Planning Law

Exam­ines plan­ning law with spe­cif­ic con­sid­er­a­tion of Alber­ta leg­is­la­tion and case law; par­tic­u­lar­ly, land use bylaws, plan­ning doc­u­ments, and the roles of plan­ning and devel­op­ment author­i­ties. Legal aspects of the prepa­ra­tion of land use plan­ning doc­u­ments, issues of inter-munic­i­pal plan­ning, sub­di­vi­sion and con­do­mini­um approvals, effec­tive and enforce­able devel­op­ment agree­ments, envi­ron­men­tal con­sid­er­a­tions in land use and plan­ning, enforce­ment of land use bylaws, and devel­op­ment per­mits will also be explored. Valu­able insights will be learned about sub­di­vi­sion and devel­op­ment appeals, and in mak­ing pre­sen­ta­tions before Coun­cils and oth­er plan­ning and devel­op­ment authorities.
Course at a glance
  • Offered fully online learning - asynchronous or synchronous format.
  • May be recognized for Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) credits by the Alberta Professional Planners Institute (APPI) for holders of the Registered Professional Planner designation.
  • Aimed at professionals in the areas of municipal government planning, development, and bylaw enforcement. Students range from development officers, planning technicians, land use, environmental, and community planners, to resources managers, government officials, consultants, developers, lawyers, zoning administrators, administrators in smaller municipalities, and others involved in planning processes.
What you will learn

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

  • Consider and identify recent developments in regional planning in Alberta.
  • Understand the bylaw adoption and amendment process.
  • Understand the four types of statutory plans.
  • Illustrate intermunicipal dispute decisions of the Land and Property Rights Tribunal (formerly the Municipal Government Board).
  • Review a case example of an intermunicipal plan.
  • Understand the function of the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.
  • Identify preliminary matters for a Subdivision and Development Appeal Board hearing.
  • Review the procedures of an appeal hearing.
  • Identify and understand the principles of fairness and natural justice that apply to tribunal decisions.
  • Consider the role of the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) in municipal planning.
  • Identify methods of improving a LUB.
  • Explore enforcement options.
  • Identify common provisions of Development Agreements.
  • Understand the basis and authority for Development Agreements.
  • Describe advantages and disadvantages to various types of development agreement provisions.
  • Understand the basics of security.
  • Understand the mechanics of finalizing the development agreement, including execution, release of consent/approval and registration.
  • Review issues with regard to subdivision and development of environmentally sensitive and/or defected lands.
  • Identify tools available for planning for, managing risks with and protecting environmentally sensitive and defected lands;
  • Identify the types of condominiums that can be encountered.
  • Understand the structure and governance of condominiums.
  • Introduce and identify the legislation applicable to condominium developments.
  • Identify and understand the special aspects of condominiums, including the special documentation that governs condominiums and the impacts that these have on planning and development.
  • Understand the basis and authority for dealing with condominium developments.
  • Understand the additional tools and procedures that condominium developments require.
  • Review issues with regard to subdivision and development of environmentally sensitive and/or defected lands.
  • Identify tools available for planning for, managing risks with and protecting environmentally sensitive and defected lands.

This course has no prerequisites

Students from all educational backgrounds welcome. You can register for this course without applying and enrolling in a program.

Take note:

  • For the synchronous format offering - In between the course dates, there will be an online midterm exam/assignment and after the last in-class dates, there will be an online final exam. 
  • The online components of this course are facilitated through eClass, the University of Alberta’s eLearning management tool.
  • Bursary opportunities may be available for members of the Alberta Development Officers Association (ADOA).
Currently counts towards:

Applicants intending to enrol in a program are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to lock in their course requirements since they are prone to change.

*If you are already enroled in this program, please refer to your specific program requirements as outlined at the time of your admission: Bear Tracks > Academic Advisement.

Email

alup@ualberta.ca

When will
this course be offered?

New course schedules are released each June and November.

Scheduled for Fall/Winter:

Info & Register