Site Plans in Rural Alberta: What They Are, Why Counties Require Them, and What Must Be On Yours

You've got your building plans ready, your contractor is lined up, and you're eager to break ground. Then the county asks for a site plan, and you're not entirely sure what that is or why it matters.

This is one of the most common questions we hear from property owners across rural Alberta. A site plan might seem like a simple sketch, but it's actually one of the most important documents in your permit application package. Counties use it to verify everything from property lines and building locations to setbacks, easements, and environmental features.

This guide explains what a site plan is, why counties require it, and exactly what needs to be on yours, so your permit application moves through the review process as quickly as possible.

What Is a Site Plan?

A site plan is a bird's-eye view drawing of your entire property that shows where everything is located and where everything is going .

Think of it as a map of your land. It shows your property lines, existing buildings, proposed new structures, driveways, utilities, and any other features the county needs to evaluate.

A site plan is not the same as a floor plan. A floor plan shows the interior layout of a building. A site plan shows your entire property from above, indicating where buildings are located in relation to property lines, roads, and other features.

Why Do Counties Require a Site Plan?

Counties need a site plan to verify that your project complies with their Land Use Bylaw and other regulations.

A site plan answers several critical questions:

Where exactly is your building going? The site plan shows the exact location of your proposed structure relative to property lines, roads, and other features.

Are you respecting setback requirements? Setback distances are clearly shown on the site plan. In fact, Rocky View County specifically identifies "site plans lacking setbacks, dimensions, grades, or building locations" as a common application issue during their pre-screen review.

Are you building over any utilities or easements? The site plan shows utility right-of-ways and easements so the county can confirm you're not building where you shouldn't.

Is access and parking adequate? The county reviews driveways, parking areas, and access points to ensure safety and compliance.

What's the environmental impact? The site plan helps the county assess drainage, slope stability, and proximity to water bodies.

Without a clear, accurate site plan, the county can't properly review your application, and your permit will be delayed or rejected.

What Must a Site Plan Show?

This is the most common question, and the most common source of incomplete applications. Site plan requirements vary slightly by county, but most rural Alberta municipalities require the same core elements.

Here's what your site plan must include:

Basic Information

Element	Why It's Required
North arrow	Orients the plan so the county can understand directions and exposures
Scale	So distances can be measured accurately. Measurements must be in metres or feet
Date of drawing	Shows when the plan was prepared
Legal description	The official property description (e.g., SW-17-71-8-W6)
Municipal address	Identifies the property location

[Source: Parkland County checklist; Red Deer County requirements]

Property and Boundaries

Element	Why It's Required
Property lines	Defines the legal boundaries of your land
Property dimensions	Shows the size of your property
Property boundaries of the entire parcel	The county needs to see the full property, not just the building site

[Source: Red Deer County; Mountain View County]

Setback Distances

Element	Why It's Required
Front yard setback	Distance from the front property line to the building
Rear yard setback	Distance from the rear property line to the building
Side yard setbacks	Distance from each side property line to the building
Distances between buildings	Separation between existing and proposed structures

Setback requirements vary by county and land use district. For example, Foothills County requires a 15.0 metre setback from property lines for Country Residential properties and 48.0 metres from the centreline of a Municipal Road . Wheatland County requires a development permit for all structures over 100 square feet.

[Sources: Foothills County; Red Deer County; Parkland County; Wheatland County]

Existing and Proposed Buildings

Element	Why It's Required
Existing buildings and structures	Shows what's already on the property
Proposed buildings and structures	Shows what you're planning to build
Building footprints and dimensions	The size and shape of each building

The county needs to see both existing and proposed structures to understand the full picture of your property.

Utilities and Easements

Element	Why It's Required
Easements and rights-of-way	Utility lines, gas lines, power lines, drainage ditches
Existing and proposed access	Driveways and road approaches
Water well location	Where your water supply is or will be located
Private sewage system location	Septic tank and treatment field

Building over an easement or utility right-of-way is a major issue that can stop your project. The site plan helps the county verify you're building in the right place.

For private sewage systems, Strathcona County requires the site plan to show the proposed location of system components, distances to property lines, water sources, and existing buildings.

Environmental and Site Features

Element	Why It's Required
Water bodies	Lakes, ponds, streams, dugouts, sloughs
Wetlands	Protected wetland areas
Steep slopes	Slopes over 15% often trigger additional requirements
Treed areas and shelterbelts	Bush, treelines, shelterbelts
Drainage courses	Natural and man-made water flow areas
Abandoned oil and gas wells	Must be shown with setback distances if present

Red Deer County requires that "all site plans must indicate abandoned pipelines and oil and gas wells if they exist on the subject property as well as the required setback distances".

Roads and Access

Element	Why It's Required
Abutting roads	Roads adjacent to your property
Road allowances	The road right-of-way
Access to your property	Where you'll enter and exit

County-Specific Requirements

While the core elements are consistent across rural Alberta, each county has specific site plan requirements. Here are some examples:

Rocky View County

Rocky View County identifies "site plans lacking setbacks, dimensions, grades, or building locations" as a common issue during pre-screen review . Getting these elements right is critical to moving your application forward.

Red Deer County

Red Deer County has detailed site plan requirements :

• If your property is in a commercial, industrial, or multi-lot subdivision, the site plan must be prepared by a licensed surveyor

• For residential multi-lot subdivisions, a professional drawing is recommended, but a hand-drawn plan may be accepted if based on a Real Property Report

• For Agricultural zoned parcels, a hand-drawn site plan may be accepted as long as it shows all quarter section property boundaries

• All measurements must be in metres or feet (centimetres are not accepted)

  
  

Parkland County

Parkland County requires site plans for all development applications. Their checklist specifies that site plans must be drawn to scale, show the entire parcel, and include the legal description, property lines, existing and proposed buildings with front, rear, and side yard setbacks, drainage courses, rights-of-way, easements, roads, and access points.

Kneehill County

Kneehill County's Development Permit Checklist requires a "fully dimensioned site plan" showing the legal description, front, rear, and side yard setbacks, off-street parking, access and egress, water well location, type and location of sewage system, and proximity of oil and gas wells.

Mountain View County

Mountain View County specifies that site plans must include the location, dimensions, and boundaries of the entire property, existing buildings and structures (with distances from property lines), proposed and existing roadways and access, wells and septic systems, natural features like steep slopes, water bodies, woodlots, and man-made features like drainage ditches.

Vulcan County

Vulcan County requires a "site plan drawing indicating where on the property you will be locating your development with all setbacks clearly labeled" as one of the first items for a Development Permit application.

Common Site Plan Mistakes That Delay Applications

Missing or incomplete setback dimensions: This is the most common issue. All setbacks must be clearly shown and labelled.

Property boundaries not clearly defined: The county needs to see all property lines and dimensions.

Existing structures not shown: Forgetting to show an existing barn, shed, or well can result in an incomplete application.

Easements and utilities missing: Building over a gas line, power line, or drainage easement is a serious problem.

Environmental features not included: A lake, pond, steep slope, or treeline can affect where you can build.

Incorrect scale or missing north arrow: The county needs to understand orientation and distances.

Private Sewage Systems on Your Site Plan

If your property uses a septic system or holding tank, your site plan must show specific details :

• Proposed location of the system components

• Distances to property lines

• Distances to water sources, water wells, and water bodies

• Locations and dimensions of wetlands, water courses, ponds, streams, and dugouts

• Existing buildings and structures on the property

• Dimensions of the property and proposed system components

• Other features of the property (like treed areas)

• Easements and utility rights-of-way

Strathcona County notes that private sewage system requirements should be assessed alongside any on-site development, including the construction of a new building, the expansion or alteration of a building, or any change that could impact water usage and wastewater disposal.

Can County Permits Help With Your Site Plan?

Yes. Kristy and the County Permits team can help you understand exactly what your site plan needs to include for your specific county and project type. We'll review your site plan against county requirements and identify any missing elements before you submit.

If you don't have a site plan, we can help you coordinate with a surveyor or designer to get one prepared.

FAQs

Q: Do I need a professional to prepare my site plan?

A: Not necessarily. Many counties accept site plans prepared by property owners, as long as they are accurate, scaled, and include all required elements. However, Red Deer County requires professional site plans for commercial, industrial, or multi-lot subdivisions.

Q: What scale should I use for a site plan?

A: Most counties prefer metric scale drawings, typically 1:200 or 1:500. Measurements must be in metres or feet.

Q: What's the difference between a site plan and a floor plan?

A: A site plan shows your entire property from above, indicating where buildings are located on your land. A floor plan shows the interior layout of a building.

Q: Do I need a site plan for a farm building?

A: Yes. Farm buildings—including barns, shops, and equipment sheds—typically require a site plan showing the building location, setbacks, and other features . Wheatland County confirms that agricultural buildings are required to obtain a development permit.

Q: What if my site plan doesn't show everything?

A: Incomplete site plans are a common reason for permit applications being returned . The county will request the missing information, and the clock stops until you provide it.

Final Takeaway

A site plan is more than just a drawing, it's a critical document that tells the county everything they need to know about your property and your project. A complete, accurate site plan helps your application move through the review process quickly. An incomplete, inaccurate, or missing site plan will slow everything down.

Make sure your site plan includes property lines, setback dimensions, existing and proposed buildings, utilities, environmental features, and all other required details. Check with your specific county for their exact requirements.

And if you're not sure where to start, County Permits can help you get it right the first time.