The City of Calgary has lightened the property tax load for business owners.

City council voted to transfer 1% of the tax burden to residential property owners from non-residential site owners.

“This council is ready to keep going to make sure that the proportional share is done properly,” Mayor Jyoti Gondek told reporters. “We are one of the worst cities in this country in terms of charging businesses almost five times more than we charge homeowners.”

Deborah Yedlin, president and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement that the shift is “progress” but still leaves Calgary vulnerable to losing businesses to other Canadian jurisdictions. Yedlin reiterated her organization’s call for a 2% shift.

Taking the 1% ratio change into account, Calgary commercial property owners have also received a lower tax increase than homeowners for 2024. The non-residential property tax will rise 3.5%, while homeowners will pay 7.8% more.

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