Land Use Bylaw
The Town's Land Use Bylaw regulates the use and development of land and buildings. The bylaw establishes rules and regulations for land development as well as outlining the process by which decisions for applications are made.
With all of the diverse developable lands our community has to offer, we strive to be developer friendly and look forward to all future developments in Fort Macleod.
Land Use Bylaw Basics & FAQ
- If you’re planning to construct a building, start a business, change land use (zoning), undertake renovations or redevelopment, erect a sign, or establish a secondary suite, the Land Use Bylaw will provide direction on the applicable rules and regulations you’ll need to consider.
- If you’re wanting to look up the land use district for a parcel of land, the Land Use Bylaw includes maps which outline the land use district for each parcel of land within the Town. This information may also be found using the public GIS WebMap. Each land use district includes specific rules and regulations governing how the land can be used and what can be built. For example, residential (single family home, duplex, etc.), commercial (restaurant, retail, etc.), or industrial (manufacturing, warehousing, etc.)
- Accessory building (i.e. garage or shed) height, size, placement, exterior design, etc.
- Land use district (zone) for a parcel of land e.g. residential, commercial, industrial, etc.
- Main building type, size, placement, height, elevation design, etc.
- Parking and landscaping requirements
- Permitted and discretionary uses e.g. residence, business, recreation, park, etc.
- Applications which are exempt from requiring a development permit application
- Sign and fence regulations
For more regulations, read our Land Use Bylaw, here.
- You have the opportunity to apply for a variance on development permit applications; however, you cannot apply for a use that is neither a permitted nor discretionary use in the applicable land use district or for a use that has been prohibited in the Land Use Bylaw.
- Depending on the variance requested, the application may be considered by a Development Officer or by the Municipal Planning Commission.
- You also have the opportunity to apply for a Land Use Bylaw amendment in which you could request to change a specific regulation, land use, or the land use district (zone) for a parcel of land.
Subdivision Approval
Subdivision approval is the process to legally create new land titles. Subdivision approval is required when:
- Creating lots for new neighborhoods
- Creating separate land titles for each unit of a duplex or row housing
- Creating separate land titles for each dwelling on a single parcel
- Redefining the property boundaries between two parcels
Subdivision applications are handled through the Oldman River Regional Services Commission. The information below will help guide you through your subdivision.
Development Agreements
When a land developer is proposing a new development they may be required to enter into a Development Agreement. It is a detailed document which lists a developers obligations and the Town's obligations for the development of land. Any fees, levies, charges, or security amounts that the developer owes to the Town are listed in this document.
