Regulations for new dwellings and additions in the following districts:

• AG: Agriculture General
• RA: Rural Residential/Agriculture
• RCL: Low Density Country Residential
• RCM: Medium Density Country Residential
• RCH: High Density Country Residential
• RS: Small Holdings

Both a development and building permit are required for all new dwellings and additions to dwellings.
Additions include covered decks, sunrooms and attached garages.

Regulations and setbacks from property lines

AG: Agriculture General

The maximum height is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.) except where restricted by the Airport Overlay.
The minimum setback from a lot line abutting a rural road is 30.0 metres (98.5 ft.)
The front yard minimum setback is 20.0 metres (65.6 ft.)
The side yard minimum setback is 20.0 metres (65.6 ft.)
The rear yard minimum setback is 20.0 metres (65.6 ft.)

*For the first lot out of a quarter section, the side and rear yard setback is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.)

RA: Rural Residential/Agriculture

The maximum height is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.), except where restricted by the Airport Overlay
The minimum setback from a lot line abutting a rural road is 30.0 metres (98.5 ft.)
The front yard minimum setback is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.)
The side yard minimum setback is 7.5 metres (24.6 ft.), except it is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.) where the lot flanks an internal subdivision road
The rear yard minimum setback is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.)

RCL: Low Density Country Residential

The maximum height is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.), except where restricted by the Airport Overlay
The minimum setback from a lot line abutting a rural road is 30.0 metres (98.5 ft.)
The front yard minimum setback is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.)
The side yard minimum setback is 7.5 metres (24.6 ft.), except it is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.) where the lot flanks an internal subdivision road
The rear yard minimum setback is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.) 

RCM: Medium Density Country Residential

The maximum height is 10.0 metres (32.8 feet), except where restricted by the Airport Overlay
The minimum setback from a lot line abutting a rural road is 30.0 metres (98.5 ft.)
The front yard minimum setback is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.)
The side yard minimum setback is 7.5 metres (24.6 ft.), except it is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.) where the lot flanks an internal subdivision road
The rear yard minimum setback is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.)

RCH: High Density Country Residential

The maximum height is 10.0 metres (32.8 feet), except where restricted by the Airport Overlay
The minimum setback from a lot line abutting a rural road is 30.0 metres (98.5 feet)
The front yard minimum setback is 10.0 metres (32.8 feet)
The side yard minimum setback is 7.5 metres (24.6 feet), except it is 10.0 metres (32.8 feet) where the lot flanks an internal subdivision road
The rear yard minimum setback is 10.0 metres (32.8 feet)

RS: Small Holdings

The maximum height is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.), except where restricted by the Airport Overlay
The minimum setback from a lot line abutting a rural road is 30.0 metres (98.5 ft.)
The front yard minimum setback is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.)
The side yard minimum setback is 7.5 metres (24.6 ft.), except it is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.) where the lot flanks an internal subdivision road
The rear yard minimum setback is 10.0 metres (32.8 ft.)

Foundation information

The following foundations are not required to be designed by a professional engineer or registered architect:

• Full concrete foundation
• 4 ft. concrete frost wall on a strip footing
• 4 ft. pier foundation on a spread footing

The following foundations are required to be designed by a professional engineer or registered architect:

• Concrete pile and grade beam systems
• Concrete piles
• Screw piles
• Preserved wood foundation
• Shallow foundations (i.e. slab on grade)
• ICF - Insulated Concrete Forms (may require engineering if no CCMC approval is provided)

Submit the following to Planning and Development Services

• A completed Development permit application form
• A completed Building permit application form
• 3 (three) copies of a site plan prepared by an accredited professional (Land Surveyor) for all new houses (site plans for additions may not have to be drawn by an accredited professional). The following information must be included:
  • All structures on the property and the proposed development
  • Distances to the property lines from the proposed development
  • Dimensions of the property
  • Dimensions of the proposed development (including height from grade to roof and midpoint, as well as roof pitch)
  • Easements and utility rights-of-way
  • North arrow
•  3 (three) complete sets of construction drawings. The drawings must be printed to scale and include the following:
  • Elevation drawings of the front, rear, and two sides of the building including dimensions of openings (ie. windows and doors)
  • Floor plans for all developed floors, including area of each floor (ie. square footage) and labelled rooms.
  • A structural cross-section with specifications
  • A foundation plan
  • Specifications/layouts for any engineered products, such as trusses, beams, floor systems, etc.
• A completed  abandoned well declaration form (38.1 KB)
• An Alberta home owner warranty certificate
• Current copy of title (printed within the last 30 days)
• Fees (see current fee schedules)

* Please note that a Development Officer or Safety Codes Officer may require additional information.

Printable brochure - Building an Accessory Structure (Rural & Agriculture) (294.0 KB)

More information