Planning Document Library

The planning policies, procedures, plans, bylaws and standards listed on this webpage are published in compliance with s. 638.2 of the Municipal Government Act.

Provincial Documents

Municipal Government Act (MGA)

The Municipal Government Act is Alberta’s main piece of legislation guiding how municipalities plan and manage land use. It gives municipalities the authority to make decisions about development within their boundaries and sets requirements for statutory plans and planning processes.

Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA)

The Alberta Land Stewardship Act provides the legal framework for regional planning in Alberta. It ensures that all municipal planning documents and regulations align with the Province’s approved regional plans.

Land Use Framework

The Land Use Framework outlines how Alberta manages public and private lands and natural resources to support long-term economic, environmental, and social goals. It divides the province into seven land-use planning regions. The Town of Diamond Valley is part of the South Saskatchewan Region.

South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (SSRP)

The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan sets priorities for land use at the regional level, balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and social well-being. The Town of Diamond Valley must ensure its planning documents are consistent with this plan.

Statutory Plans

Town of Diamond Valley

  1. Bylaw 2025-122 Diamond Valley MDP

Area formerly known as Black Diamond

  1. Bylaw 02-839 Intermunicipal Development Plan
  2. Downtown Black Diamond Area Redevelopment Plan
  3. Willow Ridge Area Structure Plan
  1. Bylaw 2024-91 Add ASP Requirement to MDP
  2. Kaiser Area Structure Plan Final
  3. Kaiser ASP Technical Background

Area formerly known as Turner Valley

  1. Bylaw 02-839 Intermunicipal Development Plan
  2. Gateways of Turner Valley Area Structure Plan with Amendment
  3. Okalta-Cuffling Flats Area Redevelopment Plan (Office Consolidation)
  4. Bylaw 2024-55 Repeal 94-692 Okalta Area Structure Plan
  1. Calkins Place Area Redevelopment Plan Bylaw
  2. Bylaw 966-08 Amend Land Use Bylaw 03-869 and Dunham ASP Bylaw
  3. Bylaw 2024-85 Repeals 92-642 Dunham ASP
  4. Bylaw 2024-92 Add ASP Requirement to MDP

Statutory Plans

The Town of Diamond Valley uses statutory plans to guide how our community grows and develops over time. These plans help ensure growth is well-managed, sustainable, and aligned with the community’s vision.

Our Municipal Development Plan (MDP) is the “big picture” plan for the whole town. It sets long-term direction for land use, neighbourhood design, transportation, parks, environmental sustainability, and community services. Other plans, such as Intermunicipal Development Plans, Area Structure Plans, and Area Redevelopment Plans, provide more detailed guidance for specific areas or partnerships with neighbouring municipalities. A statutory plan must meet requirements for public notification or engagement, and is adopted by Council bylaw.

Our *new* Municipal Development Plan (MDP) has been adopted. Read more about that here.

Town of Diamond Valley Planning Bylaws

  1. 2024-63 to Repeal 2023-05 Municipal Planning Commission Bylaw
  2. Bylaw 2024-80 Subdivision Authority Bylaw
  1. Bylaw 2024-81 Development Authority Bylaw

Planning Bylaws

The Town of Diamond Valley uses planning bylaws to establish parameters of responsibility and designate authority and scope of authority in planning matters and decision making.

Land Use Bylaws

Area formerly known as Black Diamond

  1. Land Use Bylaw 2021-06
  2. Bylaw 04-15 Historical Downtown - Design Standards
  3. Bylaw 14-12 Historic Downtown Amendment
  4. Bylaw 2021-04 Redesignation R3 to DC5
  5. Bylaw 2023-16 Redesignation UR to R-1
  6. Bylaw 2023-22 Redesignation I to CB
  7. Bylaw 2023-30 DP Not Required Amendment
  8. Bylaw 2023-31 Redesignation DC-6
  1. Bylaw 2023-32 Remove RV Parking
  2. Bylaw 2024-43 Add R1-N District
  3. Bylaw 2024-50 Redesignation CB-2 to R-3
  4. Bylaw 2024-52 R-1 to R-1N 601 1 Street SW
  5. Bylaw 2024-56 Slope Stability & Textual Amendments
  6. Bylaw 2024-82 Subdivision and Development Officer Authority
  7. Bylaw 2025-111 Removes Election Signage

Area formerly known as Turner Valley

  1. Turner Valley Land Use Bylaw 21-1114
  2. Turner Valley Downtown Design Guidelines
  3. Bylaw 2023-27 Redesignation to R-3
  4. Bylaw 2023-29 DP Not Required Amendment
  5. Bylaw 2024-44 Add new district R1-N
  6. Bylaw 2024-51 Development Deposit Securities
  1. Bylaw 2024-73 Redesignate R-1 to R-3
  2. Bylaw 2024-83 Subdivision and Development Officer Authority
  3. Bylaw 2024-87 Redesignation (Site Specific) R-1N, R-1, PS
  4. Bylaw 2024-88 Redesignation (Site Specific) R-3
  5. Bylaw 2024-95 Redesignation (Site Specific) R-1N, R-1
  6. Bylaw 2025-110 Removes Election Signage

Lands Annexed from Foothills County

  1. Foothills County Land Use Bylaw 60 2014

Land Use Bylaw

The Land Use Bylaw (LUB) is the Town’s main tool for regulating how land is used and developed. While the Municipal Government Act provides overall authority, the Land Use Bylaw sets the specific local rules.

The Bylaw divides all land into land use districts, such as residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural. Each district outlines what types of development are allowed and sets standards for things like building height, lot size, setbacks, parking, landscaping, and signage.

The Land Use Bylaw also:

  • Identifies permitted and discretionary uses for each district.
  • Outlines the process for development permit applications.
  • Provides tools to address unique situations, such as direct control districts, variances, or non-conforming uses.

In short, the Land Use Bylaw helps guide growth and change in the community, balancing private property rights with the broader goals of the Town.

Municipal Plans and Strategies

 Area formerly known as Black Diamond

  1. Trails and Pathways Master Plan 2006
  2. 2021 Master Stormwater Plan
  3. Diamond Valley Industrial Stormwater Plan Update 2020
  4. Annexation Servicing Review
  5. Climate Resilience Action Plan
  1. Turner Valley & Black Diamond Joint Growth Strategy - 2018
  2. Joint Growth Strategy 2018 - Appendicies
  3. Black Diamond Affordable Housing Needs Assessment 2022
  4. Housing Needs Assessment: Snapshot
  5. Black Diamond Housing Needs Assessment Final Report 2022

Area formerly known as Turner Valley

  1. Turner Valley & Black Diamond Joint Growth Strategy - 2018
  2. Joint Growth Strategy 2018 - Appendicies
  3. Turner Valley Recreation Master Plan
  1. Turner Valley Integrated Community Sustainability Plan
  2. Turner Valley Inventory of Historic Places

Non-Statutory Plans & Strategies

Non-statutory plans and strategies are documents that provide additional guidance for land use and development but are not required under the Municipal Government Act. While they do not carry the same legal authority as statutory plans or bylaws, they help ensure planning decisions are consistent, transparent, and aligned with the Town’s vision.

These policies may include:

  • Guidelines or standards (e.g., design or architectural guidelines).
  • Council strategies or policies (e.g., housing, growth, or economic development).
  • Administrative practices that support consistent decision-making.

Non-statutory plans and strategies can be adopted by Council resolution or by Town Administration, depending on their purpose. They are often used alongside statutory plans and the Land Use Bylaw to provide flexibility, promote best practices, and guide future development in a way that balances community needs with long-term goals.

Planning & Development Policies

  1. DEV-032 Assigning of Civic Addressing Policy (BD)
  2. DEV-032 Assigning Civic Addressing Procedure (BD)
  3. DEV-033 Naming Roads and Public Places Policy (BD)
  4. DEV-033 Naming Roads and Public Places Procedure (BD)
  1. PlanDev-022 Planning & Development Securities Policy
  2. PlanDev-022 Planning & Development Securities Procedure
  3. Council 026- Engineering & Construction Standards
  4. Council-028 Telecommunications Antenna System Siting Protocol

Planning & Development Policies 

Policy and procedure documents help guide how the Town makes decisions about land use and development. They provide clear direction for Council, Administration, residents, and developers, ensuring that decisions are consistent, transparent, and aligned with the Town's Policies & Procedures. 

  • Policies outline the Town’s goals and guidelines for specific topics that describe how administrative operational standards are carried out.
  • Procedures describe the steps and processes staff follow to apply these policies fairly and consistently.

Together, these documents support good governance,  and make sure planning decisions and administrative tasks are carried out in compliance with reflect both local and provincial requirements under Alberta’s Municipal Government Act and related legislation.

Offsite Levies

  1. Off Site Levy Background Report 2022
  2. Off- Site Levies Black Diamond
  1. Offsite Levies Turner Valley

Off-Site Levies

Off-site levies are fees that municipalities in Alberta can charge developers to help pay for the infrastructure needed to support growth. These levies ensure that the cost of expanding the community is shared fairly between developers, new residents, and the municipality.

Off-site levies can be used to fund major infrastructure projects such as:

  • Water and wastewater systems
  • Stormwater management facilities
  • Roads and transportation upgrades

By collecting off-site levies, the Town makes sure that new development helps cover the cost of the services and facilities it requires, rather than placing the full financial burden on existing taxpayers. This helps keep growth sustainable, fair, and financially responsible.

Annexation

  1. Annexation Report_Full

Annexation 

The Province approved the Town of Black Diamond’s request to annex 821 acres from Foothills County. The Order in Council 15/2020, issued January 28, 2020, can be viewed from the Alberta Queen’s Printer website. Additional information and background information is available on the Annexation project page.

Engineering Standards

The Town has adopted the following City of Calgary standards for municipal infrastructure.

Engineering Standards Policy - 2024


Engineering Standards

Engineering standards set the rules for designing and building municipal infrastructure such as roads, water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. They ensure construction is safe, durable, and built to last, meeting both provincial and Town requirements.

Following these standards helps the Town protect public safety, reduce long-term maintenance costs, and support reliable, sustainable growth for the community.

Sale of Municipal Surplus Land Policy

The policy and procedure for the sale of municipal land is outlined in Council-019. Any lands that are proposed, current, or pending sale will be advertised on the Municipal Land Sales page.

Planning and Development: Related Fire Requirements for Development

Fire Apparatus Turning Radius

The Pierce Turning Performance Analysis provides the Curb to Curb turning radius calculated for 9.00 inch curb with the ladder truck, being the apparatus with the widest turning radius. This calculation is intended for use in developments where emergency service access is a consideration.

High Intensity Residential Fire (HIRF) Requirements

This document outlines important fire safety considerations for lots with side-yards under 2.4 m in width. In accordance with the National Building Code – 2023 Alberta Edition (sections 9.10.15.3, 3.2.3.1, and A-3.2.3.1(8)), additional fire protection measures may be required when the fire department’s response time exceeds 10 minutes. These measures—such as non-combustible cladding, elimination of side-yard windows, and/or sprinkler systems—help contain or suppress fires to allow sufficient time for emergency response.

Municipalities served by volunteer fire departments are assumed not to meet the 10-minute standard unless a letter stating otherwise is provided. The 10-minute response time is measured from the moment the fire department is notified to the arrival of a suppression-capable vehicle on-site. If this threshold is not met in 90% or more of cases, increased setbacks or enhanced fire protection are mandatory.

Note: For lots with side-yards under 2.4 m, please refer the file to PARK prior to issuance of a Notice of Decision (NOD) to ensure compliance with HRIF glazing requirements.

The owner, developer, or contractor responsible for a construction or demolition site is required to develop a Fire Safety Plan that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction (Diamond Valley Fire Rescue – Fire Safety Codes Officer (“Fire-SCO”). These templates are to assist in developing the required safety plans.

Construction Fire Safety Plan
The owner, developer, or contractor responsible for a construction or demolition site is required to develop a Fire Safety Plan that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction (Diamond Valley Fire Rescue - Fire Safety Codes Officer: "Fire-SCO"). These templates are to assist in developing the required safety plans.

Safety Codes

Safety Codes Council – Codes and Permits

The Alberta Safety Codes Council provides information on permits and installation requirements to conform to the safety standards that have been adopted under the Safety Codes Act.

Planning & Development Forms

  1. Abandoned Well Declaration
  2. Business Licence Application_New Resident Business
  3. Business Licence Application_Non-Resident
  4. Compliance Certificate Request Form
  5. Corporate Signing Authority Affadavit
  6. Demolition Permit Application
  7. Development Permit Application
  8. Excavation Permit Application
  1. File Search Research Request Form
  2. Home Occupation Permit
  3. Land Use Bylaw Amendment Application
  4. Peer Review of Technical Documents
  5. Sign Permit Application
  6. Subdivision Application
  7. Time Extension Agreement Application
  8. 2025-125 the 2026 Rates and Fees Bylaw

Planning and Development Application Forms

Planning and development application forms collect the information required to process a request to build, renovate, or change the use of a property in the Town. They help the Town review your proposal to ensure it follows the Land Use Bylaw, statutory plans, and other relevant policies.

Submitting a complete application with all required information helps the Town process requests efficiently and accurately. If you require assistance with the forms or clarification on the requirements, please contact the Planning Department at planning@diamondvalley.town.