Permitting frequently asked questions
What permits will I need to build a house?
There are a number of permits required to construct a new house such as development, building, plumbing, electrical, gas, private sewage etc. To review the applicable permits and process required, view link to houses and additions.
Can we obtain the permits from Strathcona County?
Yes, you can apply for all of the above permits at the Planning and Development Services Office, County Hall, Sherwood Park.
Who applies for these permits?
This will depend on the arrangement with your builder. Usually your builder would apply for the Development and Building Permits and the specific trades apply for the Plumbing, Private Sewage Disposal, Gas and Electrical permits.
If you act as your own general contractor then you would apply for the Development and Building Permits. If you are the homeowner and this home is or will be your primary residence, you can do the work yourself and will be able to apply for Plumbing, Private Sewage Disposal, Gas and Electrical Permits as a homeowner. Some projects, depending on the scope, may not be able to be done by a homeowner such as wiring over 100 AMP, homes that share common walls (duplex, townhouse). Please talk to Planning and Development Services for more specific information.
How much do these permits cost?
The permit fees depend on what you are building and the value of the building. Please contact Planning and Development Services or see the permitting fees page to determine the fees of the various County permits that you will need.
What type of plans do we need to apply for Development and Building permits?
You will need two complete sets of construction plans (ie: blueprints) and a site plan drawn to scale. For all parcels 20 acres and under, the site plan must be prepared by an accredited professional (land surveyor).
Does the County regulate the colour of the house, type of roofing or any other architectural controls?
No, architectural controls may be regulated by a caveat or restrictive covenant registered against your property by the developer of the area. You can find out more about the caveat by contacting the developer or by reviewing your certificate of title to see if there are any documents registered against the title. You can obtain a copy of these documents through any registry office that has online access to the Alberta Land Titles Office.
Is there a minimum house size?
No, Strathcona County does not restrict the minimum size of a house. However, the developer may have a restriction on house sizes and this would be contained in a caveat or restrictive covenant registered against the property. The County does have restrictions as to the maximum size of dwellings within the urban areas (Sherwood Park and hamlets).
How close to the property lines can we build?
The setbacks to the property lines vary depending on the land use district in which the property is located. You can get exact information on the setback requirements in your particular land use district from Planning and Development Services.
How much will property taxes be for a new house?
Property taxes vary depending on the value of the property and the house. For more specific information on property taxes, please contact Strathcona County Assessment and Taxation at 780-464-8196.
Do we need a permit to build a deck?
You do not need a permit for an uncovered deck that is less than .60 m (2 ft.) in height: measured from the lowest ground level to the floor of the deck. If the deck is higher than .60 m (2 ft.) in height, you will need to obtain a the necessary permits, please view our information on building an uncovered deck.
Do we need a permit for a fence?
You do not need a permit for a fence in a residential neighbourhood when the fence is:
- in your back yard and less than 2 m (6.6 ft.) in height
- in your front yard and less than 1 m (3.3 ft.) in height
If you are fencing on a corner lot (abutting two streets), the side yard abutting the street is considered front yard. If you wish to be higher than 1 m (3.3 ft.) in this area, you will need to apply for a development permit. Please view our information on fencing regulations.
How can we find out about the future plans for a neighbourhood?
Strathcona County has several documents that outline development policies for the County and for specific neighbourhoods. We encourage you to review these documents and ask questions about permitted development before you build. The documents are called the Municipal Development Plan (long range plan for entire County), Area Structure Plans and/or Area Concept Plans (specific neighborhood or area plans).
In the rural area, who do we contact to obtain approval for an access to our property?
Planning and Development Services can assist you on the process for obtaining approval for new (or modified) accesses/approaches to rural properties. Please contact 780-464-8080.
Is there a permit or license required for hauling on County roads?
A Road Use Agreement may be required for your project, please contact Transportation and Agriculture Services at 780-417-7100.
Who do we call to have utilities hooked up on our property?
Power- Fortess Alberta 780-310-4300 (retailers Epcor or Enmax)
Gas - Atco Gas Service Contracts 780-420-7278
Water & Sewer - Strathcona County 780-467-7785
Telephone - Telus 780-310-2255
Cable - Shaw Cable 780-490-3555
Useful County telephone numbers:
Assessment & Taxation at 780-464-8120
Bylaw Services at 780-449-0170
Council at 780-464-8138
Economic Development & Tourism at 780-464-8241
Emergency Services at 780-467-5216
Garbage Collection at 780-449-5514
Transportation & Agriculture Services at 780-417-7100
Further information
Call 780-464-8080
PlanningandDevelopment@strathcona.ab.ca
Last updated: Thursday, December 01, 2011
Page ID: 2903