The answer

Alberta's Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act provides lien and payment rights for qualifying work and materials, including rights that may involve parties the owner did not pay directly. Deadlines, proper invoices, notices, holdbacks, registration, discharge and disputes are fact-specific. Do not withhold, release, settle, refinance, sell or assume a paid general contractor eliminates all risk without prompt Alberta legal advice.

Calgary-specific context

A payment dispute and a deficient-work dispute may overlap but are not solved by stopping communication or making an undocumented cash payment.

What to do next

Preserve contracts, invoices, notices, proof of payment, work evidence and title records and contact an Alberta construction or real estate lawyer promptly.

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Verify before relying

Official sources for this topic

These sources explain the rules and records relevant to this topic. Check the current requirements for your property.

City of Calgary home-improvement permitsRead the current official guidance and confirm what applies to your property.City of Calgary hiring a contractorOfficial Calgary contractor business-licence, written-contract, permit, insurance, WCB, reference, payment, and project-protection guidance.City of Calgary homeowner trade permitsOfficial Calgary rules for homeowner and contractor electrical, plumbing and gas permits, qualifications, rough-in and final inspections, and concealed work.City of Calgary inspections for homeownersOfficial Calgary building and trade inspection booking, outcomes, existing-construction, concealed-work, and post-inspection pathway.City of Calgary inspection timelinesCurrent Calgary building, trade and development inspection capacity reporting and inspection-service context.City of Calgary property researchOfficial Calgary pathway for current and historical permit, plan, inspection and planning-related property records.City of Calgary certificate of complianceOfficial Calgary guidance explaining RPR and Certificate of Compliance scope, applications, encroachments, and the separate need to verify permit history.Alberta hiring a contractorOfficial Alberta consumer guidance for contractor identity, qualifications, insurance, written estimates, contracts, payment, and complaints.Alberta prepaid contracting licenceOfficial Alberta definition, licensing, security, contract, invitation and consumer requirements for qualifying prepaid contractors.Alberta prompt payment rulesOfficial Alberta prompt-payment, proper-invoice, non-payment notice, holdback, adjudication and construction-lien framework.Alberta Land Titles construction lienOfficial Alberta construction-lien forms, dates, registration, cancellation and statutory pathway.WCB Alberta clearance lettersOfficial WCB-Alberta contractor coverage and account-standing clearance pathway before work and payment.Alberta condominium informationOfficial condominium law, document, insurance, bylaw, reserve-fund, and ownership information.Alberta asbestos project notificationOfficial Alberta occupational-health pathway for renovation or removal work that may release asbestos fibres.RECA property condition, disclosure and title guidanceRead the current official guidance and confirm what applies to your property.CREB housing statisticsPublic Calgary market report hub.Law Society of Alberta lawyer directoryOfficial Alberta directory for checking lawyer status and searching by location, practice area, language, and other criteria.

Check the current information at the linked source. Ask the appropriate professional how it applies to your property.

Important

This is general information, not legal advice. Speak with a qualified lawyer about your specific situation.

RELATED GUIDES / Condition & upgrades

Find the right inspection for the property.

A visual inspection cannot clear concealed defects or identify hazardous materials reliably. Ask what was inaccessible, which tests are excluded and which qualified specialist should assess the concern before work or condition removal.

Official verification: Health Canada: asbestos precautions ↗

Affiliated network resources provide context. Confirm rules, approvals and property records with the responsible authority.