Alberta's 60-day complaint window, explained

Alberta gives property owners a fixed window to complain about their assessment. It's generous compared with some provinces, but it is strict. Here is how it works, with examples.

The rule

A complaint must be filed within 60 days after the notice of assessment date. That date is set by your municipality and printed on your notice. It is not the day the envelope arrived. If day 60 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.

Source: Municipal Government Act, RSA 2000, c. M-26 (consolidated to May 14, 2026), s. 284(4) ('complaint deadline' = 60 days after the notice of assessment date set under s. 308.1 or 324(2)(a.1)); s. 309(1)(b)-(c); s. 461(1)(b), (1.1) (late complaint invalid); roll: Interpretation Act, RSA 2000, c. I-8, s. 22(1)-(2)

The legislation also makes a complaint filed after the deadline invalid. There is no "late with a good reason" route at the assessment review board.

Counting it

Day 1 is the day after the notice of assessment date. Count 60 calendar days. If you land on a weekend or holiday, move forward to the next business day.

We work these dates out with a rules engine that cites the legislation and is tested against cases like these. You don't need to trust our arithmetic, though: your notice prints the deadline. If your count and the notice disagree, use the notice, and if you can't tell which date applies, ask your municipality.

Which holidays count?

The holidays that move a deadline come from Alberta's Interpretation Act, not from your employer's calendar. They're not always the ones you'd guess. For example, Easter Monday counts. Rather than memorizing the list, rely on the date printed on your notice.

Why "60 days" is shorter than it sounds

The window opens in mid-winter, when many people are travelling, busy with year-end paperwork or waiting for their tax bill to see whether the assessment matters. Before a complaint, you'll also want to:

1. Check the facts on file (size, age, garage, basement) against your home.
2. Compare with similar homes. Look at nearby homes of the same type and size and see how their values per square foot compare with yours.
3. Talk to the assessor. Calgary and Edmonton each run a customer review period for exactly this. A factual error is often fixed at this stage.
4. Prepare the complaint with the required form and fee, if the review doesn't settle it.

That sequence takes time. If you wait until week eight to start, you may have to file a complaint without the review ever happening.

How we handle the window

We ask the assessor to review your assessment first. We file a formal complaint only to protect your rights if the review isn't resolved 7 business days before the deadline.

In Alberta we aim to file at least 5 business days before your complaint window closes.

Every file has its deadline computed, checked against the date printed on your notice, and watched daily until it's met.

What a complaint costs

The municipality sets a complaint fee, which must accompany the complaint.

When you work with us, we pay the municipality's complaint fee when we file. What happens to that fee if the complaint succeeds is set out in your engagement letter.

If you miss it

If the window closes, that year's assessment stands. Alberta assesses every year, so you'll get a new notice and a new window next year. That's a good reason to ask for a reminder. If you ask us to, we'll remind you next January when new assessments come out. You can unsubscribe at any time.

You may be fairly assessed. If you are, we'll tell you.