Development Permits
Development Permits
What is a Development Permit?
A Development Permit is a document issued by a Development Authority that authorizes the construction of a development, and includes the plans and any applicable conditions of approval. An easier way to think of this is that the Development Permit approval process guides "what" goes "where" on a property. There are also exemptions from the Development Permit process, however exempted construction must still comply with any applicable Land Use Bylaw and for discretionary uses the development must consider policy directions within a Municipal Development Plan.
What does "development" mean?
The Municipal Government Act (MGA) defines "development" as:
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an excavation or stockpile and the creation of either of them;
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a building or an addition to or replacement or repair of a building and the construction or placing of any of them on, in, over or under land;
- a change of use of land or a building or an act done in relation to land or a building that results in or is likely to result in a change in the use of the land or building, or
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a change in the intensity of use of land or a building or an act done in relation to land or a building that results in or is likely to result in a change in the intensity of use of the land or building.
Development Permits in Strathmore
The Town issues Development Permits in accordance with the MGA, Town's Land Use Bylaw and other statutory plans and policy documents, including but not limited to the Town's Municipal Development Plan.
Although pre-consultation is not a prerequisite for submitting a Development Permit application, it is strongly recommended that all prospective applicants discuss their development proposal in detail with the Town’s Development Services Office prior to submitting a formal planning application. More information on the Town's Pre-Consultation Service is available at https://www.strathmore.ca/preconsultation.
Development Permit Activity in Strathmore
The Town's Planning Applications Dashboard (PAD) provides information on individual development permit applications, as well as aggregated development statistics for the current and previous calendar year.
Since January 1, 2025, all applications for Development Permit are shared publicly on PAD - including a file number, municipal address, description of the development, application status, and file manager contact information. PAD also performs a notification function by providing date of receipt, date of complete/incomplete, and a decision date.
Explore the menu tabs below for more on Development Permits in Strathmore:
What happens when development impacts roads, sidewalks, and/or other types of municipal rights-of-way or infrastructure?
Sometimes the construction-related logistics of a development will require a related approval and permit from the Town's Engineering Office to do work, for example, on a sidewalk or road, or to temporarily close a road or parking area.
The Engineering Services Office is responsible for excavation permits, crossing agreements, utility line assignment, and road and lane closure approvals, all of which ensure that work is safely completed and as intended within the Town's right-of-ways.
More information is available on the Engineering Approvals & Permits webpage.