Development Permits | City of Medicine Hat

A development permit ensures that a particular project is suitable for a particular location.

A Development Permit (DP) is for land use approval. You must have a valid Development Permit before you can apply for a Building Permit to construct a building or other structure. A development review is also required before obtaining a Business License, therefore it is automatically included in the Business License application.

Who approves developments?

See development process graphic

More about Development Permits

It is the City’s responsibility to determine and implement rules and regulations that help to create desired and valued spaces within our community.

Planning and Development Services is responsible for ensuring that new development aligns with the rules and regulations set out in both the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) and the Alberta Building Code. Development Permit reviews ensure alignment with the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) and confirms that all rules and planning policies have been considered.

The City of Medicine Hat Land Use Bylaw divides all land in the city into districts. Each district has its own set of Permitted and Discretionary Uses and development rules.

Not all projects require a Development Permit; these are listed in section 2.2 of the Land Use Bylaw. Any projects that are not included in the list of exemptions require a Development Permit because they are outside the standard rules of a district or there is some type of change being proposed to the property.

When you apply, a Planning Officer will advise you if a Development Permit is not required.

Check land use district and its rules

You can check the City's iMap to determine the land use district of your proposed project.

Search the address of the proposed project. In layers list choose “Land Use Districts” to determine the land use district for the specified parcel. Once you have determined the Land Use District, you can check the relevant section of the Land Use Bylaw to see which rules and regulations apply:

View iMap

View Land Use Bylaw

How to Apply

Apply online

To avoid delays, first review the Development Permit application requirements for your project:

See application requirements

Then submit your application:

Apply online

New to ePermit?
See user guide

Need assistance?

We can help you apply online. Contact us by email or phone 403-529-8374.
Or visit us in person (Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm):
Planning & Development Services
2nd floor, City Hall
580 1st Street SE, Medicine Hat
Whether you apply online or in person, additional documents such as a site plan will be needed. Other requirements will vary by type of project, such as floor plans, elevation plans, ESA, etc. If you have questions about the specific documents needed for your application, we can provide guidance.

Payment Methods

Online:

Visa or Mastercard

In-person:

Debit
Cash
Cheque
Visa or Mastercard

Mail:

Cheque

Fees and Charges

Application process

A Planner is assigned to each Development Permit and acts as file manager for the duration of the application. If the application is incomplete, the applicant will be contacted. The review cannot continue until all required documents have been submitted.

Once determined to be complete, the application will be reviewed. This will include a Land Use Bylaw check to ensure the application meets all bylaw requirements. If there are any discrepancies, the applicant will be contacted.

For more information, see:

Detailed application/review process

1. Talk to us

For larger scale projects only, we strongly recommend a pre-application meeting with a City Planning Officer. Contact us

2. Apply

Review application process.
Review all application requirements.

Then submit your Development Permit application online through ePermit: Apply online

3. City review

Application will be reviewed from the perspectives of land use and technical considerations. For complex/substantial projects, a technical review will be completed and notification signage will be placed on the site to allow for public feedback.

4. Decision

If approved, the Development Permit will be publicly posted and a mandatory appeal period will be open for 21 days.
If refused, the applicant has 21 days from notification to appeal the refusal through the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.

5. Construction

Project construction may begin when:

Development Permit has been approved, including Voluntary Waiver of Claims signed by applicant, and
Required Development Permit conditions of approval have been completed by applicant, and
Applicant has obtained all required Safety Codes approvals (i.e. Building Permits).

Development Permit Expiry

After a Development Permit is approved by The City, the applicant has twelve months from the date the development permit was issued to commence development. If significant construction has not begun by this date, a new application, including full application fees, will be required to move forward with the project. There may be conditions included in certain development permits which extend that period.

Apply to extend a permit

After a Development Permit is approved, the applicant must also obtain necessary building permit and trades permits before starting construction.

Pre and Post-construction Requirements

Before commencing construction of a subdivision or development project, it is the developer's responsibility to confirm that they have met the appropriate requirements and conditions. The document below outlines all requirements:

Development & Subdivision Agreement Condition Guide