FAQs

A Land Use Bylaw is a set of regulations which controls development by categorizing all properties in a city* into various land use districts. It prescribes how land and buildings can be used in those districts, and establishes a system for issuing development permits.

*or a town, county, etc.

A Land Use Bylaw is a tool to help ensure that ongoing development in a community aligns with the community's overall vision and to ensure the safety and quality-of-life of the residents.

Alberta's Municipal Government Act (MGA) requires all municipalities in Alberta to have a Land Use Bylaw. The MGA provides guidance on the structure of Land Use Bylaws but it is up to the individual municipalities to create and administer their own documents.

Since a Land Use Bylaw is a regulatory document, it governs what type of activities may occur on every piece of property, depending on that property's land use (zoning). Therefore, it affects every resident, business and public service in one way or another.

• For instance, it is not permitted to open an industrial plant in the downtown. It's also not allowed to operate an auto sales business in a residential district.
• A Land Use Bylaw also establishes everyday rules such as maximum fence heights, regulations about home-based businesses, and many others.

Our current Land Use Bylaw (#4168) was drafted in 2013, with several minor revisions occurring over the past nine years. A new Land Use Bylaw is being done to better serve the Medicine Hat community of today and to better line up with the City's overall vision for the next 30 years.

• To learn more about the City's overall vision, visit the Municipal Development Plan page on the City's website.

The new bylaw is being drafted with specific goals in mind:

• Have a Land Use Bylaw that aligns with the City's long-range planning objectives (see Municipal Development Plan) and City Council's strategic priorities.
• Create zoning that is better correlated with community priorities and standards.
• Reduce ambiguity by having clearer definitions.
• Provide more certainty in how the City develops over time.
• Provide a more streamlined user-friendly document.
• Make the bylaw easier to navigate online.

After a review of extensive survey feedback from local operators of home-based businesses, changes were made to the policies of the current Land Use Bylaw regarding Home Businesses. Changes include clearer language, rules about vehicle visits, a definition of remote work and other modifications. The amendments were approved by City Council in 2022, and will also be incorporated into the draft of the new Land Use Bylaw in 2023.

• View the updated (2022) Land Use Bylaw #4168.
• To learn more about Home Businesses in Medicine Hat, visit Home Business on the City website.

The project team is comprised of staff within the City's Planning & Development Services department. In the writing of policies, significant input is being sought from community members, stakeholders and City Council.

Go to the City of Medicine Hat website where you can see the current Land Use Bylaw #4168 (PDF)

You can also explore more about Zoning and Land Use.

The City of Medicine Hat website provides information on topics such as:

• Rezoning land
• Planning and development process
• Subdivision development
• Development permits