Council approves new Land Use Bylaw

New bylaw is user-friendly, addresses community needs and supports economic growth and responsible development

At Tuesday night’s meeting, Council approved the new Land Use Bylaw (No. 26/001), which will come into effect Jan. 1, 2026.

The new Land Use Bylaw (LUB) aligns with the recently approved Municipal Development Plan and will improve support for local businesses, responsible development and encourage economic growth in the region.

The bylaw was developed with extensive public engagement over multiple years with every community, local business, organization and resident having opportunities to participate. The LUB is a living document, and amendments can be made to suit the needs of the Community, development trends, safe and orderly development, and Council priorities.  

“Making it easier to do business, facilitate development in the region and reduce red tape is a priority, and the new Land Use Bylaw is a big step forward,” said Amanda Owens, Director of Planning and Development. “It’s more user-friendly, flexible, and aligned with today’s community needs. Thank you to Council, municipal staff, businesses, partners, and residents who helped shape a bylaw that supports Wood Buffalo’s unique and diverse communities.”  

What is the Land Use Bylaw and why does it matter?

Alberta’s Municipal Government Act requires municipalities to have a Land Use Bylaw to manage land use and development. The bylaw:

• Divides the Municipality into districts and sets rules for what can be built and where.
• Outlines the process for development permits and rezoning, along with building standards (height, size, location).
• Sets standards for parking, signage, landscaping, and design.
• Supports the overall planning goals of the Municipal Development Plan and Area Structure Plans.

Key changes to the Land Use Bylaw:

• Language has been simplified, with improved graphics and updated definitions and regulations, resulting in a more concise and user-friendly bylaw.
• New land use districts reflect the unique needs of communities, especially in rural areas. Redundant districts have been removed—urban residential districts reduced from 16 to 7, and commercial districts from 9 to 5.
• Greater flexibility for downtown development by removing certain requirements.
• Clearer regulations and expanded options for secondary suites, including basement, loft, garden, attached and detached units.
• Larger accessory buildings now permitted in urban and rural residential districts.
• A new residential district created to address housing needs in Fort Chipewyan.
• FireSmart landscaping now required for new commercial, institutional, industrial and multi-unit residential developments.
• Stronger safety provisions for developments in flood-prone areas.
• Improved accessibility: all commercial developments in the Urban Service Area must include senior parking. Some commercial districts must place parking stalls close to building entrances and ensure they are designed for safety. Pedestrian-oriented districts must be closer to the street and include design elements for weather protection.

All development applications and permits will continue to be processed under the existing LUB until Jan. 1, 2026.

The approved Land Use Bylaw (LUB) will be published shortly as it will take a few days for administration to incorporate the amendments brought forward by Council at last night’s meeting.

The Council presentation and public engagement results are available for review in the March 24 Public Hearing Agenda. Education on the new bylaw, along with updates to existing resources, will be rolled out leading up to the bylaw coming into effect on January 1, 2026.

Learn more about the Land Use Bylaw at rmwb.ca/landusebylaw.

For further information or questions, please contact Pulse at 780-743-7000 or online at rmwb.ca/pulse.

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