Edmonton Condo & Apartment Moving Rules Every Renter Should Know

Moving into an Edmonton condo or apartment building comes with a set of rules that don’t apply to houses. Elevator bookings, insurance certificates, damage deposits, and building-specific hour restrictions can derail your move if you don’t know about them in advance. Our crews move people in and out of Edmonton buildings every day — here’s what catches people off guard.

Elevator Booking

Most multi-unit buildings require you to reserve the freight elevator (or the main elevator, if there’s no freight) at least 2 weeks before your move. Here’s how it typically works:

• Booking window: 2–4 hours is standard. Some buildings allow longer for larger moves.

• Who to contact: Your property manager or condo management company. In rental buildings, ask your building manager or landlord.

• Timing: Book as soon as you know your move date. Popular dates (end of month, weekends) fill up fast.

• Downtown towers (ICE District, Fox Towers, Hendrix): These have the strictest policies. Some require 3+ weeks notice and limit moves to specific days.

If the elevator isn’t booked and another resident has it reserved, your movers will have to wait — and you’ll be paying for that wait time.

Certificate of Insurance (COI)

Many Edmonton condos require your moving company to provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming the condo corporation as an additional insured party. This proves the movers carry liability insurance in case they damage common areas (hallways, elevators, lobbies).

What you need to do:

• Ask your property manager if a COI is required — do this at least 1 week before your move.

• Tell your moving company the condo corporation’s legal name and mailing address (your property manager will provide this).

• Any reputable moving company can issue a COI within a few business days. We provide them routinely.

• Some buildings won’t let movers into the building without a COI on file. Don’t leave this to moving day.

Moving Hours by Building Type

Different buildings enforce different hours. Here’s what we see across Edmonton:

Large Rental Companies (Boardwalk, Mainstreet)

Boardwalk properties generally restrict moves to after 6 PM on weekdays and anytime on weekends. Mainstreet is more flexible but varies by building. Always confirm with your specific building manager — corporate policy and building-level rules can differ.

Condo Buildings

Most condo boards restrict moves to weekday business hours only: 8 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Some allow Saturday mornings. Weekend and evening moves are often prohibited to minimize disruption to other residents. Check your condo’s bylaws — not the lease, the condo bylaws.

City Noise Bylaw (Applies to All Buildings)

Regardless of what your building allows, Edmonton’s Community Standards Bylaw 14600 sets baseline noise limits. Construction noise (which includes moving heavy furniture) is permitted Monday to Saturday 7 AM – 9 PM, and Sundays/holidays 9 AM – 7 PM. View Bylaw 14600

Damage Deposits

Newer condos and luxury buildings commonly require a $200–$500 moving damage deposit, separate from your rental security deposit. This is held by the condo corporation (not your landlord) and refunded after the move if there’s no damage to common areas.

Tips:

• Take photos of hallways, elevator interiors, and lobby floors BEFORE your move starts. Do the same after.

• Walk the route from the loading area to your unit with your movers before they start carrying anything.

• If damage is found after your move, the burden of proof matters — your photos are your evidence.

• Some buildings deduct from the deposit for even minor scuffs. Document everything.

Floor and Elevator Protection

Some buildings provide protective pads for elevator walls and floor runners for hallways. Others expect your moving company to bring their own. Confirm with your property manager which it is.

Professional movers (including our crews) carry:

• Elevator blankets (quilted pads that hang on elevator walls)

• Floor runners (heavy-duty plastic or cardboard for hallways)

• Door frame protectors

If you’re doing a DIY move with a rental truck, you’ll need to rent or buy floor protection separately. Buildings that require it will inspect before letting you start.

Condo Board Authority Under Alberta Law

Under Alberta’s Condominium Property Act, condo boards have broad authority to set their own moving rules. This means:

• Your condo’s bylaws can restrict moving hours beyond what the city noise bylaw allows

• Condo boards can require damage deposits, COIs, and elevator bookings

• These rules override any informal agreement with your landlord

• If your landlord says “move anytime” but the condo bylaws say “weekdays only,” the condo bylaws win

If you’re renting in a condo, your landlord may not know their own building’s moving rules. Contact the condo management company directly — their name and number should be posted in the lobby or available from your landlord.

Parking and Loading Zones

Loading zones at apartment and condo buildings are often shared and time-limited:

• Most buildings have a designated loading area. Ask where it is and whether you need to reserve it.

• Downtown buildings may have no loading zone at all. Your movers may need to park on the street and carry items further.

• Some buildings require you to get a temporary City of Edmonton parking permit if the loading area is on a public street.

• If another resident is using the loading zone when your movers arrive, there’s no recourse — first come, first served, unless you reserved it.

Tips From Our Crews

• Book the freight elevator, not the passenger elevator. Freight elevators are larger, have protective padding, and don’t annoy other residents.

• Prop doors open along your route before the movers start carrying. Use door stops, not tape — tape can damage finishes and some buildings will charge you for it.

• Label every box with the room it goes to. In a condo move, your movers are working against the clock (your elevator booking window).

• Clear the hallway route from the elevator to your unit. Bikes, shoes, and welcome mats in the hallway slow everything down.

• Move small, personal items (electronics, valuables, documents) yourself in your car. Let the movers focus on furniture and heavy boxes.

• Tell your movers the floor number, unit number, elevator location, and any access codes BEFORE moving day. A quick building walkthrough saves time on the day.

For tenant rights information including security deposit rules and notice periods, see our Alberta tenant rights guide. For full Edmonton neighbourhood info and bylaw details, visit our Edmonton moving page. Ready to get a quote? Get your free moving quote — we handle COIs, elevator bookings, and building coordination routinely.