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SAFETY CODE PERMITS
The Safety Codes Act requires that any person (or their contactors) obtain permits prior to commencing work on buildings covered by the Alberta Building Code or work governed by the Canadian Plumbing Code or the CSA B149 Gas Codes or the Canadian Electrical Code.

ALL PERMITS with respect to the following disciplines may only be issued by Parkland County in partnership with the Inspections Group Inc.
 
Building Permit
Gas Permit
Electrical Permit
Plumbing Permit
Private Sewage Disposal System (PSDS)

The contractor or person performing the work is responsible to ensure that no work commences without a valid permit. The owner of the property is responsible to ensure that all required permits for work being conducted are in place.  The following should be observed:

  1. If the owner is applying for the permit, the contractor must not commence the work until he has received a copy of the permit;
  2. If the contractor is applying for the permit, the owner should request a copy of the permit to ensure that all work is being performed under the requirement of the Safety Codes Act.
  3. Some permits require the signature of the qualified trade's person. If the permit applicant is not qualified to sign a permit, a qualified installer must sign the permit and provide their certification number.
  4. All work shall commence within ninety (90) days of permit issuance and generally expires after one (1) year without a written extension request provided to Parkland County, Safety Codes Services.

When Do I Need A Building Permit?    A permit must be obtained prior to commencing:

  1. The excavation, construction, alteration, addition, repair or demolition of any building;
  2. The construction of decks (over 2 ft in height), sheds (over 100sq ft) & gazebos;
  3. The change in occupancy or use of a building (eg retail outlet to restaurant);
  4. Basement development;
  5. Building relocation;
  6. Building demolition;
  7. Renovations/replacement of ducted heated/ventilation systems, exhaust systems, weeping tile, central air conditioning, fireplaces, wood stoves and wood burning furnaces.

 When Do I Need A Building Permit?  A permit is required to carry out work to which the Electrical Code applies, which covers installations of wiring in or upon any land, building, or premises, and shall also include the alteration, extension and repair of such wiring.

When Do I Need A Gas Permit?  A permit needs to be obtained prior to commencing:

  1. The installation, alteration or addition to any gas piping system;
  2. Temporary gas lines for temporary heat;
  3. Propane tank sets and temporary propane installations;
  4. Appliance conversions;
  5. Commercial and industrial installations of gas piping systems excluding only connections to industrial process equipment.

When do I Need A Plumbing/Private Sewage Disposal (PSDS) Permits?  A permit needs to be obtained prior to commencing:

  1. The installation of a plumbing system or plumbing equipment;
  2. The renewal of a plumbing system or plumbing equipment;
  3. The removal of a plumbing system or plumbing equipment;
  4. Change of any plumbing equipment;
  5. The installation of a cross connection control device;
  6. The installation of a new or replacement of a Private Sewage Disposal System.


DEVELOPMENT PERMITS

Parkland County's Land Use By-Law requires development permit approval prior to the commencement of many types of building construction and land use development in the County. Please contact the County's Planning & Development Services Department at (780) 968-8443 to determine whether or not a Development Permit will be required prior to commencement of any land use development or building construction you may be considering.

Some important development and building regulations to be aware of:

  1. Residential and Accessory Building Setbacks.
  2. Minimum Residential Floor Areas.
  3. Accessory Buildings Requiring a Development Permit.
  4. Single wide mobile homes.
  5. Animal/bird regulations.
  6. Home Based Businesses - Levels 1, 2 & 3.
  7. Garden Suites.
  8. Second Dwellings.
  9. Unregistered Vehicles.


BUSINESS LICENSES

Parkland County's Business Licensing By-law requires any person who carries on or operates any business within the County to obtain a valid Parkland County Business License issued annually.  Businesses associated with producing crops, livestock or poultry (with the exception of intensive agricultural uses) do not generally need to obtain a Business License.    There are three categories of licenses:  Resident Business License category applies to those businesses physically established within the corporate limits of Parkland County. Resident Business License Fee is $50.00 annually; Non-Resident Business License category applies to those businesses not physically established within the corporate limits of the County but which conduct business within and without Parkland County. Non-Resident License Fee is $100.00 annually; Tri-Municipal License category applies to those businesses holding an existing Resident Business License and who also conduct business within the Town of Stony Plain and/or the City of Spruce Grove.  Tri-Municipal License Fee is $50.00 in addition to payment of the Resident Business License Fee of $50.00.

”HOME BASED BUSINESS LEVEL 1” means an office within the residential dwelling for a person who occupies the dwelling. It does not include the visiting of clients to the site, parking of commercial vehicles, any outside storage, or any employees except the resident and the resident’s family who permanently reside in the dwelling. The use is entirely contained within the dwelling and has no external impact on the neighbourhood. Typical uses include self-employed persons providing professional and office support services, telephone mail order or similar services, and home crafts and handicrafts; Home Based Business, Level 1, (Home Office) Checklist     Business Licensing By-Law 30-90 application form

”HOME BASED BUSINESS LEVEL 2” means an occupation, trade, or craft for gain or support, conducted within the residential dwelling or its accessory buildings. It may include some client visits and the parking of one commercial vehicle and may not include on-site employees except the resident and the resident’s family who permanently reside in the dwelling. Typical uses include dressmaking, hairdressing, home crafts and handicrafts, picture framing, delivery services, mobile food vendors or caterers, individual instruction to students, off-site mobile repairs and installation, janitorial services, mobile entertainment services, the carrying out of minor household appliance repair and automotive repair (does not include autobody repair);  Development Permit Application Form    Business Licensing By-Law 30-90 application form

”HOME BASED BUSINESS LEVEL 3” means trade or craft for gain or support conducted within the residential dwelling and/or accessory building and includes all home based businesses not considered Home Based Businesses, Level 1 or Level 2. It may include up to four on-site employees in addition to the resident and the resident’s family who permanently reside in the dwelling. Typical uses include contractor services, parking      Development Permit Application Form    Business Licensing By-Law 30-90 application form

SECTION 33. HOME BASED BUSINESSES

LEVEL 1

1. The following provisions shall apply to all Level 1 home based businesses:

(a) no storage of goods, materials, commodities or finished products shall be permitted except within the dwelling;

(b) no variation from the external appearance and residential character of land or buildings shall be permitted;

(c) no use of signage;

(d) no on-site visiting of clients;

(e) only the resident and the resident’s family who permanently reside in the residential dwelling on the subject parcel may be permitted as employees;

(f) the business owner shall obtain a Business License pursuant to the County’s Business License Bylaw; and

(g) prior to the commencement of the business, the applicant shall sign a document agreeing to comply with these regulations to the satisfaction of the Development Authority;

LEVEL 2

1. The following provisions shall apply to all Level 2 home based businesses:

(a) no outside storage of goods, materials, commodities or finished products shall be permitted;

(b) no variation from the external appearance and residential character of land or buildings shall be permitted;

(c) the use shall not generate excessive or unacceptable increases in traffic within the neighbourhood or immediate area;

(d) the display or placement of signage on the premises of a home based business Level 2 shall be in accordance with Section 46.9;

(e) the home based business Level 2 use shall not generate noise, smoke, steam, odour, dust, fumes, exhaust, vibration, heat, glare or refuse matter considered offensive or excessive by the Development Authority;

(f) at all times the privacy of the adjacent residential dwellings shall be preserved and the home based business shall not unduly offend neighbouring or adjacent residents by way of excessive lighting, late calling of clients of an unreasonable number, traffic congestion, or excessive on-street or off-street parking, etc;

(g) the parking of one commercial vehicle with one accessory trailer such as single axle gravel truck with pup, trailer carrying a small backhoe, bobcat, or similar, tractor unit only (no trailer), or a 3 ton truck or like type vehicle may only be allowed by the Development Authority on a discretionary basis;

(h) only the resident and the resident’s family who permanently reside in the residential dwelling on the subject parcel may be permitted as employees;

(i) The business owner shall obtain a Business License pursuant to the County’s Business License Bylaw.

LEVEL 3

1. A Level 3 home based business is neither permitted nor discretionary within a multi-parcel residential subdivision (excluding rural centers) or row housing development nor if the location of the development is within 152.4 m (500 ft) of a multi-parcel residential subdivision (excluding rural centers) or row housing development. The following provisions shall apply to all Level 3 home based businesses:

(a) outside storage of goods, materials, commodities or finished products shall be at the discretion of the Development Authority;

(b) the display or placement of signage on the premises of a home based business shall be in accordance with Section 46.9;

(c) the home based business use shall not generate noise, smoke, steam, odour, dust, fumes, exhaust, vibration, heat, glare or refuse matter considered offensive or excessive by the Development Authority;

(d) at all times the privacy of the adjacent residential dwellings shall be preserved and the home based business use shall not unduly offend neighbouring or adjacent residents by way of excessive lighting, late calling of clients of an unreasonable number, traffic congestion, or excessive on-street or off-street parking, etc;

(e) the parking of any commercial vehicles, including the number considered and location, shall be at the discretion of the Development Authority;

(f) in addition to the resident and the resident’s family who permanently reside in the residential building on the subject parcel, up to four additional other employees may be permitted as part of the approval and operation of a Level 3 home based business, if deemed appropriate by the Development Authority;

(g) the business owner shall obtain a Business License pursuant to the County’s Business License Bylaw.


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