Development Permit | ||||
A development permit is always required for any proposed commercial, industrial, institutional and mixed-use building. Depending on the intended land use district, the proposed development may be:
To learn more about land use districts and rezoning land, visit: Zoning Apply for a commercial, industrial, institutional or mixed-use development permit: New to ePermit? See user guide We can help you apply online. Contact us by email or phone (403) 529-8374. |
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Commercial Building and Trades Permits | ||||
A building permit is required for all new construction projects. It may also be required when a new type of operation will be moving into a space, or when a business is changing ownership, even if no construction is planned. This ensures that the building meets health and safety requirements, as the approvals may differ from the previous operator in the location. To apply for a building permit, visit: Building Permits A commercial, industrial, institutional or mixed-use project may also require trade permits for plumbing, gas, electrical or mechanical work. These must be obtained by professional trades contractors prior to any such work being done. To apply for a trade permit, visit: Trade Permits
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Building a Commercial Space
Information related to new development/building projects including:
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Commercial
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Industrial
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Institutional
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Mixed-Use
All new projects must comply with the Land Use Bylaw and Alberta Safety Codes.
Business owners and contractors should consult with a design professional before financially committing to a location, as it may be costly to make necessary modifications to a building.
A business license cannot be issued for a space that does not satisfy the requirements of the National Building Code - Alberta Edition
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 96 is the Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations. Information on this subject can be obtained from a mechanical designer, contractor or engineer. It is also available for purchase from the NFPA.
Commercial kitchen ventilation system requirements |
The requirements in NFPA 96 must be met when cooking processes have the potential to produce significant smoke or grease laden vapours. Kitchen cooking equipment must be protected with an automatic fire suppression system and ventilation hood. When a NFPA 96 system is required: A NFPA 96-compliant system is required when cooking or using appliances (including griddles, broilers, woks, fryers, ranges and stoves) that have the potential to produce grease laden vapours or smoke. Examples:
For more information on when the NFPA 96 standard is required, please contact your mechanical designer. When a NFPA 96 system is not required: A NFPA 96-compliant system is not required when cooking processes do not produce grease laden vapours or smoke. Examples:
If I do not need to meet the NFPA 96 standard, what type of ventilation is required?
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Commercial kitchen exhaust system requirements |
Where can my NFPA 96 kitchen exhaust duck be terminated?
Can I terminate my kitchen ventilation system into a City-owned lane?
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Water Reuse involves recycling treated wastewater for beneficial applications, such as landscape irrigation and car wash facilities.
Given the health and environmental risks associated with using reclaimed wastewater, please review the following links before contacting City of Medicine Hat with any proposed water reuse system.
Follow these steps:
Water re-use proposals in the City of Medicine Hat (such as carwash facilities) which are outside the scope of the National Plumbing Code must follow the steps shown below:
Water Reuse Systems Design Process
Contact:
In Alberta, water re-use within structures is under the jurisdiction of the local municipality and Alberta Health Services. In The City of Medicine Hat Contact:
Planning and Development Services
City of Medicine Hat
580 1 St SE
Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8E6
Phone: (403) 529-8374
Alberta Health Services
2948 Dunmore Road
Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8E3
Phone: (403) 502-8200
In Alberta, water re-use outside of structures is regulated by Alberta Environment under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.
Alberta Environment
Edmonton, AB
Phone: (780) 427-6311
Toll free: 310-0000 (in Alberta)
Commercial spaces: general requirements and tips
Enlisting help from professionals |
Changes to existing commercial buildingsFor reasons of public safety, hiring a professionals such as an engineer and/or architect is often mandatory in the design and field review of a commercial project. For full information about professional involvement standards, click below: Building classificationEach business activity is associated with a building classification in the Alberta Building Code. Due to the complexities involved, a designer or architect should do a building code analysis of the building and ensure it is suitable for your business. A professional analysis will identify the building occupancy classification of the building and the rules related to that class. |
Barrier-free design |
Building codes which deal with accessibility, or barrier-free design, exist to allow proper and safe access to buildings and facilities for all people regardless of physical, sensory or developmental disabilities. The rules for barrier-free design are found in section 3.8 of the Alberta Building Code To help explain barrier-free requirements in Alberta, the Safety Codes Council of Alberta has updated its Accessibility Guidelines to meet current Alberta Building Code requirements. Download the guide: 2024 Accessibility Design Guide For further questions regarding barrier-free requirements, email us |
Energy codes |
When applying for a building permit for a new building or an addition, drawings must include details which show compliance to: |
Drawings |
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Codes and standards available online |
Electronic editions of the following codes are available free of charge: |
Contact Us
Planning & Development Services
580 1 St SE
Medicine Hat, Alberta
T1A 8E6
403-529-8374
Email us
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