The Municipal Government Act (MGA)  is the legislative framework under which all municipalities and municipal entities across the Province of Alberta operate.

The MGA provides the governance structure for cities, towns, villages, municipal districts, specialized municipalities, and other forms of local government. The current MGA is one of Alberta’s largest pieces of legislation, containing 21 parts and more than 700 sections.

The MGA contains three major “themes” or areas of focus:

1. Governance
2. Assessment and taxation
3. Planning and development

• Click Here to view the Municipal Government Act.

Development of this plan will support land and natural resource management to achieve long-term economic, environmental and social goals.

Intermunicipal Development Plans (IDPs) are statutory land use plans prepared in accordance with the Municipal Government Act (MGA) by two (or more) municipalities that share a common border. Each IDP addresses land uses that occur in proximity to two different municipalities and sets forth criteria for how future growth and disputes should be managed.

Lac Ste. Anne County is voluntarily adopting joint plans called Inter-Municipal Development Plans (IDPs) with the Village of Alberta Beach and the Summer Villages of Val Quentin and Sunset Point. These plans address a range of issues and common interests between the municipalities. The IDP will serve as an important decision making tool for the Reeve & Council, administration, and stakeholders.

The Municipal Development Plan (MDP) is a long-term strategic plan for managing regional growth over the next 20 years in our region. Based on population projections, we are expected to almost double by 2033. The MDP sets the vision on how to accommodate this growth responsibly. It will serve as an important decision making tool for the Reeve & Council, administration, and stakeholders.

It is the goal of this MDP to protect and develop communities within the County in accordance with community vision while providing the necessary opportunities for maximizing the economic use of the County's resource land base, and providing for industrial and economic diversification within the overall context of well-planned growth, change and development.

Area Structure Plans (ASPs) are documents that have been approved by Lac Ste. Anne County Council as bylaws. The County's ASPs provide a framework that articulates proposed land uses; population densities; sequence of development; general location of major roadways; public utilities in the area; and any additional requirements that the Council may require. 

An ASP is the first step in obtaining planning approval for a new community. County planning staff work with stakeholders like community residents, landowners and developers to create these long-range documents.

Current Area Structure Plans for Lac Ste. Anne County are available for viewing and download below in PDF format. For further information and assistance with ASPs, please contact the Planning & Development department at 780.785.3411 (toll-free 1.866.880.5722).

​​​​​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 ASP.

The Municipal Government Act requires all municipalities in Alberta to adopt a Land Use Bylaw. The Land Use Bylaw must divide the municipality into districts (often called zones in other parts of Canada and the United States).

For each district, the uses of land permitted, or allowed only at the discretion of the development authority, must be described. The decision process must also be clearly outlined. That process must clearly determine how development permits are issued, and the number of dwellings permitted on a single parcel of land.

Municipal policies provide guidance for County Council and staff during the handling of local matters and procedures. In this spirit, all relevant policies that guide Lac Ste. Anne County Planning & Development protocols are linked here.

A subdivision authority is bound by the hierarchy of statutory plans when reviewing an application for a subdivision. If a subdivision authority is of the opinion that there may be a conflict or inconsistency between statutory plans, then it is bound by the hierarchy and relationship of plans in making its decision.

Business owners planning to subdivide are advised to explore the Applications, Forms & Permits section of this website first.

A development permit is a document that authorizes a proposed development to proceed (either with or without conditions) pursuant to the provisions of the Land Use Bylaw. The Bylaw divides the County into several Land Use Districts (commonly called Zones or Zoning) and each of these Districts have land uses and development regulations specific to them. Contact the County to determine what District you are in and whether your proposed development is permitted or discretionary.

A permitted development is deemed by Council to be appropriate for a given district. A discretionary development is up to the discretion of the County's development authority.

Obtaining all the Safety Code Permits (building, electrical, plumbing, gas, and private sewage permits) is a requirement of the Alberta Safety Codes Act. For Lac Ste. Anne County they are issued through the Planning & Development. The permits allow 90 days for completion after permit approval. If necessary, before the permit expires, you may apply for a time extension.

Visit the Building Codes & Standards section of the County website to learn more about how applicable legislation regulates the design, construction and renovation of buildings in order to protect the health and safety of the occupants.