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Development & Subdivision Application Process

Applying for a Development Permit
Unless exempted by the Land Use Bylaw or other legislation all developments within the Town of Grimshaw require a development permit. A development permit provides legal authorization for a development; having it protects the property owner or renter/leasee against future legal or transactional issues. Development permits must be obtained prior to undertaking a development. The process of applying for a development permit including all the documents required is detailed in the brochure below. Applicants for a development permit are advised to read the guidelines prior to completing an application.

To apply for a development permit please download and complete the appropriate application form below and submit them to the Town Office. The Town has two (2) types of development permit application forms one for home-based business (Form E) and the other for other types of developments (Form A). If the development involves the relocation of a manufactured home or other type of dwelling unit into Town or from one lot to another lot within Town a manufactured home moving permit or a moving permit is required in addition to a development permit. If a manufactured home or other type of dwelling unit is being moved out of Town then only a manufactured home moving permit or a moving permit is required. In either case applicants must use Form A.

If your proposed development is enabled in the district where your site is located but fails to meet all the requirements of the Land Use Bylaw your application may still be considered and a permit may be issued if you apply for a variance and the variance is granted by the Development Authority. To apply for a variance check the appropriate section on the development permit application form and provide details regarding the type of variance being requested the amount or extent of the variance and the rationale for requesting the variance. If the proposed development is not enabled in the district where your site is located you must first apply for an amendment to the Land Use Bylaw to enable the type of development you want and if successful apply for a development permit. Use Form I to apply for a Land Use Bylaw Amendment. All the forms are also available at the Town Office.

Unless extended by a written agreement between the Development Authority and the applicant the Development Authority has 40 days to make a decision on an application from the date the applicant is issued a Notice of Complete Application. To ensure timely processing of applications it is important for applicants to submit a complete application and provide any additional information if required by the Development Authority during the review process. Please contact the Town Office prior to submitting an application if you have any questions about completing the application form.

An approved development permit may include conditions that must be met by the permit holder. These conditions could include a requirement for the applicant to enter into a Development Agreement to perform a number of obligations or obtain additional permits/ licenses from the Town or external organizations before commencing or operating their development. A business license is an example of an additional permit that may be required by the Town besides a development permit. To apply for a Town of Grimshaw business license click here. Permits/licenses from external agencies may include building fire mechanical/electrical plumbing and gas permits from an accredited Safety Codes Agency and/or license from a federal or provincial agency (e.g. Cannabis Store License from AGLC to operate a cannabis retail facility).

In addition to permits/licenses inspections may also be conducted by the Town provincial authorities or external agencies to verify that the completed development complies with applicable legislation standards or requirements of the approved permit or license. These inspections may include fire safety codes and health inspections.

Applying for a Subdivision
Subdivision is the process of dividing a single parcel of land into two or more parcels each with a separate Certificate of Title. A registered land or property owner (or their authorized agent) wishing to create two or more lots from a single parcel of land must obtain a subdivision approval prior to subdividing the land. The Mackenzie Municipal Services Agency (MMSA) is the Subdivision Authority for the Town of Grimshaw. Below are links to the subdivision application package including the guidelines the application form and timeline for decision which are available on the MMSA website.

  • A Guide to Applying for Subdivision
  • Subdivision Application Form

    Subdivision planning within the Town of Grimshaw is guided by the MGA the Subdivision Authority Bylaw (which designates MMSA as the subdivision authority for the Town) the Subdivision and Development Regulation any applicable statutory plan and relevant non-statutory policies bylaws and standards.

Development and Subdivision Appeal
Decisions of the Development Authority and Subdivision Authority may be appealed to the Development Appeal Board the Mackenzie Intermunicipal Subdivision Appeal Board or the Municipal Government Board (MGB). The Town of Grimshaw’s Development Appeal Board deals with appeals regarding development permit decisions and stop orders issued by the Development Authority while the Mackenzie Intermunicipal Subdivision Appeal Board deals with Subdivision Authority decisions that are outside the jurisdiction of the MGB as per section 687(2) of the MGA. The MGB only hears subdivision appeals where the land that is the subject of the appeal is:

  • within Alberta’s Green Area;
  • adjacent to or contains a Body of Water; (‘Adjacent’ means contiguous or would be contiguous if not for a railway road utility right of way or reserve land).
  • adjacent to or contains (either partially or wholly) land identified on the Listing of Historic Resources or public land set aside for use as historic resources.
  • within the following distances:
  • 1600 metres of a Provincial Highway;
  • 450 metres of a Hazardous Waste Management Facility;
  • 450 metres of the working area of an operating Landfill;
  • 300 metres of the disposal area of any Landfill;
  • 300 metres of a Waste Water Treatment Plant; or
  • 300 metres of the working area of a Non-Hazardous Waste Storage Site.

The Town of Grimshaw’s Development Appeal Board the Mackenzie Intermunicipal Subdivision Appeal Board and the Municipal Government Board are impartial quasi-judicial bodies that make independent decisions on appeal cases before them strictly based on the evidence presented to them at a hearing and in accordance with the MGA other provincial legislation and the Town of Grimshaw.

Development Permit Home Based Form E
Development Permit Brochure MMSA