, and active developments on the city’s north and west edges — as well as in established neighbourhoods when infill lots become available. The city’s growth has been steady and planned, which means newer communities tend to have good street layouts, parks, and proximity to services even before they’re fully built out.
The St. Albert Permit Process
The City of St. Albert’s permit review is generally efficient — residential building permits often come back in 3 to 5 weeks. Some of St. Albert’s newer communities have architectural guidelines that govern exterior appearance: cladding types, rooflines, window proportions. These are more specific than general zoning rules, and they’re enforced. We factor them into the design phase so the permit submission is clean.
St. Albert’s development levies sit between Edmonton’s (higher) and Strathcona County’s (lower) in most cases — budget $10,000 to $18,000 for permits and connection fees on a standard residential build.
What Makes St. Albert Builds Distinct
- City of St. Albert permit process is generally efficient — 3 to 5 weeks on average
- Architectural control guidelines in some communities require early design review
- Strong school reputation — often the primary reason clients choose St. Albert
- Consistent and high resale values relative to Edmonton’s comparable communities
- Newer communities have well-planned infrastructure even in early development phases
How to Choose Between the Three
Most clients who come to us aren’t committed to a specific community — they have a general direction and they’re still working through the trade-offs. Here’s how we’d frame the comparison honestly:
| What You’re Weighing | Edmonton | Sherwood Park | St. Albert |
| Lot size | Narrower in infill; wider in new communities | Generally wider lots | Competitive; good selection |
| Permit speed | 4–8 weeks (city) | 2–4 weeks (county) | 3–5 weeks (city) |
| Development fees | Higher | Lower | Mid-range |
| School system | Edmonton Public / Catholic | Elk Island — well regarded | St. Albert Public / Catholic |
| Infill availability | Highest | Limited | Occasional |
| Community character | Urban to suburban range | Predominantly suburban | Established, family-oriented |
| Resale demand | Strong across the city | Consistently strong | Consistently strong |
There’s no objectively correct answer. The right community depends on what matters most to your family — school zones, commute, lot size, or just the feel of the neighbourhood. If you’re genuinely undecided, that’s a useful conversation to have before you start lot hunting.
What Doesn’t Change Across All Three
The permit office is different in each city. The lot conditions vary. The drive to the site changes. But the build itself doesn’t.
- Same trades. The subcontractors we rely on work across all three communities. They know our standards.
- Same contract structure. Fixed-price, full scope, no open-ended costs — regardless of where you’re building.
- Same point of contact. Jamie runs every project directly. That doesn’t change based on whether the site is in Sherwood Park or St. Albert.
- Same build standard. The insulation spec, the mechanical design, the attention to envelope details — consistent across every project.
We’ve taken the time to understand the specific rules, fees, and processes in each municipality because our clients shouldn’t have to. That’s part of what you’re getting when you work with a builder who actually knows the territory.
Building in Edmonton, Sherwood Park, or St. Albert?
If you have a lot in one of these communities — or you’re still deciding where to build — that’s exactly the kind of conversation we’re good at. We can help you think through what’s realistic for your budget and your goals in each area before you commit to anything.
Let’s talk about your build.
☎ 780-257-8642 | jamie@landryhomes.ca | Book a Free Consultation →
