Planning Hierarchy & Planning Documents

The Municipal Government Act (MGA) is the law under which all of Alberta's municipalities receive their powers. All of Lac La Biche County's plans and processes must comply with the MGA. Part 17 of the MGA addresses planning and development.

• Subdivision and Development Regulation

The Lower Athabasca Regional Plan (LARP) is a long-term plan for northeastern Alberta. Among other functions, the LARP provides guidance to provincial and local decision-makers regarding land use management for the region.

Intermunicipal Development Plans (IDPs) are adopted by two or more municipalities for the lands with common boundaries.  IDPs adopted under Section 631 of the Municipal Government Act not only address the future land use and development of the bordering municipalities, but also include procedures for municipalities to administer the plans.

• Bylaw 18-029: IDP between Lac La Biche County and Municipal District of Bonnyville
• Bylaw 18-028: IDP between Lac La Biche County and County of St. Paul

Lac La Biche County has received exemptions from creating IDPs with the following municipalities: the MD of Opportunity, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, ID 349, Athabasca County, and Smoky Lake County.

The Municipal Development Plan is Lac La Biche County's own long-term strategic growth and development plan. It is a legal document, prepared in accordance with Section 632 of the Municipal Government Act. The MDP is a high-level blueprint that shows how our community is expected to change over time, and the shape it will take in future years.

County Council may adopt an Area Structure Plan (ASP) to provide a framework for subdivision and development of a land area within Lac La Biche County. An ASP must describe:

• The sequence of development proposed for the area;
• The land uses proposed for the area, either generally or specifically;
• The population density proposed for the area, either generally or specifically;
• The general locations of major transportation routes and public utilities.

An ASP may also address any other matters that Council considers necessary.

Existing Area Structure Plans

• Amity Beach ASP (2016)

• Beaver Lake ASP (1993)

• Diamond Ridge ASP (2014)

• Domain Properties Affordable Housing ASP (2009)

• East Lac La Biche ASP (2010)

• Elinor Lake Horseshoe Subdivision ASP (2010)

• Elinor Lake Resort ASP (2017)

• Estates of Arbor Field ASP (2016)

• Hamlet of Beaver Lake ASP (1993)

• Hamlet of Plamondon and Area ASP (2017)

• Highway 36 ASP (2001)

• South Lac La Biche Major ASP (2017)

• Lac La Biche West ASP (1991)

• Lac La Biche West ASP (2017)

• Lac La Biche Lake Management Plan ASP (1990)

• Lagoon Lake ASP (2008)

• Lakeview Estates ASP (2008)

• Moonlight Cove Island View Bay ASP (2005)

• North Beach ASP (2003)

• Richard Estates ASP (2014)

• Sentinel East Industrial Park ASP (2011)

• SW 5-67-13-W4M ASP (2004)

An Outline Plan is a non-statutory planning document that must align with Lac La Biche County's higher-level documents and statutory plans like the Municipal Development Plan and applicable Area Structure Plans. The outline is prepared by a landowner or land developer. It provides detailed descriptions of future land development in a specific area, including land uses, road networks, locations of services, etc.

Existing Outline Plans

• Lot 18, Block 2, Plan 1026167 (2018)
• Mystic Beach (2005)
• Wheating Estates NE 31-67-16-W4M (2007)

The Municipal Government Act requires every municipality to adopt a Land Use Bylaw (LUB). The LUB establishes regulations to control the type, location and intensity of land use and developments within Lac La Biche County. The LUB also outlines the process for rezoning or subdividing land and applying for permits to regulate development in the community.

The purpose of the LUB is to:

• Divide Lac La Biche County into land use districts;
• Establish development permit, rezoning and subdivision processes;
• Set standards for building height, size and location;
• Determine sets of rules for each land use district, including permitted and discretionary uses;
• Determine parking, landscaping and building design standards;
• Implement the vision of the Municipal Development Plan and adopted Area Structure Plans.

Click here to view Land Use Bylaw 17-004

• Land Use Bylaw Amendment: Retail and Production of Recreational Cannabis 18-023
• Land Use Bylaw Amendments 19-009
• Land Use Bylaw Amendments (Variances) 19-015
• Land Use Bylaw Amendments (Cannabis Cultivation and Production in Agricultural District) 19-023
• Land Use Bylaw Amendments 20-001
• Land Use Bylaw Amendments and Rezoning 20-006
• Land Use Bylaw Rezoning 20-020
• Land Use Bylaw Rezoning 20-022

Throughout the planning and development process, municipal policies may also be considered in making decisions. These policies give further guidance to the decision-makers on the goals and desired outcomes of the County.

Relevant planning & development policies:

• Community Engagement Practices (Policy PI-61-001)
• Development Agreement Format (Policy PI-61-003)
• Land Lease Agreement (Policy PI-61-004)
• Environmental Reserve and Municipal Reserve Demarcation (Policy PI-61-005)
• Bare Land Condominium (Policy PI-61-006)
• Water and Sewer Endeavour to Assist (Policy PI-61-007)
• Subdivision and Development Permit Approach Application (Policy PI-61-008)
• Road Widening for Subdivisions (Policy PI-61-009)
• Land Sale (Policy PI-61-012)
• Conditional Subdivision Approval Time Extension (Policy PI-61-013)
• Encroachment Agreement (Policy PI-61-014)
• Licence of Occupation (Policy PI-61-015)

Relevant public works policies:

• Land Purchasing (Policy PI-30-006)
• Gravel Pit Acquisition (Policy PI-30-011)
• Approach Construction Specifications (Policy PI-30-014)
• New Road Construction Request (Policy PI-30-015)
• Statutory Road Allowance and Forced Road Closure (Policy PI-30-017)
• Private Road Construction Request (Policy PI-30-021)
• Water and Sewer Connection (Policy PI-40-001)
• General Municipal Servicing Standards (GMSS) (Policy PW-31-003)

Relevant environment & agriculture policies:

• Environmental Reserve Encroachment (Policy PI-63-004)
• Riparian Setback Matrix (Policy PI-63-003)

The subdivision process is governed by the Municipal Government Act (Part 17, Division 7, Sections 652-657) and the Subdivision and Development Regulation. A subdivision is created when a land parcel is divided into two or more parcels.

Lac La Biche County approves all subdivisions in the municipality. Each new parcel receives its own legal title, and once endorsed by the County, new parcels are registered with the Land Titles Office of Alberta. The Land Titles Office will issue a Certificate of Title for each created lot.

The development process is governed by the Municipal Government Act and the Subdivision and Development Regulation. A development permit is written approval from Lac La Biche County, indicating that a proposed development follows the rules of the Land Use Bylaw (LUB). Development permits are required for new buildings, making building alterations, changing the use of existing buildings, home occupations (home-based businesses) and temporary building structures.

When you submit a development permit application to Lac La Biche County, a Development Officer reviews it and determines whether or not the application complies with the LUB. The Development Officer also checks details like building locations, parking, landscaping and building appearances.

Many developments require building permits after development permits have been issued. Building permits ensure that proposed building plans follow Alberta Building Code safety standards.