What a development permit covers
A development permit is issued by the municipality under its land use rules. It considers the use of the property, parking, signage, building form and neighbourhood fit.
If you are opening a new type of business in a space, or changing the exterior, this permit may be needed first.
Appeals and conditions can add time, so build some allowance into the schedule when the use is new to the site.
What a building permit covers
A building permit is issued under the Alberta Safety Codes system and checks that construction meets the Alberta Building Code. It reviews structure, fire safety, exits, accessibility and energy requirements.
It is the permit that allows construction to proceed.
The order matters
In many cases the development permit comes first, or is processed in parallel. A building permit is not usually issued if the use is not approved.
We set out the sequence at the start so that design, lease and approvals stay in step.
If you are in a leased space, the landlord may need to sign the application, so ask them early.
Interior work
Some interior work in an existing building may not need a development permit if the use is unchanged and permitted. A building permit is still likely for partitions, mechanical or electrical work.
Ask your municipality or your contractor to confirm.
How we help
Our team prepares applications, coordinates drawings from our in-house engineering group and answers reviewer questions. This reduces back-and-forth and gets you to construction sooner.
Keep every approval letter and drawing set. Landlords, lenders and later contractors often ask for them, and they save time when you renovate again.
Questions we hear
Do I always need both?
No. It depends on the use, the location and the scope of work. Confirm early with the municipality.