How do I get a Permit?

What is a "development"?

The Municipal Government Act and the Land Use Bylaw define development as any of the following:

An excavation or stockpile and the creation of either:

the addition to and the replacement or repair of a building
a change of land use of a building
a change in the intensity of land use or use of building

Why do I need a development permit?

A development permit is a requirement of the City of Medicine Hat Land Use Bylaw.

Development permits allow the City to ensure that any development carried out complies with the Land Use Bylaw and does not infringe on the rights of adjacent landowners or other interested persons.

Development permits are required for most types of developments in the City of Medicine Hat.

An application for a development permit can be made to the Development Officer on the appropriate prescribed form. The application must be accompanied by:

the fee for a development permit as established by Council resolution
the plans and other documentation required (as listed below)

Fees:
A fee schedule is available from the Planning and Building department.

Application Procedure:
The application for a development permit must be accompanied with a plan of the site in which the proposed development is to be located. A land surveyor may be consulted for drawing site plans.

A site plan submitted with the development permit application must be provided in triplicate and must show the following:

north arrow (show us which way is north)
location of all utilities (provide utility locate slips)
scale of plan (e.g.: 1 centimetre = 2 metres)
legal description (available at Planning and Building department)
municipal address

The following dimensions must be clearly visible on the plans:

property lines
distance of structure from property lines
all existing and proposed buildings, utility poles, retaining walls, trees, landscaping and physical features located on the site or within ten metres (33 feet) of the site
existing and proposed parking areas, entrances, exits, loading areas, maneuvering aisles, curb cuts, and garbage enclosures
adjacent streets, avenues, and lanes
easements, utility rights of way (UROWs) and other similar legal interests
utility service connections
proposed lighting and signage
measurements must be in metric

In addition, the proposed grade, elevation contours, and on-site drainage must be clearly shown.

The Development Officer may require additional information such as:

site area
floor area for each floor
gross and net floor areas
floor area ratio
three copies of plans detailing floor elevations and perspectives of the proposed development, including a description of exterior finishing materials
three copies of a Plan of Survey, of the site showing existing on-site buildings
landscaping plans, in triplicate, showing all existing and proposed physical features
three copies of drainage plans

All plans must be drawn to a suitable scale, typically not smaller than 1:100.

Approval:
The applicant will be sent a copy of the decision regarding the development permit via regular mail within seven days of the decision.

If the application is refused, reasons for the refusal will be written in the decision letter.

Within ten days of approving the development permit, the City shall advertise this decision in the Medicine Hat News

A 14-day waiting period is in effect from the day the development permit is advertised. This waiting period is in effect to allow for appeals from adjacent landowners and/or other interested parties. This is a provincial regulation.

You Do Not Require a Development Permit For:

some patios and decks (confirm with planning officer [403.529.8374] before beginning construction)
non-structural alterations, renovations, repairs, or maintenance
the parking or storage of an uninhabited recreational vehicle in a rear yard or side yard
Fences that adhere to the City of Medicine Hat Land Use Bylaw #3181 (see Info-let No.1)
minor structures of less than 15 square metres (161 square feet) such as garden sheds, dog houses, bird feeders, etc.

PLEASE NOTE:
THIS SERIES IS PROVIDED BY THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT AS A PUBLIC SERVICE. THIS WEBPAGE HAS NO LEGAL STATUS AND CANNOT BE USED AS AN OFFICIAL INTERPRETATION OF VARIOUS BYLAWS, CODES, AND REGULATIONS IN EFFECT. IT IS ALSO THE APPLICANT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE WORK BEING CARRIED OUT DOES NOT CONTRAVENE THE REQUIREMENTS OF EASEMENTS, RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, CAVEATS, OR ANY OTHER REQUIREMENTS. USERS ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT THE PLANNING and BUILDING DEPARTMENT FOR ASSISTANCE AS THE CITY OF MEDICINE HAT ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERSONS RELYING SOLELY ON THIS INFORMATION.

How To Get Utility Locate Slips:
CAUTION: Call Before You Dig. (Link to common Line Locates page under Utilities) Call for FREE utility location slips at least two working days in advance.

REMEMBER: UTILITY LOCATE SLIPS MUST BE PROVIDED WITH ALL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT APPLICATIONS.