Moving in St. Albert and Sherwood Park: An Edmonton-Area Guide

St. Albert and Sherwood Park are both bedroom communities of Edmonton, but they sit on opposite sides of the city — St. Albert to the northwest, Sherwood Park to the east — and each is its own municipality with its own rules. A move into or between them means suburban detached homes with driveway parking, a 15 to 30 minute commute to downtown Edmonton, deregulated Alberta utilities, and winters cold enough to change how you schedule the day. Here's what actually matters.

St. Albert vs Sherwood Park

St. Albert is a separate city of about 68,000 northwest of Edmonton, along St. Albert Trail and the Anthony Henday ring road. It's older and established, with the historic Mission district, the Red Willow trail network along the Sturgeon River, and some of the priciest detached housing in the Edmonton region. St. Albert Transit runs commuter buses to Edmonton; there is no LRT. Downtown Edmonton is 20 to 30 minutes via St. Albert Trail.
Sherwood Park is an unincorporated community in Strathcona County, east of Edmonton — officially the largest hamlet in Canada, around 70,000 people. It's close to Refinery Row and the Industrial Heartland, so a lot of residents work in energy. Broadmoor, Glen Allan, Summerwood and Aspen Trails are the main neighbourhoods; Wye Road and Baseline Road are the arteries. Downtown Edmonton is 15 to 25 minutes via the Sherwood Park Freeway or Anthony Henday.

A move between the two crosses the whole metro — roughly 40 minutes on the Henday — so treat it as a long local move, not a quick one.

What a Local Move Costs

Edmonton-area movers charge by the hour for local jobs. Two movers and a truck run about $120 to $180 an hour, with roughly $130 to $150 the typical rate, a two- to three-hour minimum, and a travel fee for the drive from the depot. Alberta doesn't licence movers, so the price and the reliability both come down to who you book.

Move size	Typical crew	Typical local cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	2 movers	$400–$750
2-bedroom townhouse or condo	2–3 movers	$750–$1,400
3-bedroom detached house	3 movers	$1,300–$2,500
4+ bedroom house	3–4 movers	$2,000–$3,600

The full breakdown is in how much movers cost in Edmonton. For a single room or a few big items, a small move is the cheaper booking.

Vetting a Mover in Alberta

There is no provincial moving licence or registry in Alberta, so do the checks yourself:

WCB Alberta coverage — ask for a clearance letter so you're not liable if a mover is injured on your property.
Cargo and liability insurance — get the certificate in writing; basic carrier liability is only about $0.60 per pound.
A municipal business licence for the City of St. Albert or Strathcona County.
A written estimate — binding or not-to-exceed — and a real, searchable business name with recent reviews. Service Alberta's Consumer Investigations Unit handles disputes.

More detail is in local movers in Edmonton: what to know before you book.

Setting Up Utilities

Alberta electricity and natural gas are deregulated, so you choose a retailer (or take the Regulated Rate Option) and set a start date for the new address. EPCOR provides water in both Edmonton and St. Albert; Strathcona County runs its own water utility for Sherwood Park. Distribution is EPCOR or Fortis Alberta depending on the address. Line these up a week ahead and cancel the old address for the day after moving day. What to expect on the bills is in how much utilities cost in Edmonton by housing type.

Winter Moves: November to March

The Edmonton area gets roughly 120 cm of snow a year, January means around −10 to −15°C, and Environment Canada issues extreme cold warnings near −40 with wind chill. That shapes a winter move here:

Seasonal and snow-event parking bans. Both St. Albert and Strathcona County restrict on-street parking during declared snow events so plows can clear routes. Check the municipal website before moving day and keep the truck and cars in the driveway.
Tape fails in the cold. Below about 5°C packing tape won't hold. Tape and stack boxes in a heated space and carry them out in batches.
Short daylight. In December it's dark by about 4:20 pm. Book an early start so the load happens in real light.
Cold-sensitive items. Move electronics, TVs, records and anything liquid in a heated vehicle, not the back of the truck, and let them come up to room temperature before plugging in.

Timing

Demand and prices peak at the end of every month and across May through September. A weekday in the middle of the month is cheaper and much easier to book. Give two to three weeks' notice for a normal date, more for a month-end summer slot. One Alberta admin note: update your driver's licence and registration at a registry agent, and your address with Alberta Health, your bank, insurer and the CRA in the first couple of weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a local move in St. Albert or Sherwood Park cost?

Two movers and a truck run about $120 to $180 an hour with a two- to three-hour minimum and a travel fee, so a 1-bedroom typically lands at $400 to $750, a 2-bedroom at $750 to $1,400, and a 3-bedroom detached house at $1,300 to $2,500. A move between St. Albert and Sherwood Park crosses the whole metro and adds drive time to the bill.

How far in advance should I book?

Two to three weeks for a typical date, and earlier for the end of any month or for the May-to-September peak. A mid-month weekday is the cheapest and easiest slot to get.

Do movers in Alberta need a licence?

No. Alberta has no provincial moving licence or registry. Vet a mover on WCB Alberta coverage, cargo and liability insurance, a St. Albert or Strathcona County business licence, a written estimate and recent reviews. Service Alberta's Consumer Investigations Unit handles complaints.

What should I know about a winter move here?

Watch for snow-event parking bans in both municipalities and keep vehicles off the street. Tape and stack boxes indoors because tape fails below about 5°C, start early since it's dark by 4:20 pm in December, and move electronics and liquids in a heated vehicle, letting them warm up before use.

How do I set up utilities?

Alberta electricity and gas are deregulated, so pick a retailer or take the Regulated Rate Option and set a start date. EPCOR handles water in Edmonton and St. Albert; Strathcona County runs its own for Sherwood Park. Arrange transfers about a week ahead.

Book Your St. Albert or Sherwood Park Move

Sort the utilities, the date and the parking, then get an upfront price from Edmonton movers who cover both communities. If you're weighing where to land, see best Edmonton neighbourhoods by budget, family and transit.

Sources

City of St. Albert — Snow and ice control, seasonal parking bans (stalbert.ca), 2025.
Strathcona County — Snow clearing and parking during snow events (strathcona.ca), 2025.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation — Edmonton CMA rental market report (cmhc-schl.gc.ca), 2024.
Alberta Utilities Commission — Regulated Rate Option and retailer choice (auc.ab.ca), 2025.
Environment and Climate Change Canada — Edmonton climate normals and extreme cold criteria (climate.weather.gc.ca), 2025.