Land Use Bylaw

Under the Municipal Government Act, every municipality in Alberta must pass a land use bylaw. The land use bylaw must divide the municipality into districts and outline the uses of land or buildings that are permitted within the districts as well as the uses that are permitted at the discretion of the development authority.

In considering a development for your property, the Land Use Bylaw should be your first step in understanding what is or is not allowed on your property. 

Section 1 includes introductory information on how the Land Use Bylaw is used and also includes a table of development that does not require a development permit.

Sections 2 to 6 identify the Town’s Land Use Districts with information on permitted uses, discretionary uses, and minimum development standards.

Section 7 identifies the overlays to the Land Use Bylaw such as the Digital Sign Overlay and the Western heritage Design Framework Overlay.

Section 8 provides general regulations for a range of topics including Accessory Buildings, landscaping requirements, lighting standards, and parking requirements.

Section 9 identifies Use Specific Regulations for uses such as Bed and Breakfasts, Day Homes, Home Occupations, and Accessory Suites.

Section 10 outlines signage regulations including which signs are allowed in which Land Use District.

Section 11 provides a glossary of key terms used throughout the Land Use Bylaw.

Section 12 provides maps of the Land Use Districts across the Town.

Section 13 includes Schedule A: Minimum Specified Penalties, Schedule B: Digital Sign Overlay, and Schedule C: Western Heritage Design Framework Overlay.

To search for an address or view the Land Use Districts across all of Cochrane, please refer to the Interactive Land Use Map. 

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.

A variance refers to an alteration to a regulation that is prescribed by the Land Use Bylaw. A variance may only be approved if, in the opinion of the development authority, the development would not unduly interfere with the amenities of the neighbourhood, or materially interfere with or affect the use, enjoyment, or value of neighbouring parcels of land.

The Western Heritage Design Framework (WHDF) was incorporated into the Land Use Bylaw in 2022 and guides the expression of Western Heritage in the built environment through a variety of design strategies for buildings, streetscapes, and outdoor spaces. The purpose of the framework is to balance the expression of Western heritage with the evolution of Cochrane as a contemporary place in the 21st century. All development located in the plan’s Character Areas shall comply with the WHDF.

If a proposed development does not align with the Land Use Bylaw, a Statutory Plan Amendment Application may be required. Please visit  Statutory Plan Amendments for more information.