Permits & Development

Details: Parent Category: Finance & Administration

Development Permits

A development permit is not the same as a building permit. A development permit allows a specific type of development on a specific parcel of land to proceed and is required to ensure compliance with the Land Use Bylaw and that development does not infringe on the rights of adjacent landowners and other interested parties. A development permit may stipulate some of the following conditions: the use of the property, intensity of that use, building height, building site coverage, setbacks from property lines, development standards, parking requirements etcetera. In most cases, both development and building permits are required.

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Development Permit is needed for just about any activity on an individual parcel of land (see icon

Schedule 3 - developments not requiring a development permit ).

The Municipal Government Act defines “development” as an excavation or stockpile, construction, renovation, or repairs to a building, a change in the use of land or intensity in the use of land. The Development Officer reviews a development application for compliance with the Land Use Bylaw which sets out land use districts and the one or more permitted and discretionary uses within each district . Permitted Uses not requiring a variance may be decided upon by the Development Officer. Discretionary Uses and uses requesting a variance must be forwarded to the Municipal Planning Commission. If the Development Permit grants a variance of the development rules or is for a Discretionary Use the permit is subject to an appeal period. Anyone claiming to be affected by the permit may appeal it to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board. A fee of $200.00 must be included with the appeal form. See the Development Permit Process Flow Chart and icon

Fee Schedule.

Building Permits

A building permit allows construction of a building or structure to proceed on condition of compliance with the Alberta Building Code which addresses building and fire safety. A building permit is required for the construction, alteration, repair, relocation, demolition, or change of use of a building.

A Building Permit is required (including but not limited) to:

Construct a foundation to support a building or structure
Erect a new building or structure (including retaining walls over 900 mm in height and swimming pools/hot tubs)
Demolish, relocate, alter or make additions to an existing building or structure
Install or modify heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC)
Installations for all commercial, industrial, institutional and new dwelling installations
Construct an uncovered deck more than 0.6m (2’) above grade

A building Permit is not required for:

General maintenance, repairs or upgrades, at the discretion of a Building Safety Codes Officer, that do not create a hazard
Painting, decorating, non-structural renovations
- A development permit may be required for external alterations
Parking pads not supporting a garage or carport
- A development permit will be required if a pad is to support a garage or carport in the future
Retaining walls less than 900 mm
- A development permit may be required for lot grading changes
Accessory buildings not greater than 10m²
- A development permit will be required if an accessory building is over 10m², is over 3.0m (10’) in height, has a permanent foundation, has utility connections or if it does not meet the setback requirements of the Land Use Bylaw
Uncovered decks or patios not exceeding 0.6m (2’) from ground level
- A development permit will be required if a deck is to be covered or if it does not meet the setback requirements of the Land Use Bylaw

For more information on whether or not permits are required please contact the Municipality at 403-563-8833.

Permit Application Forms

Information Required With a Building & Development Permit Application
Note: additional information may be required. If applying for only Building or only Development contact the Development Officer to discuss submission requirements.

Except when otherwise permitted by an Officer, with each application for a Building Permit, two sets of construction plans, drawings and specifications shall be submitted to the Municipality. For applications that require Development Permit and Building Permit, three sets of drawings shall be submitted.

Sufficient information shall be provided to show that the proposed work will conform to this Code and whether or not it may affect adjacent property.
Plans shall be drawn to scale and shall indicate the nature and extent of the work proposed in sufficient detail to establish that, when completed, the work and the proposed occupancy will conform to the Code.
Plans and specifications shall include, so far as is applicable:
- Floor plans on a scale of not less than 1:100 or legible (discretion of Safety Codes Officer),
- Dimensions of all rooms,
- A description of the purpose of all rooms,
- The location of all walls, partitions, doorways, windows and other openings,
- The finish of all floors, walls, and ceilings,
- The location and description of all fixed equipment, and
Building sections, elevations and details sufficient to determine the proposed construction meets the requirements of the Code.
Plans and specifications for a permit must show the proposed occupancy of all parts of the building.
Plans and specifications shall be drawn to scale upon substantial paper or other acceptable material and shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature and extent of the work proposed and to show in detail that it will confirm to the provisions of the Act, Municipal Bylaws and any other relevant regulations.
Each set of plans shall state the building or premises address, the name and address of the owner of the building or premises, a name and address of the person who prepared the plans and when an agent represents the owner, the name and address of the agent.
A site plan shall include the following:
- Area of lot
- Property lines
- North arrow
- Civic address and legal address
- Area of existing building and percentage of lot coverage
- Area of proposed buildings and percentage of lot coverage
- All projections (including cantilevers, bay windows, eaves, fireplaces, etc.)
- All abutting streets, avenues, lanes, reserves, etc.
- Building height from finished grades
- Easement and utility right-of-way
- Boulevards distance from the property line to the back of the sidewalks or curb where no sidewalk is provided
- Finished grades at the property line shown at front and rear of property lines and the corners of the building
If floor and beams are engineered (e.g. Truss Joist, Nascor, etc.) manufactures layout will be required along with a suppliers letter (provided by designer)
Layout for roof trusses. If complex design specification will be required to be provided.
A subcontractor sheet, indicating subcontractors for projects; e.g. Names of contractors who will be doing work on the project, painting, dry-walling, framing, wiring, etc.
A declaration of construction value will be required for all commercial, industrial, large residential and institutional applications. Schedules will be required with all applications for larger projects in conformance with the Code.

Cancellation of Permits

Any person who tenders a permit application and fee may, for a period of one hundred and eight (180) days from the date of the permit application, request in writing that the permit be cancelled. Should the permit be cancelled a refund of one-half (1/2) of the permit fee shall be reimbursed to the applicant. A minimum of fifty ($50) but no more than five hundred ($500) shall be retained by the Municipality when a permit has been cancelled.

Permit Expiry

Every permit issued by a Safety Codes Officer shall expire and become null and void if the work authorized by the permit has not commenced within one hundred and eight (180) days from the date of issuance of the permit, or if the work authorized by the permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of two hundred and ten (210) days at any time after the work has commenced.

Offence

Any person who is guilty of an offence of the Safety Codes Act is liable for a first offence to a fine of not more than $15,000.00 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine of not more than $1,000 for each day during which the offence continues after the first day or part of a day, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both to fines and imprisonment. For a 2nd, or subsequent offence to a fine of not more than $2,000 for each day or part of a day during which the offence continues after the first day, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both fines and imprisonment.

Inspection Procedures

The Municipality currently contracts to Park Enterprises in Lethbridge for all Safety Codes Services (permit reviews and inspections) with the exception of the electrical discipline.

Contact the Municipal Office (403-563-8833) or Park Enterprises (403-329-3747) to arrange an inspection. Please give at least 2 full days notice prior to a desired inspection date.