Development

Land development reflects how the county grows, evolves and changes. Leduc County guides development in a way that reflects community vision and addresses emergent challenges and opportunities.

Private companies (developers) and individual landowners do most of the development within the county. The county may occasionally build infrastructure like roads, parks and bridges.

Developers in the Nisku Business Park and parts of the East Vistas and Saunders Lake areas are required to pay fees called off-site levies to help cover the infrastructure costs associated with new developments and subdivisions.

Land use bylaw

The Municipal Government Act (MGA) requires the county to have a land use bylaw. Leduc County's Land Use Bylaw divides the municipality into districts, which describe the land uses that may be permitted within that designation. The bylaw also outlines a process for reviewing development permits and determines the number of dwellings permitted on a parcel of land.

The Land Use Bylaw may also include regulations concerning subdivision design, building appearance and design, landscaping, the height, size and location of buildings, parking, loading, fences or walls, signs and lighting.

Amending the Land Use Bylaw

Amendments to the Land Use Bylaw can be to the text in the document, or to the district of a specific parcel. Changing the land use district of a parcel is called redistricting; this happens when the applicant wants to change the types of development that may be permitted to happen on their land.

The process for amending the Land Use Bylaw is important, because it allows the Development Authority to consider how the proposed change fits in with the rest of the county.

Submitting your application

Before submitting an application to amend the Land Use Bylaw, you will need to complete the following steps:

Contact Development Services by email or give us a call at 780-979-2113 to discuss the requirements for your proposal.
Complete the Land Use Bylaw amendment application form

Submit your application by email or drop it off in person, or by mail to:

Leduc County
Development Services
101-1101 5 Street
Nisku, AB, T9E 2X3

Application review

Once your application is completed and received, staff will circulate your application internally, to external agencies and to owners of all neighbouring properties for comment and review.

Amendments to the Land Use Bylaw require a public hearing. A public hearing will be scheduled for your amendment, and will be advertised in the Leduc Representative for two consecutive weeks prior to the hearing date.

Depending on the complexity of the proposal or the potential impact on the community, you may be required to hold an open house before the public hearing. The need to conduct an open house is at the discretion of Planning and Development staff, but may be also be required by council.

At the public hearing, council may ask for additional information, approve the proposed amending bylaw, approve the amendment with minor modifications, or refuse the amendment.

In order for a bylaw amendment to be approved, it must be given three readings by council. Decisions are binding and cannot be appealed.

If we refuse your proposal, Leduc County can't consider another application for the same amendment within one year of the refusal date, unless council directs otherwise.

Commercial production and distribution of cannabis

Production facility

A federal licence is required to produce cannabis for medical and non-medicinal purposes.

The Leduc County Land Use Bylaw limits the development of cannabis production facilities to business/industrial- and agricultural-zoned areas. Any business or individual wishing to develop a cannabis production facility in Leduc County must have their federal licence prior to growing cannabis.

Retail store

The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) regulates cannabis retail stores and operates Alberta's online cannabis store. A provincial licence is required to open a cannabis retail store in Alberta, in addition to a development permit from Leduc County.

Cannabis retail stores must be cannabis-specific; they cannot sell alcohol, tobacco or pharmaceutical products. Other conditions must be met in order to qualify for a provincial licence.

The Leduc County Land Use Bylaw limits development of cannabis retail stores to business/industrial-zoned areas. Any business or individual wishing to open a cannabis retail store in Leduc County must obtain approval from the municipality prior to obtaining a provincial licence.

If you have any land-use questions regarding cannabis facilities or retail stores, email Development Services or call 780-979-2113.

Development permits

Nearly all forms of building and development requires a permit to ensure that the proposed project complies with the Land Use Bylaw. Development comes in many forms, such as constructing new buildings or additions, replacing or repairing existing buildings, changing the use of buildings, excavating or stockpiling soil, installing signage on buildings or private land, and starting a home-based business.

Residential projects requiring a development permit include, but are not limited to: building a house or addition, erecting a sign, operating a home occupation, building a deck, building a fence or building a garage. Our goal is to make the permitting process as quick and easy as possible.

If you aren't sure whether your development requires a permit, contact Development Services at by email or call 780-979-2113.

Applying for a permit

To apply for a development permit, review and complete the applicable development permit application package:

Submit your application by email or drop it off in person, or by mail to:
Leduc County
Development Services
101-1101 5 Street
Nisku, AB, T9E 2X3

View Leduc County's Fees and Charges bylaw for a complete listing of permit application fees and charges.

Individuals who build before getting a development permit, or don't comply with the conditions of the permit's approval, face enforcement action such as fines, court action, or a stop order. A stop order is an order served by the development authority to either stop the development, demolish or remove the development, or carry out any other action stated on the notice to bring the development into compliance with the Land Use Bylaw. The order will specify a date that the actions must be completed by.

Application review

Once your application is completed and received, staff will circulate your application internally and externally, where applicable, for comment and review, consider the application, and issue a decision based on planning documents and policies.

The development officer may ask for additional information, approve the application, approve the application with conditions, or refuse the application.

Appeals

You can appeal a development application decision.

Subdivision

If you want to divide a parcel of land into smaller lots, you need to get approval from Leduc County. Learn more about the subdivision process.