Click here to view Land Use Bylaw Draft 5 - June 18, 2025

Update - July 25, 2025

Clearwater County Council would like to thank all residents who participated in the recent public hearing for the Land Use Bylaw 25/050 held on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Council and Administration appreciate the time, passion, and commitment shown by community members who attended, viewed the livestream, or submitted feedback. Council has tabled second reading to review the input received and consider adjustments to the draft (before approval).

This rewrite — a process that has taken almost 24 months — is not an effort to increase regulation. On the contrary, its intent is to modernize outdated language, add clarity and consistency, and provide more flexibility for landowners and developers in how they use their property. The process included open houses, public feedback opportunities, and widespread communications. 

Key changes include:

• Simplified application processes and timelines
• Clearer definitions to reduce ambiguity
• More discretionary options for property owners, particularly in agricultural and rural districts

This work was driven entirely at the local level, in response to community needs and administrative challenges.

Still have questions? Reach out to Council or Administration.

Past Public Engagement & Response

Download the full event poster here.

View the presentation slides here.

What We Heard Report (Phase 2) - June 9, 2025

Draft Land Use Bylaw

Over the past year, the Land Use Bylaw Public Advisory Committee (PAC) and Council Steering Committee have been working through the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) rewrite project piece by piece.

The goal of this much needed update is to modernize the existing Land Use Bylaw, which was approved in 2001.

On March 31, 2025, Draft 3 of the LUB was released to the public. 

The LUB steering committees then met and at their request, amendments were made on April 3, 2025.

View the Draft Land Use Bylaw below:

• Land Use Bylaw Draft 3 (March 31, 2025)
• Land Use Bylaw Draft 4 (April 3, 2025 changes in red)
• Land Use Bylaw Draft 5 (June 18, 2025 meeting changes in red)
• Land Use Bylaw Draft 6  (July 24, 2025 meeting changes in red)

The following chart references existing land use districts that have been consolidated or changed into new districts for the draft Land Use Bylaw:

• Draft Combined Land Use Districts

Changes to the draft LUB are expected. The LUB committees will be reviewing the current draft and discussing next steps, including public engagement opportunities.

Following public engagement, the draft will be reviewed and edited as needed and then presented to Council for consideration. 

Amended Maps

These maps accompany the Draft Land Use Bylaw. 

• Legends - LUB Districts and Overall Map
• Townships
• Hamlets

Find existing maps for townships and hamlets (from the 2001 LUB) linked at the bottom of the page under Documents.

What is a Land Use Bylaw (LUB)?

A Land Use Bylaw (LUB) is a regulatory tool that outlines the rules for the development and use of land and buildings within Clearwater County for each land use district (i.e. zoning) and identifies the process and authority for land use redesignations, subdivision, and development permit applications. Alberta’s Municipal Government Act (MGA) requires all municipalities in Alberta to have a LUB. The MGA provides guidance on what is included in a LUB but it is up to the individual municipalities to create and administer their own documents.

Why is the County updating the LUB?

The existing Clearwater County Land Use Bylaw 714/01 (LUB) was approved in 2001 and requires renewal to be consistent with the updated Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and to enhance clarity, readability, and user-friendliness.

Much of the content in the 2001 version was carried over from the original 1987 Bylaw. Through the process of review and revision, both the County Administration and residents will have the opportunity to evaluate current standards, which might have become outdated, and integrate fresh standards that align with the evolving trends in land use observed over the past two decades. This re-envisioning of the Land Use Bylaw aims to enhance clarity, readability, and user-friendliness.

Find answers to other Frequently Asked Questions here.

Project Goals:

• Align the land use regulations with the County’s MDP and with Council’s Strategic Plan. 
• Better align land use designations with community standards and priorities. 
• Reduce ambiguity by having clearer definitions. 
• Provide a more streamlined user-friendly document. 
• Make the bylaw easier to navigate online.

Public Engagement Plan

With an inclusive public engagement strategy, the Land Use Rewrite initiative aims to offer numerous avenues for the public to contribute their insights, ensuring they feel adequately involved in addressing the challenges currently associated with the document. Our proposed approach includes a series of launch events, featuring in-person public open houses in Nordegg, Rocky Mountain House, Caroline, and Leslieville, supplemented by an online virtual event for those unable to attend in person. 

Beyond these gatherings, both a Public Advisory Committee and a Council Steering Committee were established to serve as ongoing sources of guidance throughout the development of the project. These committees have been meeting during key project phases to provide input on the direction of the rewrite and address emerging topics and concerns.

To conclude the process, a series of final public open house events will be organized to review the draft LUB. These events will encompass in-person sessions in Nordegg, Rocky Mountain House, Caroline, and Leslieville, supplemented by an online virtual event for those who are unable to participate in person.

Council adopted a revised communication and engagement plan and schedule at their regular meeting on February 25, 2025.

Click here to view the full communication and engagement plan, as included in the February 25, 2025, meeting agenda package.

Next Steps

The Public Advisory Committee and a Council Steering Committee will be meeting to determine the timing of upcoming public engagement opportunities.

Following public engagement, the draft will be reviewed and edited as needed and then presented to Council for consideration.

Why should you get involved?

As a local resident or business owner, your valuable experience and understanding of your community is crucial. By contributing to the project and staying updated, you help capture the community’s values and insights. 

We will continue to accept landowner feedback via the project email address (LUB@clearwatercounty.ca) or the website feedback form (see below). Feedback from Clearwater County residents and businesses is an important element in creating our new LUB, please share your comments today. Once we have an early draft to share, we will be looking to you for more of your thoughts and ideas.

Project updates will be made available on the County’s official social media channels, website, local newspapers and newsletter.

Areas of Review

The following areas will be reviewed during the LUB project:

• Definitions
• Aggregate Resource Extraction
• Removal of Telecommunication Towers regulations
• Secondary Suites / Bonafide Need
• Recreational Vehicle Use
• Comprehensive review of the Permitted and
• Discretionary uses in all districts
• Compliance with existing County Policies including new 2023 Municipal Development Plan
• Compliance with Provincial Legislation
• Readability of entire document – added graphics were possible.
• Mapping Updates
• Ag Districts – General and Intensive
• Animals, including Wild Boars and Game
• Farming
• Campgrounds 
• Childcare 
• Density 
• Development Permit Exceptions 
• Flood Hazard Area 
• Home Based Businesses 
• Land Use Districts – permitted / discretionary, lot coverage, building heights, housing types, setbacks 
• Lot Grading Permit 
• Floor Area – Max and Min 
• Nordegg Specific – land uses, parking, lot sizes 
• Sea Cans 
• Short Term Rentals 
• Signage 
• Renewable Energy 
• Temporary Development 
• Transportation 
• Variances

Documents

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Land Use Bylaw Myths
• Existing Land Use Bylaw 714/01 (adopted in 2001)
• Existing Land Use Districts Hamlets Map (2001)
• Existing Land Use Districts Township Map (2001)
• Council Steering Committee Terms of Reference
• Public Advisory Committee Terms of Reference
• What We Heard Report (Phase 1) - May 21, 2024

Last updated: July 25, 2025

<form-template> <fields> <field type="header" subtype="h1" label="Land Use Bylaw Feedback Form" class="header"></field> <field type="text" subtype="text" label="Name:" class="form-control text-input" name="text-1694711995681"></field> <field type="text" subtype="text" label="Contact Email or Phone Number:" class="form-control text-input" name="text-1694712014675"></field> <field type="textarea" label="1.) What do you like about the Draft Land Use Bylaw?" class="form-control text-area" name="textarea-1694619861757"></field> <field type="textarea" label="2.) What do you not like about the Draft Land Use Bylaw?" class="form-control text-area" name="textarea-1694619772189"></field> <field type="textarea" label="3.) What are your recommended changes, deletions, or additions?" class="form-control text-area" name="textarea-1694619897158"></field> <field type="text" subtype="text" label="4.) Do you have any other ideas or comments that you would like to share regarding this project?" class="form-control text-input" name="text-1704740205411"></field> </fields> </form-template>

Submit

Submitting...