Sturgeon County Council has approved its 2026 property tax rates, with a minimal change for residential properties and a modest increase for non-residential (business) properties.
“In addition to inflation and expected increases, we’re facing a number of significant challenges and risks that are beyond the County’s control,” said Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw. “We are working hard to keep taxes affordable for residents and businesses through cost control and prudent fiscal management.”
For homeowners, the County’s portion of property taxes will increase by 0.7 per cent, which is lower than the rate of inflation and lower than most municipalities across Alberta. For a home that maintained a $500,000 assessment from year to year, this equals an average increase of about $14 per year, or just over one dollar per month. Sturgeon County remains highly competitive with neighbouring communities when it comes to residential property taxes.
“While residents look at their tax bill as a whole, it’s important to understand that the County does not control the entire amount,” said Mayor Hnatiw. “Only 58 per cent of residential property taxes are set by the county and stay with the County to fund local services. The other 42 per cent must be sent directly to the province or provincial service providers—meaning nearly half of residents’ property tax bill does not go to the County.”
This year, the provincial share of property taxes is higher than ever before. The Education Property Tax, which is set by the province, increased by $2 million for Sturgeon County—an increase of 9 per cent over last year. This increase alone has a much bigger impact on residential tax bills than the county’s own tax increase.
The province also continues to shift—or ‘download’—costs onto municipalities. Downloading means that services the province used to pay for are now paid for by local property taxpayers. One significant example is policing. Policing costs downloaded by the province to municipalities are expected to rise by 78 per cent (up to nearly $5 million per year) over the next five years. The county has no influence over these rates, similar to other provincial costs or downloaded responsibilities.
On the business side, property owners will see a tax rate increase of 3.57 per cent in 2026. For a non-residential property that maintained a $500,000 assessment from year to year, this equals about $195 more per year, or roughly $16 per month. This increase will help the County manage financial realities linked to large industrial properties in the region, including those with significant risks and property assessments currently under appeal.
“Even with this slight increase, Sturgeon County’s non-residential tax rate remains competitive and, together with the County’s other supports and incentives, continues to position Sturgeon County as a top domestic and global investment destination, which we know is critical for the community’s growth,” said Mayor Hnatiw.
Property taxes are due for payment by Tuesday, June 30, 2026, unless a pre-authorized payment plan is in place. More information about municipal property taxes and payment options is available at SturgeonCounty.ca/taxes.
