Type of Development Permits

Bed and Breakfast establishments are an ancillary commercial use operated by the resident of a single detached dwelling. Bed and Breakfast establishments can provide accommodation for periods of 14 days or less. The maximum amount of accommodation permitted per dwelling is three guestrooms or six pillows (guests), whichever is less. 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 on the Development Permit Information webpage. 

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 Home Occupation Business License. Find out what is required to obtain your business license.

IMPORTANT UPDATE TO INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS - AS OF JUNE 1, 2023
A letter was issued on June 1st to all current Bed and Breakfast operators informing them that 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.

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:

• Development Permit Home Occupation Checklist
• Development Permit Application Form

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.  

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.

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. 

Submit an Application

E-mail your complete application with all required documents as noted in the applicable applications requirements list, to planning@canmore.ca. 

Questions

If you have further questions, please submit them to the Planning & Development Department using the following form.