Notice of Non-Payment in Alberta
Under the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act, RSA 2000, c. P-26.4
A notice of non-payment is the only way a payer can refuse, in whole or in part, to pay a proper invoice in Alberta without losing the dispute. It must be delivered within 14 days (AB PPCLA s. 32.2(2)) and must give the specific reasons for non-payment.
One of the forms carries a mandatory undertaking to refer the dispute to adjudication within 21 days (AB PPCLA s. 32.3(5)(b)).
Alberta notice of non-payment deadlines
The statutory clocks for this topic in Alberta, with section citations.
| Clock | Value | Statute |
|---|---|---|
Notice of non-payment window Window to dispute an invoice. Miss it and the amount is generally payable in full. AB PPCLA Section 32.2 | 14 days | AB PPCLA Section 32.2 |
Undertaking to adjudicate When refusing to pass payment down, the payer must undertake to refer the dispute to adjudication within this window. AB PPCLA Section 32.3 | 21 days | AB PPCLA Section 32.3 |
The Alberta dispute window is 14 days
The notice-of-non-payment window in Alberta is shorter than the owner-payment window. A notice delivered after the 14-day window closes (AB PPCLA s. 32.2(2)) is generally treated as no notice at all, and the invoiced amount becomes payable in full.
The forms and the undertaking to adjudicate
Alberta follows the Ontario family of notice forms: one from an owner to a contractor, one from a contractor to a subcontractor when the owner has paid, and one when the owner has not.
When a contractor withholds payment from a subcontractor because the owner has not paid, the notice must include an undertaking to refer the dispute to adjudication within 21 days (AB PPCLA s. 32.3(5)(b)). Tiercord branches to the correct form automatically and enforces that undertaking where it applies.
Reasons must be specific
A valid Alberta notice states the amount being withheld and the specific reasons for non-payment. Vague or boilerplate reasons can render the notice ineffective, so the wording matters as much as the timing.
Notice of non-payment in Alberta: FAQ
How long do I have to dispute an invoice in Alberta?
14 days from receipt of the proper invoice (AB PPCLA s. 32.2(2)). A late notice of non-payment generally means the full amount becomes payable.
Does a Alberta notice of non-payment require an undertaking to adjudicate?
When a contractor passes non-payment down to a subcontractor because the owner has not paid, yes: the notice must undertake to refer the dispute to adjudication within 21 days (AB PPCLA s. 32.3(5)(b)).
See the full Alberta guide
Every deadline, notice and adjudication rule in one place.