Description: An undeveloped (Greenfield) site is an area of land that has never been developed or built on, and is often found surrounding urban areas. Some Greenfield sites have previously been used for agricultural purposes, but most are fields or vacant lots.

Description: A vacant (Brownfield) site is a formerly developed plot of land that is abandoned or underused. Brownfield sites are often characterized by disuse, decay, and remaining evidence of development, such as paved areas.

Description: The Integrated Community Sustainability Plan / Municipal Development Plan (ICSP/MDP) is the primary planning document for the City of Lethbridge. The plan is a statutory document that has been adopted by council through bylaw. It is based on a creative consensus surrounding the social, cultural, economic, built and natural environment, and governance dimensions of sustainability. The resulting document strategically addresses the community’s immediate needs while at the same time develops long-term goals for guiding future development. In sum, the City of Lethbridge ICSP/MDP is the embodiment of the community’s vision for the future of our City.

Description: The policies of the ICSP/MDP are based on extensive community engagement. Despite the broad community support for the document, the ICSP/MDP is limited in its ability to manage future growth because policies are not tied to targets. With the introduction of the SSRP, and our statutory obligation to demonstrate compliance with respect to Efficient Use of Land, the City has an opportunity to collect baseline data that can be used to set appropriate growth targets.

While the City works to create that baseline in support of future target setting, the Administration will continue to rely on the growth principles found here to inform and recommend "growth decisions".

Description: The Area Structure Plan (ASP) proposes a sequence of development for an area, the future land uses, the density of population, and the general location of transportation and public utilities.  The plan is a statutory document that must be passed by bylaw.

Click to download the ASP Process

Description: The Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) is a detailed long range plan that coordinates the conservation of existing neighbourhoods from unsympathetic development proposals, and sets out the policies for the redevelopment of vacant and underutilized parcels of land and buildings. The plan is a statutory document that must be passed by bylaw.

Description: The Outline plans provide a more specific planning framework for an area included within an Area Structure Plan and conforms to the general principles and concepts established in the Area Structure Plans.

Click to download the Outline Plan process

Description: Rezoning is the process of changing the land use that applies to a property or parcel of land. Rezoning is required if you wish to develop your site in a manner that is not allowed by the current zoning. Some rezoning is supported by required Comprehensive Site Plans.

Click to download the Rezoning process
Click to download the Comprehensive Site Plan approval process

Description: Subdivision approval is the process to legally create new land titles. Subdivision approval is required when: 1) Creating lots for new neighborhoods, 2) Creating separate land titles for each unit of a duplex or row housing, 3) Creating separate land titles for each dwelling on a single parcel, 4) Redefining the property boundaries between two parcels. The subdivision process ensures that proposals are consistent with future development goals in the city.

Requirements for Subdivision

Subdivision Process

Condo Conversions

Description: The subdivision authority approval from the City of Lethbridge and the plan prepared by the land surveyor are sent to Land Titles.  Land Titles registers the plan and creates the new Certificates of Title which the Landowner can then sell to the public.

This is an external process from the City of Lethbridge, and it is the land owners responsibility to initiate registration with Land Titles.

Key Contact:  Survey company as contracted by Landowner

Description:  Land developers must engage the services of a Professional Engineer to design their development.  The engineer will design all infrastructure necessary to allow the proposed usage to take place within the new development.  The detailed design will include a water distribution system, a wastewater collection system, a stormwater management system as well as any required surface features such as grading, roads, sidewalks, lanes and landscaping.

This design must conform to City of Lethbridge Design Standards.  When the drawings are complete, they are submitted to the City for review by Infrastructure Services to ensure that the design is compliant and fits well into the adjacent areas of the City.  Once the review has been completed the City will approve the drawings for construction.

Description: When a land developer is proposing a new development within the City of Lethbridge, they must enter into a Service Agreement with Infrastructure Services.  The agreement details the contractual relationship between the Developer and the City.  It is a detailed document which lists the Developers obligations to the City and the City’s obligations to the Developer for the development of land within the City.  Any fees, levies or charges that the Developer owes to the City are listed in this document.

Description:  The Developer is responsible for constructing all infrastructure as per the approved Detail Design Drawings.  The developer hires a Civil Construction contractor to work under the supervision of the Engineer.  The Contractor builds the infrastructure as shown in the detailed drawings.  All watermain, storm and sewer mains and roadways must be completed before building construction can begin in a new development.

Description: The Construction Completion Certificate documents the official completion date of the Civil Construction work within a development.  The date on the CCC is used to establish warranty periods on all of the work that was completed by the Developer’s Contractor.

Requirements for Construction Completion Certificate

Description:  The Final Acceptance Certificate (FAC) is a document which marks the end of the warranty period on any part of the Civil Construction work.  When this document is signed, the City officially accepts all responsibility for the noted infrastructure and the Developer no longer has any obligation to the City for work that is covered by the FAC.

Requirements for issuing Final Acceptance Certificate

Description: A Development Permit is needed for just about any activity on an individual parcel of land.  A Development Officer reviews a development application for compliance with Land Use Bylaw 6300 which sets out land use districts and the allowable land uses.  Prior to obtaining a Business Licence, approval must be granted through a Development Permit to operate a specific type of business on the parcel. The Land Use Bylaw also has site development rules such as building setbacks and heights, parcel coverage, parking requirements, landscaping, etc.

The land use bylaw is the means of regulating the use and development of parcels of land. The Act defines “development” as an excavation or stockpile, construction, renovation, or repairs to a building, a change in the use of land or intensity in the use of land. The current Land use Bylaw is LUB 6300, effective September 1, 2020.

Most development decisions are made by the Development Officers but some, like applications for a bar or nightclub are made by the Municipal Planning Commission.  If the Development Permit grants a waiver of the development rules or is for a discretionary use the permit is subject to an appeal period.  Anyone who is affected by the permit may appeal it to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.

Click to download the Development Permit Process

Have you...

• Ensured all Civil Construction requirements are complete?
• Been issued your Construction Completion Certificate?

Description: Building Permits are required for, but not limited to, any new construction, demolition, alteration or addition to a structure, accessory building, garage, deck more than 600mm (2ft) above grade, swimming pool/hot tub, and retaining walls 1.2m or higher. A Building Permit is required before any work commences on the project and may be applied for by the registered property owner, or an agent for the property owner.

A Safety Codes Officer will review the application for compliance with the Alberta Building Code and referenced documents. Once all required information has been submitted, the SCO will issue the permit to the Applicant at which time construction may begin. A Building SCO will perform inspections throughout the construction process verifying that the structure is being built in accordance with the approved plans and Code requirements.

Description:  Additional permits for heating & ventilation, plumbing, drainage, gas, and electrical work are to be applied for by a sub-trades contractor with valid trades qualifications, and a current business license with the City of Lethbridge. In most cases, a Building Permit must be issued prior to the sub-trade permits.

A homeowner and occupier of a detached single family dwelling may obtain a permit to do his own work by completing a permit application form and paying the permit fee. The city reserves the right to determine whether the applicant is capable of doing such work safely and in compliance with City of Lethbridge Bylaws. As the construction project proceeds through the various stages, inspections are conducted by Safety Codes Officers. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to contact Building Inspections to request an inspection.

Description: A site I.D. is a unique identifier for each electric service and is required to secure an electrical installation in Alberta. To apply for a site I.D. you will need to provide the installation address, electrical permit number and the service characteristics. This is normally coordinated through the electrical contractor. The electrical and gas service are installed once the home foundation is completed. The site is then energized once the final inspection occurs. The electrician may need to coordinate the site energize with the line shop.

Description: Occupancy permits are documents that signify that Safety Codes Officers are satisfied and have approved your building as being suitable for occupation this is issued specifically for commercial, industrial and multi-family. An occupancy permit is not a statement that all the building work is necessarily complete.

An occupancy permit is issued when your building is "suitable to occupy" from a health and safety point of view. An occupancy permit will only be issued to you when items affecting health and life safety are in place and operational. These include potable water supply, provisions for firefighting, sanitary & cooking facilities, smoke alarms, safety glass, handrails and balustrades. It does not mean that all the painting is done or that the carpet is laid, for example.

Safety Codes Officers work in conjunction with Fire Prevention and Alberta Health Services, and at least one week is needed to coordinate the inspection.

Description: At this step, responsibility for the utilities shifts to the occupant. If a water meter has not been previously installed, an installation will be requested at this time. A garbage cart for refuse removal can also be ordered from Public Utilities.​

Description: At this stage, all life safety and health components of the building are completed, and the owner or tenant has had all final inspections and their occupancy permit approved. All meters and utility hook ups are completed and the structure is ready to be occupied.

This document, also passed by City Council, regulates the use of portable signage.

Bylaw 5240 - Portable Signs

This is a document which authorizes development of land and changes to buildings, land uses, businesses and signage. 

Development Permit Applications

Development permits ensure that the land use, appearance and design, layout and overall characteristics of new developments are consistent and compatible with neighborhoods, current development guidelines, and future development goals in the city.

A development permit is needed for almost all construction projects and/or renovations to existing buildings or land, and for almost all changes of land use.  In most cases, development approval is also required before a business license can be obtained. 

Some developments do not require development permits.  For information on when development permits are not required, please see part 4, section 14 of Land Use Bylaw 6300.

Applications differ depending on the nature of the planned development.  Basic application requirements can be found below, however, in many cases the Development Officer will need more information.

A completed application for a development permit generally consists of, but is not limited to:

1.  A completed application form.

2.  A detailed site plan (Development officer will determine number of copies required).
      Site plan

3.  Drawings showing the outside appearance of the building. Sample Elevation

4.  The application fee. 

The completed application can then be mailed to the address noted below or sent by e-mail to planninganddesign@lethbridge.ca.

For more detailed information regarding development permit applications please contact the Planning and Development department.