Permits

Click here to download a development application.

What is a development permit?

The Town is responsible for ensuring the safety and health of its residents, as well as determining and implementing the rules and regulations that help to create meaningful and highly valued spaces in our community. Development of property is regulated by the Town’s Land Use Bylaw (LUB) and the Safety Codes Act. All land within Innisfail is divided into districts, or zones. Each district defines permitted or discretionary uses that can be considered under that land use district. A development permit confirms that all the rules and planning policies have been considered in the review of an application.

A development permit is not the same as a building permit.

Both permit processes have a very specific set of rules to meet. A development permit provides permission for a specific type of development to take place on a parcel or within a building.  The permit could be for any development such as construction of a new house or the change of use of a commercial space from a retail use to a restaurant. The review processes ensures that the proposed development meets the regulations of the LUB. Once a development permit is issued, Safety Codes Permits may be required to be obtained prior to commencing construction or a use. Safety Codes Permits are required to ensure the building or structure complies with the National Building Code – 2019 Alberta Edition or other related Safety Codes regulations.

A development permit is required to:

• construct a new building
• alter an existing building
• change the use of a building or portion of a building or a property
• demolish an existing building
• a sign
• home occupation

Each development permit application is assessed by the Development Officer to determine if it aligns with the requirements of the LUB.  The Development Officer can assist applicants in understanding what requirements apply to each application.  The Development Officer will also assess the proposed development’s impact on surrounding properties and determine what is required when there is a new building or altered building, a change of use, or a home occupation. The cost of a development permit application depends on the type of development.  The viewer is advised to consult the Rates & Fees Bylaw by clicking here.

Permitted Use

Permitted uses are uses which an applicant is entitled to a development permit if the proposed development conforms to all applicable provisions of the LUB, such as setback requirements. The Development Officer is the Development Authority for permitted uses.  Development permit approvals for permitted uses may only be appealed where there is a variance in the LUB regulations, or a misinterpretation occurs by the Development Officer.

Discretionary Use

Discretionary uses are uses that may be approved at the discretion of the Town’s Municipal Planning Commission (MPC).  The MPC is the Development Authority for discretionary uses.  Such uses may be approved if the MPC deems the use to be appropriate for the site and is considered reasonably compatible with neighbouring uses.  MPC’s decisions are appealable by other landowners.

When applying for a discretionary use, the applicant is encouraged to speak to the Development Officer in advance of making an application.  This process helps to identify the various regulations that need to be considered and provides an opportunity for any potential amendments to be made to ensure the application can be processed efficiently.  Applications which involve a variance or relaxation to the regulations must be reviewed by the MPC.

Appeal Bodies

A decision of a Development Authority for uses other than permitted or where the LUB has been varied, may be subject to appeal to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB) or the Land and Property Rights Tribunal (LPRT). An appeal may be filed with the secretary of the SDAB at the Town Office. Appeals to the LPRT occur where the decision affects provincial interests. For questions related to development permits or the application process contact the Development Officer at 403-227-3376.

The applicant requires a Business License issued by the Town.

Click here to download the demolition permit. 

Before a building comes down or is removed, permits are required to ensure that all the necessary safety precautions are taken, such as the disconnection of water, electricity, and gas lines. If you are planning on doing a demolition only, use this application. If you are planning to re-develop within a year, please use the Development Permit Application. For both applications, include the following information:

• a statement indicating how the demolition will be carried out so as to avoid or minimize the creation of nuisances to surrounding properties during the demolition process.

The following does NOT require a demolition development permit:

• a building having a floor area of less than 10.0 m2 (108 ft2 ) and where no excavation remains and site grading and drainage meets the requirements of the Land Use Bylaw.

Once the Demolition Development Permit has been issued, you will require a Building Permit as well. The applicant requires a Business License issued by the Town.

Click here to download the sign development permit. 

The Land Use Bylaw regulates the number, size, type, form, appearance and location of signs on private property in order to:

• allow local businesses and organizations to advertise their presence to local citizens in a manner that can be equitably applied and enforced;
• encourage and improve the quality of sign design to compliment the streetscape;
• discourage the clutter of signs and minimize the adverse effect of signs on nearby private and public property; and
• ensure signs do not disrupt the orderly and safe flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

For sign types, refer to page 102 of the Land Use Bylaw (Bylaw-1747)

For signs that do NOT require a permit, refer to page 108 of the Land Use Bylaw (Bylaw-1747)

For signs on municipal lands, refer to the Signage on Municipal Lands Policy.

After the Sign Development Permit has been issued, you may require a Building Permit as well.

The applicant requires a Business License issued by the Town.

The Town has two types of home occupations:

• home occupation – class 1  is an accessory use of a dwelling unit by a resident for a small scale “desk and telephone” type business which is incidental to the primary use as a residence and undetectable from outside the dwelling unit. They are essentially office only operations that are located in the primary building, generate no client traffic, have no additional employees, have no outside storage, require few deliveries, and do not have signage. No Development Permit is required as long as all regulations are met within the Land Use Bylaw.
• home occupation – class 2 is an accessory use of a dwelling unit or private garage by a resident for a small scale business which is incidental to the primary use as a residence, where the presence of the business may be detectable outside the buildings and beyond the property boundaries. May include such activities as music lessons, offices and indirect sales, but may not include such uses as medical clinics, veterinary clinics or retail sales. They not permitted on the same site as a Bed and Breakfast establishment or a secondary suite. Click here to download the home occupation development permit. 

Both home occupations require a Business License issued by the Town.

Download a Building Permit Application and Checklist

What is a building permit?

A building permit gives you legal permission to start your project as required and outlined by the Safety Codes Act or Municipal Bylaws. Building permits are required for, but not limited to:

• All new residential and commercial buildings
• Residential additions
• Commercial additions and renovations
• Residential renovations (decks, garages, basement development, structural alterations, etc.)
• Demolition and building relocation
• Accessory buildings greater than 10 m² (108 ft²)
• A deck more than 600 mm (2.0 ft) above grade
• Swimming pool
• Hot tub
• Retaining walls 1.2 m (3.94 ft) or higher to ensure that the construction meets the requirements of the National Building Code
• Change of use or occupancy of a building.

A building permit is required before any work commences on a project and may be applied for by the registered property owner, an agent acting on behalf of a property owner, or a contractor contracted on behalf of the property owner. A building permit is NOT required for:

• Minor repairs, painting, decorating, or re-roofing if there are not structural changes to the building and matters affecting health or safety are not at risk
• A single story, accessory building no greater than 10 m² (108 ft²) in building area providing it does not create a hazard, where it meets the setback requirements of the Land Use Bylaw and where matters affecting health or safety are not involved.

A Safety Codes Officer (Building Inspector) will review the application for compliance with the NBC(AE) and referenced documents. Once all the required information has been submitted, a building permit will be issued to the applicant, at which time construction may begin. A building inspector will perform inspections throughout the construction process verifying that the structure is being built in accordance with the approved plans and code requirements.

The applicant requires a Business License issued by the Town.

Click here to download the heating permit.

Required for any new, renovation, alteration, or addition of any HVAC, hydronic, or duct work. This would include A/C units, exhaust fans, HRV, make up air units, roof top units, etc.

Permits are NOT required for repair or alterations to any heating, ventilation or air conditioning system which are of a minor nature and which, in the opinion of the Safety Codes Officer, will not hinder the satisfactory operation of the system and does not involve the health or safety of the occupants of the building.

The applicant requires a Business License issued by the Town.

Electrical, plumbing, gas & private sewage permit applications are reviewed by an authorized safety codes inspection agency contracted on behalf of the Town.

To obtain an Electrical, Plumbing, Gas or Private Sewage Permit Application, visit: www.superiorsafetycodes.com

Permits are required for installations, alterations, or additions to electrical, plumbing, gas or private sewage systems. Permits are NOT required if:

• The system already exists, and you are only replacing or attaching fixtures/appliances.
• The repair or alterations are of a minor nature and, in the opinion of the Safety Codes Officer, will not hinder the satisfactory operation of the system and do not involve the health or safety of the occupants of the building.

Applications for electrical, plumbing, gas and private sewage permits must be submitted to:

Superior Safety Codes
Unit 1, 158 Queens Drive
Red Deer, Alberta | T4P 0R4
Phone: 403-358-5545
Fax: 403-358-5085

Email: info@superiorsafetycodes.com

The applicant requires a Business License issued by the Town.

Download a Service Connection Permit Application

Service Connection Permit
All Water & Sanitary Sewer and Storm Sewer Connections will require a permit before work can begin. This will be called a Service Connection Permit. The Town Utilities Department will complete a two-part inspection.

• Water and Sanitary Sewer to be inspected initially before the foundation inspection – a portion of the Storm Sewer may also be inspected at this time as well.
• Storm inspection will be fully completed after foundation inspection – storm connections will be inspected and documented up to riser at foundation.

The installation of a water meter also requires a service connection application. Applications must be submitted to the Town of Innisfail Operations Department:
• Phone 403-227-3376
• Email: reception@innisfail.ca

The applicant requires a Business License issued by the Town.

Click here to download an Excavation Permit Application

An Excavation permit allows the applicant to excavate that part of the Right-Of-Way (ROW) described in the permit application. An Excavation Permit must be applied before any work that disturbs the surface proceeds on any Town of Innisfail Road Right-of-way as per Excavation Permit Policy 99-003.

These Permits support the Town in monitoring and coordinating activities within the ROW to:

• Allow construction work to take place in a safe and timely manner.
• Prevent conflicts between activities.
• Protect and maintain public infrastructure.
• Minimize disruption to businesses, residents and road users (i.e. motorists, cyclists and pedestrians).
• Maintain safety for all users.

The Town requires 48 hours’ notice for an initial and final inspection. Applicants are required to check with the utility companies and the Town prior to excavation to ensure no conflicts with existing infrastructure. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to contact Alberta One Call.

All applications must include a Traffic Accommodation Strategy and a Detailed Work Site and Location Plan which includes proposed signage, barricades, fencing, cones etc. will need to be attached to all application and approved prior to commencing work. All excavation work must be completed within the dates listed on the excavation permit. The permit is valid for the time set out on the permit.

Extending the permit: If an extension is required, requests to extend must be received before the permit expiry date and are granted on a case-by-case basis.

Excavation applications must be submitted to the Town of Innisfail Operations Department:

• Phone 403-227-3376
• Email reception@innisfail.ca

The applicant requires a Business License issued by the Town.

Click here to download a Hoarding Permit Application

A Hoarding Permit allows the applicant to occupy space on any Town-owned right-of-way (i.e., alley, sidewalk, boulevard, and street) for the purpose of storing building materials and equipment (i.e., cranes, concrete trucks, forklifts, material delivery vehicles) or for anything other than its intended purpose. Permits must be issued for any full or partial closures within the Right-of-Way (ROW) to allow any resident, contractor, mover, business, etc. to utilize a portion of the ROW for a specific duration.

• Road Closure – the partial or full closure of a Roadway
• Alley Closure – the partial or full closure of an Alley (laneway)
• Sidewalk/Pathway Closure – the partial or full closure of a Sidewalk/Pathway
• Placement of a Demolition Bin / Moving Bin / Material Stockpile / Unattached Trailer
• Laydown location related to a construction project
  *Laydown areas that are entirely on a private property parcel only require permission from the property owner.

The purpose is to ensure that the public ROW is only occupied when the work cannot take place solely on private property for work to be completed safely and efficiently, while minimizing the impact to businesses, residents and property owners.

• If the flow of traffic will be interrupted, applications must also include a Traffic
  Accommodation Strategy and a Detailed Work Site and Location Plan which includes:
  proposed signage, barricades, fencing, cones etc. and will be needed to be attached to all
  application and approved prior to commencing work.
• For excavation work, refer to the Excavation Policy 99-003
• For special events, refer to the Special Events Conditions of Approval on the Special Event application.
• For outdoor patios, refer to the Use of Public Lands for Sidewalk Cafe or Merchant Display 2019-002.

Hoarding Permit applications can be sent to the Town of Innisfail Operations Department:

• Phone: 403-227-3376
• Email: reception@innisfail.ca

The applicant requires a Business License issued by the Town.

Below are answers to some of the more commonly asked permitting questions.

Do I need a permit to build a deck?
A permit may be required depending on the size of the deck. To find out more, download our DECK INFO SHEET.

Do I need a permit to build a garage, shed or other type of accessory building?
For most building projects of this size, multiple permits are required. To find out more, download our GARAGE INFO SHEET.

Do I need a permit to build a fence?
A permit may be required depending on the height and location of the fence. To find out more, download our FENCE INFO SHEET.

Do I need a permit to install solar panels?
A development or building permit may be required depending on where the solar panels will be located. To find out more, download our SOLAR INFO SHEET.

What are the regulations for building a secondary suite?
Various permits are required; click here to learn more.

What are the guidelines regarding lot grading and drainage? 
Click here to learn more.