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Property Tax Sale

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, like other Alberta Municipalities, holds an annual property tax sale to recover unpaid property taxes.

What is a property tax sale?

  • A property tax sale is a public auction of properties that have a Tax Notification (lien) registered as a result of unpaid taxes for more than one year, in accordance with the Municipal Government Act, Chapter M-26 RSA 2000, Part 10, Division 8.
  • The properties offered for sale have a reserve bid representing fair market value. The assessed value for the year preceding the auction is used for the reserve bids on each property.
  • Prior to the property tax sale date, the Municipality follows an extensive notification process. Properties are only placed up for public auction if the Municipality has a lien on the property and the taxes are not paid in full.

How to remove your property from the tax sale auction

  • If your property is included on the Public Auction Listing, you must pay the balance in full on your property tax account or have a formal a payment arrangement in place and in good standing, before the auction date to be removed from the sale.
  • Liens will only be discharged once the account has been paid in full.
  • Please contact Pulse to connect with taxation to discuss your payment options.

How to purchase a property at the tax sale auction

 Step 1
  • Review the list of remaining properties on the Public Auction Listing.
  • A list of properties will be advertised in the Alberta Gazette (Part 1) mid-February.
  • The current year's public auction listing will be available 30 days prior to the tax sale auction and is updated daily to remove properties that are no longer for sale.
  • Any remaining properties will be advertised in Fort McMurray Today 10 to 20 days prior to the tax sale auction.
 Step 2
  • Review the Terms and Conditions of the sale.
 Step 3
  • Review the Public Auction Listing on the morning of the auction. 
  • If the property you are intending to purchase is still available, attend the auction to bid on the property.
  • The auctioneer will explain the bidding process and the terms and conditions.

All properties listed for public auction are privately owned. Please respect the owner and/or occupant’s privacy.

Timelines of the tax sale

  • March (two years prior to tax sale) – Tax notification (lien) is registered on the property at the Alberta Land Titles Office.
  • October/November (year prior to tax sale) – Reserve bids, based on appraisal values, are set by Council.
  • October/November – Letters are sent to registered owners advising their property is on the auction listing.
  • January (tax sale year) – Letters are sent to registered owners and interested parties on title advising the property is on the auction listing. 
  • February – The properties available for property tax sale via public auction are advertised in the Alberta Gazette (Part 1) and registered letters are sent to owners and interested parties with a copy of the notice shown in the Alberta Gazette.
  • March – The properties available for property tax sale via public auction are advertised in Fort McMurray Today and registered letters are sent to owners and interested parties with a copy of the notice shown in Fort McMurray Today.
  • March – Property tax sale public auction.
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Property Taxes
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Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo footer logo

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
9909 Franklin Avenue
Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 2K4

Phone: 780-743-7000
Toll free: 1-800-973-9663

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