Intermunicipal Development Plans

An Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) is a provincially required agreement created between municipalities that share a common border. Parkland County develops IDPs with many neighbouring municipalities to plan responsibly and coordinate development in areas near shared boundaries. An IDP helps municipalities work together proactively, reducing the possibility of future land use conflicts and supporting the region overall.

Currently, Parkland County has prepared IDPs in partnership with the following municipalities:

Impacts of the EMRB disbandment

Prior to its disbandment on March 31, 2025, of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board (EMRB) provided a regional forum and coordinated policy framework for growth, land use, and servicing decisions for its member municipalities. With the EMRB now disbanded, neighbouring municipalities must manage these relationships directly. As a result, Parkland County is required under Alberta’s Municipal Government Act to establish new Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks (ICFs) and Intermunicipal Development Plans (IDPs) with former members of the EMRB, such as the City of Edmonton, City of Spruce Grove, and Town of Stony Plain. These agreements will formalize how municipalities work together on shared services, infrastructure, land use planning, and dispute resolution, ensuring continued coordination, responsible growth management, and protection of long-term regional interests.

Frequently asked questions about IDPs:

What is the purpose of an IDP?

An IDP ensures coordinated, long-term growth along a shared municipal boundary while providing assurance of future development goals to residents who live within the plan area. IDPs help communities grow together through: 

Land use planning and collaboration
Coordinating growth 
Transportation connections 
Infrastructure and servicing coordination
Environmental protection in boundary areas
Procedures for resolving disagreements 
Processes for monitoring and updating the plan

Why is an IDP developed in the first place?

The completion of an IDP is a new requirement under the Government of Alberta, which requires that all municipalities that share a common boundary adopt an IDP.

Under the Municipal Government Act, municipalities must provide opportunities for the public to be involved before adopting an IDP.

IDPs do not propose any specific development projects, nor are they triggered by them. Instead, an IDP is a long-range planning document that outlines how lands along the municipal boundary will be developed in the future.

Will an IDP redistrict my land?

No, your land's existing land use district is not affected by an IDP. Instead, IDPs involve future development planning and are developed with consideration to existing land-use policies in areas that are already developed.

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