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Alberta Owner Builder Authorization EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR –
JUST RELEASED
Alberta Owner Builder Authorization Exam
The Alberta Owner Builder Authorization (OBA) is governed by the New Home Buyer Protection
Act. This authorization allows individuals to build a new home for their own personal use
without a residential builder licence, and without mandatory warranty coverage, although
warranty is optional. The application is reviewed and approved by the Registrar of the New
Home Buyer Protection Program at Alberta Municipal Affairs .
EXAM COVERAGE OVERVIEW (10 KEY TOPICS)
1. Legislation & Regulatory Framework – New Home Buyer Protection Act, Safety Codes
Act, Municipal Government Act, and the roles of the Registrar and Safety Codes Officers.
2. Eligibility & Legal Criteria – Personal use requirements, ownership of land, ten-year
occupancy restriction, managing construction, and restrictions on corporations or prior
authorizations.
3. Application Process & Fees – Completing the questionnaire, affidavit of execution, non-
refundable fees ($750), and system registration through the Builder's Portal .
4. Home Warranty & Liability – Optional warranty purchase, exemption consequences,
ten-year liability for construction defects, and selling restrictions without warranty .
5. Permitting & Compliance – Development permits vs. building permits, safety codes
permits (building, electrical, plumbing, gas), and permitting authority obligations .
6. Owner Builder Responsibilities – Personal management of construction, hiring trades,
site supervision, procurement of materials, and full responsibility for code compliance .
7. Building Codes & Technical Standards – Alberta Building Code requirements, structural,
fire safety, and energy efficiency standards, and the role of Registered Professionals .
8. Title Registration & Caveats – Caveat registration on Certificate of Title (effective
December 1, 2025), Public Registry searches, and legal implications of non-compliance .
9. Enforcement & Penalties – Stop-work orders, fines, after-the-fact permits, false
statements, and compliance investigations .
10. Role of Registered Professionals – Architects and engineers: designing, stamping, and
conducting field reviews; owner/constructor responsibility for construction .
, Page 2 of 131
SECTION 1: LEGISLATION & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Question 1: Under Alberta’s New Home Buyer Protection Act, an Owner Builder Authorization
(OBA) is required for which of the following?
A) Building a new home for personal use without a builder licence
B) Building a new duplex for rental income
C) Building a new commercial building
D) Any renovation project valued over $5,000
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The OBA is specifically for individuals building a new home for their own personal
use, allowing them to obtain building permits without a builder licence .
Question 2: An Owner Builder Authorization is NOT applicable to which type of construction?
A) Single-family, site-built home on owned land
B) Multi-family home such as a duplex or 4-plex
C) Factory-built modular or manufactured homes
D) Both B and C
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: OBAs do not apply to multi-family homes (duplexes, 4-plexes) or factory-built homes
constructed wholly or partially off-site .
Question 3: What is the primary exemption offered by an Owner Builder Authorization?
A) Exemption from all building codes
B) Exemption from builder licensing and mandatory third-party home warranty
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C) Exemption from paying property taxes
D) Exemption from safety codes permits
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The OBA exempts the owner from having to become a licensed residential builder
and from arranging third-party home warranty insurance on their new home .
Question 4: An OBA application is submitted to which authority?
A) The local municipality (e.g., City of Edmonton)
B) The Registrar of the New Home Buyer Protection Program
C) The Alberta Safety Codes Authority
D) The Alberta Building Code Council
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: OBAs are issued by the Registrar under the New Home Buyer Protection Act .
Question 5: Is an OBA available to a corporation?
A) Yes, all corporations are eligible
B) Yes, but only for single-family homes
C) No, corporations are generally not eligible
D) Yes, if the corporation is a general contractor
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An individual must be the registered owner of the land (sole owner, joint tenancy, or
tenancy in common); corporations are typically not eligible .
, Page 4 of 131
Question 6: According to the Safety Codes Act, the primary responsibility for compliance rests
with:
A) The registered professional engineer or architect
B) The Safety Codes Officer
C) The general contractor
D) The owner of the building
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Under the Safety Codes Act, the owner is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the
building meets the requirements of the Act, that it is maintained, and that construction is done
safely .
Question 7: A builder licence is valid for:
A) 2 years from date of issue
B) 5 years from date of issue
C) 1 year from date of issue unless otherwise specified
D) The duration of the project
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Builder licences are valid for one year from the date of issue, unless otherwise
specified by the Registrar .
SECTION 2: ELIGIBILITY & LEGAL CRITERIA
Alberta Owner Builder Authorization EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR –
JUST RELEASED
Alberta Owner Builder Authorization Exam
The Alberta Owner Builder Authorization (OBA) is governed by the New Home Buyer Protection
Act. This authorization allows individuals to build a new home for their own personal use
without a residential builder licence, and without mandatory warranty coverage, although
warranty is optional. The application is reviewed and approved by the Registrar of the New
Home Buyer Protection Program at Alberta Municipal Affairs .
EXAM COVERAGE OVERVIEW (10 KEY TOPICS)
1. Legislation & Regulatory Framework – New Home Buyer Protection Act, Safety Codes
Act, Municipal Government Act, and the roles of the Registrar and Safety Codes Officers.
2. Eligibility & Legal Criteria – Personal use requirements, ownership of land, ten-year
occupancy restriction, managing construction, and restrictions on corporations or prior
authorizations.
3. Application Process & Fees – Completing the questionnaire, affidavit of execution, non-
refundable fees ($750), and system registration through the Builder's Portal .
4. Home Warranty & Liability – Optional warranty purchase, exemption consequences,
ten-year liability for construction defects, and selling restrictions without warranty .
5. Permitting & Compliance – Development permits vs. building permits, safety codes
permits (building, electrical, plumbing, gas), and permitting authority obligations .
6. Owner Builder Responsibilities – Personal management of construction, hiring trades,
site supervision, procurement of materials, and full responsibility for code compliance .
7. Building Codes & Technical Standards – Alberta Building Code requirements, structural,
fire safety, and energy efficiency standards, and the role of Registered Professionals .
8. Title Registration & Caveats – Caveat registration on Certificate of Title (effective
December 1, 2025), Public Registry searches, and legal implications of non-compliance .
9. Enforcement & Penalties – Stop-work orders, fines, after-the-fact permits, false
statements, and compliance investigations .
10. Role of Registered Professionals – Architects and engineers: designing, stamping, and
conducting field reviews; owner/constructor responsibility for construction .
, Page 2 of 131
SECTION 1: LEGISLATION & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Question 1: Under Alberta’s New Home Buyer Protection Act, an Owner Builder Authorization
(OBA) is required for which of the following?
A) Building a new home for personal use without a builder licence
B) Building a new duplex for rental income
C) Building a new commercial building
D) Any renovation project valued over $5,000
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The OBA is specifically for individuals building a new home for their own personal
use, allowing them to obtain building permits without a builder licence .
Question 2: An Owner Builder Authorization is NOT applicable to which type of construction?
A) Single-family, site-built home on owned land
B) Multi-family home such as a duplex or 4-plex
C) Factory-built modular or manufactured homes
D) Both B and C
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: OBAs do not apply to multi-family homes (duplexes, 4-plexes) or factory-built homes
constructed wholly or partially off-site .
Question 3: What is the primary exemption offered by an Owner Builder Authorization?
A) Exemption from all building codes
B) Exemption from builder licensing and mandatory third-party home warranty
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C) Exemption from paying property taxes
D) Exemption from safety codes permits
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The OBA exempts the owner from having to become a licensed residential builder
and from arranging third-party home warranty insurance on their new home .
Question 4: An OBA application is submitted to which authority?
A) The local municipality (e.g., City of Edmonton)
B) The Registrar of the New Home Buyer Protection Program
C) The Alberta Safety Codes Authority
D) The Alberta Building Code Council
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: OBAs are issued by the Registrar under the New Home Buyer Protection Act .
Question 5: Is an OBA available to a corporation?
A) Yes, all corporations are eligible
B) Yes, but only for single-family homes
C) No, corporations are generally not eligible
D) Yes, if the corporation is a general contractor
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An individual must be the registered owner of the land (sole owner, joint tenancy, or
tenancy in common); corporations are typically not eligible .
, Page 4 of 131
Question 6: According to the Safety Codes Act, the primary responsibility for compliance rests
with:
A) The registered professional engineer or architect
B) The Safety Codes Officer
C) The general contractor
D) The owner of the building
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Under the Safety Codes Act, the owner is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the
building meets the requirements of the Act, that it is maintained, and that construction is done
safely .
Question 7: A builder licence is valid for:
A) 2 years from date of issue
B) 5 years from date of issue
C) 1 year from date of issue unless otherwise specified
D) The duration of the project
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Builder licences are valid for one year from the date of issue, unless otherwise
specified by the Registrar .
SECTION 2: ELIGIBILITY & LEGAL CRITERIA
