Three animal units per parcel are allowed on properties of between three (3) and nine (9) acres in size – or – one (1) animal unit for every three (3) acres of land.

An increase to animal units is allowed only upon submission and approval of a Development Permit application.

Kennel - Private
Is the keeping on a property, by the occupant of a dwelling located on the lot for any purpose, of 4 or more dogs (but less than 10) which are owned by the occupant. 

On parcels zoned under Agricultural or Country Residential District Land Use rules, a Development Permit must be obtained.  On parcels zoned as Residential, Recreation, Commercial or Industrial District, application for a Site Specific Amendment is necessary.  If approved by Council, a subsequent application for a Development Permit must be submitted.
 

Kennel - Commercial
Is the keeping on a lot for any purpose of four or more dogs not provided for under the definition for kennel – private.  Within all Land Use districts, application for a Site Specific Amendment applies.

All trees, shrubs, shelterbelts and farm dugouts shall be set back:
20 m (65.62 ft.) from the centre line of any Municipal road;
25 m (82.02 ft.) from the centre line of any secondary Highway and Dunbow road;
40 m (131.23 ft.) from the ultimate right of way of any primary highway.

The minimum distances required for yards do not apply to fences less than 2 m (6.5 ft.) in height.  Special attention is required for parcels located at intersecting roadways (corner lots).  Please contact the Municipal offices with regard to requirements for sight lines.

Once a dwelling has been constructed on the parcel, a detached accessory building for personal use, whether on temporary or permanent foundations, is permitted as specified:

1 acre or less - One building up to 150 sq. ft. (14 sq. m.)

1.01 to 1.99 acres - One building up to 500 sq. ft. (13.9 sq. m.) and one additional building up to 150 sq. ft. (14 sq. m.)

2 to 3 acres - One building up to 1,200 sq. ft. (111.48 sq. m.) and one additional building up to 150 sq. ft. (14 sq. m.)

3.01 to 10 acres - One building up to 2,400 sq. ft. (223 sq. m.) and one additional building up to 150 sq. ft. (14 sq. m.).  Additional allowance for a horse shelter, not to exceed 200 sq. ft. (18.58 sq. m.).

Over 10.01 to 20 acres - One building up to 3,200 sq. ft. (297 sq. m.) and one additional building up to 150 sq. ft. (14 sq. m.).  Additional allowance for two horse shelters, each shelter is not permitted to exceed 200 sq. ft. (18.58 sq. m.).

Over 20 acres - One building up to 4,000 sq. ft. (297 sq. m.) and one additional building up to 150 sq. ft. (14 sq. m.).  Additional allowance for three horse shelters, each shelter is not permitted to exceed 200 sq. ft. (18.58 sq. m.)

Flexibility may be permitted through a Development Permit for additional buildings or one larger building provided they meet the total square footage for the acres as noted above.  Please note that “personal use” does not include the operation of a business or the storage of business materials.

For more detailed information, click here.

Arena (Commercial) – means a building or structure within which equestrian, athletic or recreational activities or contests occur.  These facilities are intended to be used by persons other than occupants of the residence, if any, located on the lot upon which the arena is located.  Use of such facilities will result in the generation of more than sixteen (16) additional vehicle trips on any single day to or from the site of the arena; or use of the arena for any purpose on any single day by more than sixteen (16) persons other than occupants of the residence.  On all parcels, application for a Site Specific Amendment is necessary.  If approved by Council, a subsequent application for a Development Permit must be submitted.

Arena (Limited Public) – means a building or structure within which equestrian, athletic, recreational activities or contests occur.  The facilities are intended to be used by persons other than occupants of the residence, if any, located on the lot upon which the arena is located.  Use of such facilities will result in the generation of no more than sixteen (16) additional vehicle trips on any single day to or from the site of the arena or use of the arena for any purpose on any single day by no more than sixteen (16) persons other than occupants of the residence.  On all parcels, application for a Site Specific Amendment is necessary.  If approved by Council, a subsequent application for a Development Permit must be submitted.

Arena (Private) – means a building or structure with an overall footprint of no more than 16,146 sq. ft. (1,500 m²) within which equestrian, athletic or recreational activities occur.  Private arenas are intended to be used solely by the occupants of the residence located on the same parcel as the arena and/or by no more than four non-resident users on any single day.  A Development Permit must be obtained for Private Arenas.

Mobile (Manufactured) Homes
A designated manufactured home (mobile home) in excess of 20 ft. (6.10m) both in width and length may be used as a permanent detached single family dwelling provided that: it is placed upon a permanent foundation, can meet the minimum habitable area requirements for a dwelling in the applicable land use district, a Building Permit and Safety Code Permits are obtained, the structure is newer than ten (10) years old, and there is o other dwelling located on the parcel if it is less than 80 acres..

On parcels of greater than 80 acres in size only, a designated manufactured home (mobile home) of less than 20 ft. (6.10m) may be permitted if it can meet the defined criteria.

A Development Permit application is to be made for the use of a temporary designated manufactured home (mobile home), or dwelling temporary.  The dwelling must be placed on a temporary foundation and be utilized for one of the following situations:

·         dwelling temporary (24 months) where it is to be used for farm help purposes for the landowner;

·         dwelling temporary (24 months) where it is to be used as a dwelling temporary while the principal dwelling on the lot is under construction.  Applicants will be required to submit a cash deposit or letter of credit in the amount of $5,000 to ensure the removal of the temporary dwelling;

·         dwelling temporary (not to exceed 24 months) where it is to be used as a dwelling for compassionate reasons (to house a housekeeper/nanny, or parents or children of the landowner).

Non-resident Contractors
Contractors offering services within the M.D. of Foothills are required to obtain a business license from the Municipal Offices.

Home Occupations
A home occupation is a business conducted from, or on a parcel within the M.D. of Foothills.  Home occupations fall under three categories.

Home Office
A Development Permit is not required when a home based business requires only an office situated within a dwelling, where all employees of the business are residents of the dwelling.  To qualify under this category, there must be no storage of business materials, vehicles or equipment on the parcel and no traffic is to be generated by the business.  A business license must be obtained from the Municipality.

Minor Home Based Business
All minor home based businesses are required to receive approval on a Development Permit application prior to commencing business, and must be able to comply with the following:

      No offensive noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odor, heat, glare, electrical or radio disturbance detectable beyond the boundary of the lot shall be produced by the business;

      A fascia sign to identify a home based business shall not exceed 0.55 sq. m. (5.92 sq. ft.) in area and signage must be located within the confines of the parcel of land that the business operates from/on;

      Any materials or goods related to the business must be stored within the principal dwelling or accessory building and no outside storage is permitted;

      Up to four (4) business visits per day are allowed;

      Exterior alterations or additions to accommodate a business shall not be permitted;

      The number of non-resident employees working on-site shall not exceed one (1).

Major Home Based Business
All major home based businesses must receive Council approval for a Site Specific Amendment prior to commencing operations.  General guidelines follow.  Please contact the Municipal Office for further information and application requirements.

      the number of non-resident employees working on-site shall not exceed five (5);

      up to eight (8) business visits per day are allowed;

      on lots greater than 4 ha. (10 acres) exterior storage may be allowed if, in the opinion of the Development Officer, the exterior storage is adequately screened;

      any interior or exterior alterations or additions to accommodate a home business, may be allowed at the discretion of the Development Officer, as long as such alterations comply with this Bylaw, the Alberta Safety Codes Act and any other bylaws applicable statutes, bylaws and regulations.

 If requirements of a Home Based Business Major exceed the general guidelines as identified, you may wish to review the possibility of rezoning to Commercial or Industrial District Land Use.  Please contact the Municipal Office for more details.

Bed and Breakfasts
All Bed & Breakfasts require approval through a Development Permit application and shall comply with the following:

      a bed and breakfast shall be operated by a live-in owner(s) as a secondary use only, with a maximum of four (4) commercial accommodation units in each development and shall not change the residential character or external appearance of the dwelling involved;

      the only meal to be provided to registered guests shall be breakfast.  No food preparation or cooking for guests shall be conducted within any bedroom made available for rent.  All facilities are required to meet public health regulations and be kept in a manner satisfactory to the health regulatory authority;

      no accommodation unit shall include a kitchen;

      maximum stay of 14 days per person is permitted;

      a fascia sign which does not exceed 0.55 sq. m. (5.92 sq. ft.) in area may be erected and located within the confines of the property on which the operation exists, to identify a bed and breakfast facility.

Applications for a development permit shall be accompanied by the following information:

1.  Applicable development permit fees.

2.  A site plan showing:

            - the entire parcel;

            - North at the top of the page;

            - identify and show all existing structures and any proposed buildings with measurements from the

              same, in feet or metres, to all parcel lines;

            - all existing wells, septic tanks, disposal fields, dugouts on the parcel and any proposed or existing

              storage areas

3.  Indicate any other land that may be used in conjunction with the proposed development.  Applications

    submitted by non-landowners must be accompanied by a written letter of consent from the current landowner.

4.  Height, dimensions, and relationship to property lines of all existing and proposed buildings and structures

    including retaining walls, corrals, trees, landscaping, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and other physical features.

5.  The intensity of the development proposed (number of and type of trees, vegetables, or animals to be grown, or reared, number of daily site visits by non-residents of the parcel).

6.  Full description of any proposed business, including what it is, how it operates and the number of people to be employed.

7.  Method of distribution of any product.

8.  Utilities, Lot drainage, existing and proposed Lot grades, the grades of the streets and sewer servicing the

    property including the elevations of top of curb or sidewalk and Lot corners.

9.  Provisions for loading and parking.

10. Access locations to and from the Lot including roads (this can be shown in the site plan) and highways to be used, traffic generated, and dust control measures to be implemented.

11. Garbage and refuse storage areas, as well as the fencing and screening proposed for same, and methods for disposing of garbage.

12. Descriptions of any noxious, toxic, radioactive, flammable, or explosive materials proposed.

13. Amount of water required for the proposed development on a daily, weekly or monthly basis and proposed water source.

14. The number of events and/or clinics proposed to be held annually, if any, including a detailed description of any such proposed events and/or clinics.

15. Methods of controlling noise, dust, or drainage from the Lot, both during and after completion of construction.

16. The days and hours of operation of the development.

17. Will there be land contouring done to accommodate this use and if so, determination as to whether this falls under the Municipalities’ Lot Grading definition is required.  Lot Grading is defined within the Land Use Bylaw as:

            a) the construction of berms in excess of 2m (6.5 ft.) in height;

            b) the stockpiling of soil in excess of 2m (6.5 ft.) in height;

            c) trenching and/or excavation that redirects a watercourse or changes the natural drainage patterns

                of a lot (including but not limited to increasing the volume of runoff from the property).

18. Storm water management plans or any other plans prepared by a Professional Engineer relevant to the development, which may be required.

18. What type of landscaping is proposed for the site (ie: vegetation, fencing) and will it require any additional water.

19. Method of advertising: if a sign is proposed to be placed on site, you must include this as part of your application.