Development Permits

The Town has a maximum of 40 days to process the development permit application, once the application is complete and all required information has been received from the applicant. Often a development decision is issued in much less than 40 days. For complex applications, the development authority may require more than 40 days. In this case, the Town and the applicant may sign an extension agreement.

A development permit is required for any new development on a property, or the change of use of a property/existing building. This includes: 

• Building a new residence; 
• Building a garage; 
• Adding a use to a building (such as a home occupation); 
• Developing a new commercial building; and, 
• Changing the use of a commercial building. 

Not all developments will require a development permit application, and those that are exempt can be found under the section “Development Permits Not Required” in the Town’s Land Use Bylaw (LUB). When in doubt, contact the staff to confirm if a permit is required.

Applications for a discretionary use or requiring a variance must go to the Municipal Planning Commission for a decision. 

MPC meetings are held twice a month. Complete applications must be received a minimum of seven (7) full working days prior to the MPC meeting to allow administration time to review the application and prepare the required information for the MPC meeting agenda. For more complex applications, more time may be required. More information about the MPC can be found on the Development Authorities page.