Development Permits
A development permit is needed for most new construction, or any time there is a change in the way land is used or the intensity of use.
Obtaining a development permit provides assurance that your development is following the Land Use Bylaw. Construction must commence on the development within one year of the date of approval.
The following documents and the applicable fee(s) are required for a complete application:
- Small Development Application Requirements Checklist
- Intermediate - Large Development Application Requirements Checklist
- Bed and Breakfast Application Requirements Checklist
- Home Occupation Checklist
- Home Occupation Renewal Checklist
- Development Permit Additional Requirements Checklist
- Temporary Seasonal Business Requirements Checklist
- Change of Use Requirements Checklist
- Grading, Excavation and Logging Checklist
- Cooking Oil Enclosure Checklist
- Signage Checklist
Please submit a signed statutory declaration with your Bed & Breakfast development permit application.
Common Types of Development Permits
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a collective term used for various types of suites that have their own entrance, kitchen, sleeping, and bathroom facilities.
For more information, read our Accessory Dwelling Unit Information Guide or contact the Town of Canmore’s Planning and Development Department for more information.
A Bed and Breakfast (B&B) is a small accommodation business run by someone living in a single-family home. B&Bs offer short stays of up to 14 days. Each B&B can host a maximum of three guest rooms or six guests in total, whichever is fewer. For more details, please see the Land Use Bylaw.
All Bed & Breakfast establishments require a development permit, you can find the development permit application form, requirement list and statutory declaration under Development Permit Requirements (see above).
As part of the application process, a site inspection will be conducted. Once an inspection has been completed a report will be provided outlining the requirements of the business under the Alberta Building Code and Fire Code. The Bed & Breakfast establishment is also required to obtain approval from Alberta Health Services.
Once your Bed & Breakfast Development Permit has been approved, you will be required to apply for your Town of Canmore Business License. Find out what is required to obtain your business license.
Inspections by the Town's Safety Codes Officer (SCO) is now required as part of the Development Permit (DP) process.
The Building Code requirements for a Bed and Breakfast establishment can be found here. Should you fail the SCO inspection and need to submit a building permit, you can find the building permit application form and requirement list on the Building Permit Webpage.
The design, size and location of signs can create a powerful image of Canmore for both residents and visitors. The intent of the signage standards and regulations is to balance the visibility of signage with an attractive appearance of the community, in keeping with its spectacular mountain setting. The Town regulates signage in order to establish a level playing field for all businesses by being consistent with approvals.
Certain sign types are not permitted in Canmore, including:
- A-frame and other mobile signs
- Permanent signs with a white background
- Banner or corporate flags used as permanent signs
- Electronic signs
- Internally lit signs
A more complete list of prohibited signs can be found in section 9.13 of the Land Use Bylaw.
Signage Guide
Review the signage guide.
Sign Permit Requirements
All new, replacement, and temporary signs require a Development Permit unless explicitly exempt under the Land Use Bylaw.
New signs include revised signs for existing businesses that change the letter dimensions, sign location, materials, relief design or overall sign issued.
An identical replacement of a previously approved sign can proceed without applying for an additional Development Permit, as the replacement sign is exempted in the Land Use Bylaw.
To obtain a Development Permit for signage, please fill out the Development Permit Application Form and submit the required information as noted in the Development Permit Signage Requirements Checklist.
To obtain a Certificate of Signage Conformance, please fill out the Planning Application Form.
Sign Permit Fees
To access the fee schedule click here.
Multiple signs for the same business or property may be applied for under the same application, although there is an additional fee for every additional sign.
Class 1 Home Occupation (No Development Permit required) – is a small-scale business that is accessory to a Dwelling Unit, has no impact on the surrounding neighbourhood and would be undetectable from the street.
Class 2 Home Occupation (Development Permit required) – is a small-scale business that is accessory to a Dwelling Unit, which may have some impact on the surrounding neighbourhood by way of noise, dust, customer visitation, deliveries, etc. Conditions can be put on Class 2 Home Occupations in order to minimize such impacts.
To determine you home business classification please answer the following questions:
1. Do you have clients or customers coming to your home?
2. Do you have deliveries to your home?
3. Do you have employees coming to your home?
4. Do you manufacture or produce goods in your home? For example, manufacturing furniture or producing food items.
5. Do you store materials and equipment or park trailers/commercial vehicles on-site?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, please review, complete, and submit the following documents to planning@canmore.ca:
If you answered NO to all of the questions, your business falls within the definition of a Home Occupation Class 1 and will only need to obtain a Town of Canmore Business License. For information on how to obtain a business license, please click here.
RENEWING YOUR HOME OCCUPATION CLASS 2 DEVELOPMENT PERMIT
Class 2 Home Occupations are required to renew their Development Permit one (1) year after the initial approval, and every three (3) years after that. Operators must apply to renew their Development Permit prior to the expiry date stated in their Schedule A - Conditions of Approval.
If the following applies to your business:
- No changes to the original Home Occupation DP approval; and
- The renewal application is submitted prior to the expiry date noted in the Schedule A – Conditions of Approval
Please review, complete, and submit the following documents to planning@canmore.ca:
- Development Permit Home Occupation Renewal Checklist
- Development Permit Home Occupation Class 2 Renewal Form
Applications received after the expiry date will be required to apply as a new Home Occupation and be limited to a 1-year approval.
Apply Now
Step One: Pre-Application meetings are required for all major developments and are optional for small developments. You can look to our Other Services page here for more information.
Step Two: Development Permit submitted via Online Portal (for select permits) or via email to planning@canmore.ca
Step Three: Applicant contacted to make permit fee payment
Step Four: Initial review of the application by Development Officer
Step Five: Notice of Permit Application Posted (10 days)
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You will be required to post a notice of permit application in a visible spot to inform neighbours and any affected parties of your application.
Step Six: Final review by Development Officer
Step Seven: Notice of Decision posted (21 day appeal period)
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Once a decision has been made, you will be required to post a notice of decision in a visible spot to inform neighbours and any affected parties that the proposed development has been approved. If no appeals to the Subdivision & Development Appeal Board clerk are received during this time, the DP can be issued.
Step Eight: Permit issued
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Construction must start on the development within one year of the date of approval
We have an online portal for select permit and service applications. We are working towards getting all our applications on the online portal in 2025. Until then, some of our permits must still be submitted by email at planning@canmore.ca. See below for a list of permit types and how to apply for each one.
For applications accepted on the Online Portal, please submit all application documents online. For all other applications, email a completed development permit application form and the required information outlined in the applicable application requirements list to planning@canmore.ca.
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List of Permit Types and Submission Methods |
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Small Development - New Detached Dwellings |
Online Portal |
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Small Development - Duplex Dwellings, Renovations, Additions, Alterations, Accessory Buildings |
By email |
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Intermediate - Large Developments (New Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Buildings) |
Online Portal |
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Intermediate - Large Developments (New Multi-Residential Buildings, Renovations, Additions, Alterations, Accessory Buildings) |
By email |
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Bed and Breakfast Application (including renewals) |
By email |
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Home Occupation (including renewals) |
By email |
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Change of Use (commercial and Tourist Home) |
By email |
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Temporary Seasonal Business |
By email |
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Grading, Excavation and Logging |
By email |
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Cooking Oil Enclosure |
By email |
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Signage |
By email |
Development Permit Applications – Submit Application Online
- New detached dwellings development permits not including renovations or additions
- New non-residential development permits (commercial, industrial, institutional, and mixed-use residential/commercial) not including renovations, additions, change of use, or signage
Development Permit Applications – Submit Application by Email
For application submissions that exceed 20MB, email planning@canmore.ca in advance of submitting your application. You will be provided with a file share link to upload your application submission. Please do not submit files using Dropbox.
- Small Development – Duplex Dwellings, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Building Additions
- Bed and Breakfast
- Home Occupation (new and renewal)
- Temporary Seasonal Business
- Change of Use
- Grading, Excavation and Logging
- Cooking Oil Enclosure
PDF Forms for Email Applications
Failure to submit this form will result in your application not being processed.
Additional Development Permit Information
As per the requirements of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), the Development Authority is required to issue an acknowledgement on the completeness of a Development Permit application within 20 days of its receipt; unless an agreement has been entered into with the applicant to extend this period.
Once your application has been deemed complete, the Town of Canmore will issue a decision on your Development Permit application within 40 days; unless an agreement has been entered into with the applicant to extend this period. Once the statutory 21-day appeal window has passed and no appeals received, your development permit will be issued to you.
Effective Aug. 1, 2023, all development permits that are required to post notice of application and/or notice of decision must follow the sign size and placement guidelines in the Development Permit Signage Guidelines.
Not sure if you require a sign? Your File Manager will let you know when they process your application.
Building and development permits for new construction are subject to these regulations. Renovations, additions, reconstruction, or construction of accessory dwelling units are not required to meet the Green Building Regulations.
Two public guides are available to help applicants understand the green building requirements in Canmore’s Land Use Bylaw:
- Information Guide Green Building Residential
- Information Guide Green Building Commercial And Large Residential
You can see the target your project is required to meet in the Land Use Bylaw.
If you require further clarification, please contact the Planning and Development Department using the following form.
When do I need a Development Permit?
For an in-depth list of development that requires a Development Permit please see Section 1.8 - Development Permits Required in the Land Use Bylaw
What is the cost for a Development Permit?
Who is the Development Authority for approving a Development Permit?
What happens if my Development Permit is appealed during the 21 day advertising period?
How close to the property line can we build?
Online Permit Portal Tips
- Before you can submit an application online, you must create an online portal account.
- We are only processing select application types via the online portal. Review the information above to ensure that you are submit your application using the right channel. Continue to submit all other applicationsvia email to planning@canmore.ca
- You will only be able to see new Portal applications. Any previous or active applications will not be visible online.
- Prepare your required documents separated in individual files, as you will be required to upload them individually.
- You have 20 mins of inactivity for each section of the online application before it times out.
- Save your progress often, as we do not have the ability to retrieve any information that may have been entered prior to timing out.
- Check your spam/junk mail for emails from (donotreply – it will include your name, permit number, and further instructions)
- Check your Portal account for regular updates.
- If applications are submitted via the Portal, all subsequent documents and correspondence will come through the Portal so you have everything you need in one place.
- All issued documents will be available through the online portal via the “Docs and Images” section of your account. We will not email them to you seperately.
- We will not retain any payment related information you use to pay your application fees. It will need to be re-entered for each new application.
- Payment will be required before your application is submitted for review.
- We can only accept payments of up to $150,000. Payments that exceed that amount will require a cheque.
- If we don't receive your payment within 7 business days, your application will be cancelled.
If you encounter issues with the Portal, submit an online inquiry. Select CityView Portal Help from the top of the list.
Public Notices for Development Approvals
The Public Notices listed here are related to Developments Permits that have had decisions rendered by the Town of Canmore. These will be posted for the entire 21 day statutory appeal period. It is important to note that the decision is not final until the expiry of the appeal period and may be appealed to the relevant appeal board.
Public Notices for Development Approval: