Municipal Plans Hierarchy, Planning & Development Processes

Hierarchy of Statutory Plans

Municipal Government Act

The Municipal Government Act (MGA) is the legislative framework in which all municipalities across the Province of Alberta operate. It provides the governance model for municipalities and lays the foundation of how we function, including areas of planning and development.

The MGA identifies the hierarchy and relationship of statutory plans, so that each plan will be consistent with the plans above it and, in the event of an inconsistency, which provisions in what plan will prevail.

Provincial Land Use Framework

The Land-Use Framework (LUF) sets out an approach to managing the province's land and natural resources to achieve Alberta’s long-term economic, environmental and social goals. The LUF established seven new land-use regions and calls for the development of a regional plan for each.

North Saskatchewan Regional Plan

The regional plan sets out a new approach for managing the lands and natural resources to achieve the province's long-term environmental, economic and social goals. 

The North Saskatchewan Region is located in central Alberta and has approximately 85,780 square kilometres, or just under 13 per cent of Alberta's total land base. The region is bordered by Saskatchewan to the east, British Columbia to the west, the Upper Athabasca and the Lower Athabasca regions to the north and the South Saskatchewan and Red Deer regions to the south (and includes the Village of Innisfree.) The region has a large and diverse landscape, which contains the Rocky Mountains, rolling foothills and prairie parkland.  

Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework

The ICF is a tool to facilitate cooperation between neighbouring municipalities to ensure municipal services are provided to residents efficiently and cost effectively. The goal is to enable municipalities to collaborate regarding service delivery and cost-sharing.

Intermunicipal Development Plan

All municipalities sharing a common boundary, effective March 31, 2020 (for urban municipalities, and effective March 31, 2021 for rural municipalities) were required to adopt an IDP between the municipalities. An IDP is a statutory plan that establishes any conflict relating to planning activities within or around another Municipality; and, ensures orderly development by reducing unnecessary costs and negative impacts on either municipality.

Municipal Development Plan

The MDP is a statutory plan that establishes policies for land use and other matters for the entire municipality. It is a high level document that provides leadership and direction in the preservation of environmentally sensitive areas and provisions for the infrastructure necessary to encourage sustainable and economic development.

Local Area Structure Plan(s)

Land Use Bylaw & Amendments

The LUB is a planning tool that helps implement the goals in the land use plans and regulates development within the Village. All parcels of land are divided into different districts; each district consists of development regulations and permitted or discretionary uses to be considered.

Land Use Bylaw Land Use District Map

Other Pertinent Village Bylaws

Property Related Bylaws

Municipal Utilities

Property Maintenance

Animal Control

Development Permit

Development Permit Process

A Development Permit is required prior to a Building Permit application. This applies to:

• any structure that exceeds 10.0 m2 (107.6 square feet);
• demolition or removal of any structure;
• moving in of any structure (i.e. mobile or Ready-to-Move (RTM) homes);
• a deck with a height of 0.6 m (2.0 ft.) or greater above grade; 
• change of use of land or building;
• building alterations or additional building on a lot;
• any increase in the number of households occupying and living in any building or on any site, and any construction or alterations or additions that would provide for an increase in the number of households which could occupy and live in any building or on any site, including any increase in the number of dwelling units in a building or on a site;
• the removal of top soil from land; and,
• an excavation or stockpile and the creation of either of them.

A Development Permit requires the following information:

• a Site Plan showing the legal description; the front, rear and side yards, if any; any provision for off-street loading and vehicle parking; and access and egress points to the site;
• building dimensions;
• Description of the proposed development/project;
• Authorization from the Owner if applicant is not the Owner of the Property; and
• Contractor name and estimated cost of the development/project.

The Development Permit must be signed by an authorized Development Officer and issued to a Property Owner prior to the application of any of required Disciplines' Permits, (Building, Electrical, Plumbing Permits, etc.)

Please note: Development Permits require payment in full prior to application processing.

Note: It is the Property Owner's responsibility to locate the survey pins (boundaries) on/of their property.

All development within the Village of Innisfree must conform to Land Use Bylaw 628-17 and all Amending Land Use Bylaws, as listed above. Additional, detailed information is provided in the Land Use Bylaw.

Issuance of Development Permit

The issuance of a Development Permit in accordance with the "Notice of Decision" provided by the Development Officer, is subject to the condition that it does not become effective until twenty-one (21) days after the date of issuance of the Notice of Decision.

This is to allow for any Person affected by the decision to be able to make an appeal, to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board. 

An appeal shall be made by serving a written notice of appeal and submitting the applicable fee to the Secretary of the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board within twenty-one (21) days after:

• the date the order, decision or permit issued by the Development Authority was publicized in accordance with the Land Use Bylaw (LUB); or,
• the forty (40) day period referred to in Section 4.3(7) of the LUB has expired.

This Permit would not become effective until the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board has determined the appeal; a Permit may be modified or nullified.

Permit Timeframe/Expiry

If the Development authorized by a Permit is not commenced within twelve (12) months from the date of issuance, and completed within three (3) years of the date of issuance, the Permit is deemed to be void, unless an extension to this period is granted by the Development Authority.

Issued Permits