As knife-related crimes have increased in Edmonton while other weapon-related offences have declined, the city has passed a bylaw prohibiting the sale of knives in convenience stores, an idea previously floated in the spring.
Edmonton City Council announced on Tuesday that it had passed a bylaw prohibiting the sale of knives in convenience stores to bolster community safety and respond to the concerns of local business owners.
The bylaw establishes a new distinction for convenience stores and a category and definition of knives that cannot be sold there. A knife is defined as any item with a blade affixed to a handle.
“The creation of a separate category for convenience stores will help limit convenient or impulsive access to knives,” reads the report.
The City of Edmonton’s website has a lengthy definition of convenience stores, where they are defined as businesses generally 350 square metres or less that sell a limited selection of fast-moving consumer goods.
The city confirmed that the everyday purchase of cutlery will remain unaffected.
Sporting goods and kitchen supply retailers will not be subject to the bylaw.
“Incidents involving edged weapons, in particular knives, continue to be an ongoing issue in Edmonton,” said Keith Johnson, Superintendent, EPS Crime Suppression and Community Operations Division. “We’re pleased with the City’s decision to proceed with this bylaw and are hopeful it will have positive impacts on community safety citywide.”
The Edmonton Police Service released 2024 crime statistics on Jan. 30, 2025.
The data show that while firearm and pepper spray incidents declined between 2023 and 2024, knife-related violent crimes rose from 949 to 979.
Businesses must comply with the new bylaws when they apply for a new business licence or renew their existing one. The city has encouraged businesses to voluntarily comply before their licences are up for renewal.
The city said that the bylaw cannot be enforced retroactively and can only be applied when licences are renewed.
As for enforcement, when the bylaw is applied, the city said that it will be primarily complaint-based. The city added that it would focus on education, but enforcement would follow where necessary.
“EPS will have the authority to enforce the new operating requirements and seize weapons when required,” reads the release.
When the bylaw was initially proposed, local councillors heard from children who described how common knives, brass knuckles, and bear spray had become. Many of the lethal knives were revealed to have been bought in convenience stores.
“Convenient and quick access to knives makes our community less safe,” said Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “Building a city that’s safer for everyone is our top priority, and by removing these easily accessible potential weapons from convenience stores, all Edmontonians will feel more safe.”
The city said that full implementation of the bylaw will take up to two years to implement because that’s how long business licences last.
