Red Deer County is proposing changes to its Land Use Bylaw that could shave two to three weeks off approval times for common projects like home business renewals and lot subdivisions. The county wants to hear from residents at an open house on June 24, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the County Centre, 38106 Range Rd 275, just west of Red Deer. Written feedback will be accepted until July 10, 2026.
If adopted, routine applications that now go before the Municipal Planning Commission would instead be handled directly by county staff, according to a public notice from the county. The county also plans to exempt certain low-impact projects from requiring a development permit, including small accessory buildings like sheds, minor updates to home exteriors, and some home-based businesses that don’t disturb the neighbourhood.
Mayor Brent Ramsay said the push to cut red tape started with feedback from residents. “Council has received feedback from residents looking for opportunities to reduce red tape in the area of planning and development,” Ramsay said. “Council has added this as an objective to their Strategic Plan.”
The changes also aim to support aging-in-place by making it easier to add garden suites, and would modernize how the county advertises hearings and gathers public input. Alberta’s broader focus on cutting red tape includes a provincial red tape reduction effort that earned a Golden Scissors Award in 2026 for the fourth straight year.
Property owners who have navigated the county’s permitting process know that a typical home business permit lasts five years before renewal is required. The county issued 301 building permits in 2024, a 14 percent jump from 2023, which reflects the growing demand for faster approvals. Residents can learn more by visiting the Red Deer County Red Tape Reduction page.
