Important Terms

Fence: a structure which may be used to prevent or restrict passage, to provide visual screening, sound attenuation, yard decor, protection from dust or the elements, or to mark a boundary.

Site triangle: The triangle formed by a straight line drawn between two points, one located along a front lot line and the second along a side lot line at a distance of 6.0 meters (20 feet) from the point where the lot lines intersect.

Before You Start

Fences on residential property are the responsibility of the property owner. Fences located on a shared property line are the responsibility of both property owners. Any cost for construction or maintenance of the fence is a private issue between neighbours. Fences and retaining walls must be located on or within the property boundaries and the Land Use Bylaw rules.

Permits to Apply For

All fencing must be located on or within your property lines. Fences in the front yard should not exceed 1.0 metre in height, and any fence located on or between the front of the house and the rear property line should not exceed 2.0 metres in height. Prior to constructing a fence that exceeds either of these heights, a development permit is required.

Important Terms

Accessory Use: any use, building or structure that is subordinate or incidental to the principal building or use and is located on the same site as the principal building or use and includes, but is not limited to, garages, swimming pools, sheds, decks, and fences.

Deck: an unenclosed amenity area or platform made of concrete, brick, wood or other material that may be attached to a dwelling and is intended for the purpose of outdoor dining, lounging and other similar accessory residential use.

Patio: an uncovered horizontal structure with a surface height, at any point, no greater than 0.60 meters above grade, intended for use as an outdoor amenity space.

Porch: an unenclosed, covered structure forming an entry to a building.

Before You Start

If you are building a pergola or roof structure that is attached to your house, this is considered an addition. This includes the attachment of any covered structure to the primary residential building, such as an accessory building, covered deck or porch and requires permitting as such.

If you are building any sort of roof structure that is detached from the house, this is considered an accessory use. This requires permitting as well.

Permits to Apply For

Decks under 0.61 meters (2 feet) do not require permits.

Decks under 10 square meters (107.6 square feet) do not require permits.

If a deck is above one or the other minimum size restriction, building permit and development permits need to be applied for.

If you build a deck that will be covered, or a pergola, both a development permit and building permit are required.

Other forms to help you get your building permit for your deck are the Deck Cheat Sheet

Important Terms

Accessory Use: any use, building or structure that is subordinate or incidental to the principal building or use and is located on the same site as the principal building or use and includes, but is not limited to, garages, swimming pools, sheds, decks, and fences.

Backyard suite:

1. Is attached to the principal residential dwelling and may be located separate from or in conjunction with a garage;
2. Contains two or more rooms use or designated to be used as a residence by one or more persons;
3. Contains a kitchen, living, sleeping and sanitary facilities;
4. Is self-contained and located within a dwelling unit;
5. Is located on the same parcel as the main residential dwelling unit;
6. Requires a minimum of 1.0 motor vehicle parking stalls.

Before You Start

If your structure will be connected to a house in any way, the structure is considered an addition. This includes the attachment of any covered structure to the primary residential building, such as an accessory building, covered deck or porch..

For example: a pergola, shed or carport that is attached to a house, a front or rear attached garage. If you are building a pergola on a deck a development permit application that allows the Town to review a development, in accordance with relevant bylaws and policies, and includes the plans and conditions of approval needs to be applied for.

If you are building a structure for the purpose of developing a backyard suite, these are commonly referred to as carriage houses, garage suites, garden suites, or lane-way homes you are required to apply for both a development permit as well as a building permit and the associated residential energy code form.

Permits to Apply For

Building a new garage: applications for both a Development Permit and a Building Permit need to be applied for. If the garage is heated, it will need to have the residential energy code form as well.

Building a shed: sheds with a floor area under 10 square meters (107.6 square feet) do not require permits. If it is larger than 10 square meters, the shed requires both a development and building permit applications must be submitted.

Forms to help you get your building permit are: the Garage Details and  Accessory Building

Important Terms

Single detached dwelling: a building that contains only one Dwelling Unit and is not a manufactured home. The building may include a Secondary Suite in a district where a secondary suite is a listed use and conforms to the rules of the District.

Semi-detached dwelling: a building that is divided vertically into two dwelling units side by side and separated from each other by a common wall extending from foundation to roof and not attached to any other residential building. The building may include a secondary suite within a dwelling unit in a district where a secondary suite is a listed use and conforms to the rules of the district.

Duplex Dwelling: a building containing two dwelling units, one above the other, each of which has an independent entrance either directly from outside the building or through a common vestibule.

Before You Start

If you are subdividing the property to build two single houses, the subdivision must be completed before you can apply for both building and development permits.

Please note: Applicants with limited construction drawing and Alberta Building Code experience should engage with a professional to accomplish a complete application for a single construction permit.

Permits to Apply For

If you are building a new home: a building permit with the associated residential energy code form as well as a development permit application must be submitted.

If there is an existing house on the property to be demolished, you will need to apply for a demolition permit before you can apply for a building permit.

If you are renovating your home: a building permit application must be submitted.

Finishing the Project

As you wrap up your home building project, refer to the following guidelines.

• Obtain the Permit Services Report issued by Superior Safety Codes Inc.
• Submit Real Property Report Survey to the Planning Department, located at 4900A 50 Street.
• Call the Town of Taber at 403-223-5500 for inspection of sidewalks / site and refund of deposit.
• Notify the town's utility clerk to set up water billing account.

Before You Start

If you are subdividing the property to build on a smaller lot, the subdivision must be completed before you can apply for both building and development permits.

Please note: Applicants with limited construction drawing and Alberta Building Code experience should engage with a professional to accomplish a complete application for a single construction permit.

Permits to Apply For

If you are building a new Commercial Building: a building permit with the associated Non Residential Energy Code  as well as a  Commercial / Industrial / Institutional Development Permit application must be submitted.

If there is an existing structure on the property to be demolished, you will need to apply for a demolition permit before you can apply for a building permit.

If you are renovating your commercial / industrial building: a building permit application must be submitted.

Finishing the Project

As you wrap up your commercial / industrial building project, refer to the following guidelines.

• Obtain the Permit Services Report issued by Superior Safety Codes Inc.
• Submit Real Property Report Survey to the Planning Department, located at 4900A 50 Street.
• Call the Town of Taber at 403-223-5500 for inspection of sidewalks / site and refund of deposit.
• Notify the town's utility clerk to set up water billing account.

Important Terms

Demolition permit: A form of Building Permit Application which gives authorisation or consent to erect, demolish, relocate, alter, or repair a structure. It is reviewed for compliance with the Alberta Building Code by a plans examiner to ensure that our built environment is safe. To demolish or move a building from a site. This process ensures that the services have been disconnected prior to demolition and that the site is safe during and after demolition.

Before You Start

If there is an existing house on site, a demolition permit must be applied for prior to the acceptance of development permit or building permit for a new home.

Change of use Definition: A change of use is typically when a business, defined as a specific use, vacates a commercial / industrial space and is replaced by a business of a different classification. For example, a professional office is replace by a retail use. A change of use development permit is also required if a building has been vacant for longer than 6 months and a business wishes to utilize the space.

Compliance Certificates – is a document signed by the Town certifying that a development (e.g. house, shed, fence, garage) complies with the Land Use Bylaw with respect to yard requirements – it is properly located on the site, does not exceed lot coverage or building height requirements, etc. Compliance certificates are typically required by the mortgage company to protect the property residential industry each time a property changes hands in Taber.

Looking to have a compliance certificate done?

• Compliance Certificate Request

Zoning Letter – is a document signed by the Town outlining the parcel's permitted and discretionary uses as outlined in the Land Use Bylaw.

Comfort Letter – is a document signed by the Town identifying if the owner of the said property is responsible or liable for a caveat registered on the property.

New homes / new commercial and industrial buildings require a minimum of three building inspections:

• Footing and foundation
• Completion of wall, electrical, insulation, vapor barrier,
• Occupancy inspection

Decks / garages require only one inspection. The Town of Taber contracts out the inspection and required permitting of plumbing, gas, and electrical work.

Call Superior Safety Codes Inc. at 403-320-0734 for all building inspections.

Call the Town of Taber Fire Department to schedule a Fire Inspection at 403-223-6010.

Need to Service your lot?

The purpose of a servicing agreement is to identify the municipal improvements to be constructed, along with the responsibilities of both the developer and the Town once the improvements are completed. These responsibilities include construction, inspections, approval of the municipal improvements and short and long term maintenance.

In order to obtain registration of a subdivision plan which requires a servicing agreement, the developer must have an executed servicing agreement as well as approved engineering drawings.

Similarly, for a development permit that requires a servicing agreement, the developer must have an executed servicing agreement, fully paid all fees and securities identified, as well as approved servicing plans from the installer.

Step by Step:

• Applicant to get a servicing plan done by desired contractor
• Applicant provides servicing plan to the Town of Taber Planning Department & pays security deposit (up to $10,000) and servicing agreement fee
• Public Works reviews servicing plan and approves
• Planning Department drafts servicing agreement with approved plan. Planning Department has CAO & Mayor sign agreement
• Applicant and contractor sign serving agreement
• Applicant/contractor sends out notice to neighbors of temporary water shut off (if applicable)
• Applicant/contractor contacts Planning Department to schedule pre-inspection
• Servicing is completed by contractor
• Applicant/contractor contacts Planning Department for post-inspection
• Planning Department returns applicable security according to the post inspection report.

For any questions about servicing, contact the Planning Department at 403-223-6009

Properties in Taber are defined by Land Use Districts that allow or prohibit specific uses in each parcel.

How do you find what land use district your parcel is in?
Determine your land use district by entering your address into our Taber interactive GIS MAP and use the Search bar then property tool.

Once you determine your land use district, you can head to the Land Use Bylaw to view all the district rules and regulations.

Note: Accepted payment methods include cash, cheque, or debit card only.