Part 1 - Purpose Jurisdiction
This part introduces readers to the Land Use Bylaw, the local Development Authority, the process for amending this Bylaw, and the consequences for contravening it.
Subsections
1.7 Fees and Charges 1.8 Severability 1.9 Interpretation 1.10 District Boundaries 1.11 Rounding of Numbers This Bylaw may be cited as “The City of St. Albert Land Use Bylaw.”
This Bylaw repeals Land Use Bylaw 9/2005 and Development Authority Bylaw 18/95.
An application for amendments to this Bylaw, and any Land Use Redistricting, Subdivision, or Development Permit applications received on or after this Bylaw comes into force shall be processed and considered upon the provisions outlined herein.
If an application for a Development Permit under Land Use Bylaw 9/2005 is received and deemed complete before this Bylaw comes into force, that application will be dealt with under the provisions of Land Use Bylaw 9/2005 as though that Bylaw had not been repealed and this Bylaw had not been enacted.
A Development Permit that was in force and effect on the date this Bylaw comes into force continues to be in force and effect, and is subject to suspension or cancellation, as though it had been issued under this Bylaw.
The purpose of this Bylaw is to regulate the use and development of land and buildings within the City of St. Albert.
Nothing in this Bylaw shall exempt any person from their obligation to comply with the requirements of any other municipal, provincial, or federal statute or regulation.
Any reference in this Bylaw to other bylaws or to a provincial or federal statute shall be deemed a reference to the bylaw or statute then in force, including all amendments thereto and any successor legislation.
The density requirement of an Area Structure Plan, Area Redevelopment Plan, or Neighbourhood Plan shall supersede the site density requirement of any district in this Bylaw.
Fees and charges for services or other things provided under this Bylaw, including processing of applications, are set out in the Master Rates Bylaw 1/82.
The fee applicable to an application for a Development Permit must be paid in full before the Development Authority issues a decision on the application.
Each provision of this Bylaw is independent of all other provisions, and if any provision of this Bylaw is declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, all other provisions remain valid and enforceable.
In this Bylaw:
The table of contents, titles and subtitles are for convenience of reference only, do not form part of the substantive content, and are not to be used for the purpose of construing or interpreting any provision of this Bylaw;
Tables, charts, or schedules form part of the substantive content, unless otherwise provided;
Unless the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice versa;
Unless the context otherwise requires, words importing one gender include all genders; and
The following abbreviations have the indicated meanings:
MGA means Municipal Government Act;
MDP means Municipal Development Plan;
ASP means Area Structure Plan;
ARP means Area Redevelopment Plan;
NP means Neighbourhood Plan;
SDAB means Subdivision and Development Appeal Board;
LPRT means Land and Property Rights Tribunal;
CAO means Chief Administrative Officer;
DC means Direct Control;
du means dwelling unit;
ha means hectare;
m means metre; and
m2 means square metre.
In the event of uncertainty or dispute with respect to the location of the boundary of a Land Use District, the location will be determined by application of the following rules:
Where the boundary of a District is shown as approximately following the boundary of a lot, a utility right-of-way or easement, or the City’s municipal boundary, the District boundary is deemed to follow the surveyed boundary of the lot, the utility right-of-way or easement, or the City’s municipal boundary;
Where the boundary of a District is shown as approximately following a highway or public roadway, the boundary is deemed to be at the centre line of the highway or public roadway;
Where the boundary of a District is shown as approximately following the edge or shore of a naturally occurring or constructed body of water, the District boundary is deemed to follow the edge line or shore line, and in the event of a naturally occurring change in the location of the edge line or shore line, the District boundary is deemed to have changed to conform to the new location of the edge line or shore line;
Where the boundary of a District is shown as follows:
A topographic contour line; or
A slope stability setback line from either the top or the bottom of an escarpment;
the District boundary is deemed to follow the contour line or setback line, and in the event of a naturally occurring change in the location of the contour line or setback line, the District boundary is deemed to have changed to conform to the new location of the contour line or setback line;
Where the boundary of a District is shown as being parallel to or an extension of any of the features described in sections a to d of this section, the District boundary is deemed to be where a plan of survey shows, or would show, such a parallel or extended line to be;
If the exact location of a District boundary cannot be determined by the application of sections a through e of this section, the Development Authority shall determine the location of the District boundary on the basis of measurements scaled from the applicable Land Use District Map; and
Where a property boundary is adjusted by subdivision, the Land Use District boundary follows the new property boundary created by the subdivision.
In determining whether a building complies with this Bylaw in respect to placement on the site or projection of the building
Building includes anything constructed or placed on, in, over, or under land, but does not include a highway or bridge that forms part of a highway.
Last edited: November 26, 2025