A development permit is written approval issued by the Town of Cochrane allowing development to proceed.
Learn about current development permit applications in Cochrane using the Development Map. Recently approved development permits are posted as Public Notices under the Permitted and Discretionary Uses section.
Development permits are needed for most types of development in Cochrane. As defined by the Municipal Government Act, development includes excavation or stockpiling of material, new buildings, addition/replacement/repair of existing buildings, a change in the use of land or a building or a change in the intensity of use of the land or a building.
Some examples of projects that require a development permit include:
Accessory Suites (Secondary Suites or Backyard Suites)
Home Occupations (Class 2)
Signs on buildings on private land
Multi-Unit Dwellings
Bed & Breakfasts
Exceptions to the requirement for a development permit can be found in Section 1.12 of the Land Use Bylaw.
If you are unsure whether a development permit is required for your project, you can discuss your proposal with Planning Services at planning@cochrane.ca.
Application Process
To apply for a development permit, fill out an application form and provide the necessary supporting documents. The type of supporting documents required will depend on the nature of your project. Please refer to the appropriate checklist to determine what you will need to submit in order to provide a complete application. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Application Type
Application Requirements (Checklists)
Application Form
Accessory Suites (Secondary Suites and Backyard Suites)
Please refer to the Land Use Bylawfor more details on the above types of development.
To submit your application, send an email with the completed application form and all supporting documents to planning@cochrane.ca. Once we have received a complete application, your application will be assigned to a File Manager for review. If we need more information, we will get in touch to let you know what is missing.
Once your application is in review, it will be circulated to various Town departments and external agencies for comment. If there are any comments, we will let you know so that you can address them.
After reviewing the application, comments and recommendations, the approving authority will either approve the application, approve the application with conditions, or cite reasons for refusal. This will be provided to the applicant in the form of a Notice of Decision. The development permit will be released after a three-week appeal period provided no appeals were received.
Planning Services will review the application for a development permit and make a decision based on factors such as compliance with Land Use Bylaw regulations, compatibility with planning policy documents, planning merits, and the needs of the community. With these considerations in mind, Planning administration will either:
Issue a decision as the approving authority (Development Officer), or
Make a recommendation of approval or refusal to the Cochrane Planning Commission (CPC), who will make a final decision as the approving authority
The Development Authority (Development Officer or the CPC) renders a decision on the application (within 40 days of a deemed complete submission; longer if you have granted an extension). CPC meets on the third Wednesday of each month.
Please be advised that the development permit process takes a minimum of 10-12 weeks. This includes the three-week appeal period which commences on the Notice of Decision date.
Your development must be commenced within 1 year of the release of your development permit and completed in 2 years, unless otherwise specified in the conditions of your approval.
In order to request an extension, please complete and submit a Time Extension form 40 days before the date in the condition and include a letter describing why an extension is needed. Please refer to the Planning Fee Scheduleto view the associated fee.
Development Authority decisions may be appealed to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board within 21 days of the advertisement of the Notice of Decision. An appeal may be submitted by the applicant or a deemed affected party (as established in the Municipal Government Act)
Permitted Uses are identified for each Land Use District. If an application meets the requirements of the Land Use Bylaw and is a Permitted Use, a development permit application must be approved (with or without conditions).
Discretionary Uses are also identified for each Land Use District. Development permit applications for discretionary uses require additional evaluation to determine if they will be compatible with the surrounding area, appropriate for the proposed location, and in alignment with broader town planning policies and objectives. Development permit applications for discretionary uses may be refused, approved, or approved with conditions based on the discretion of the development authority.
