Municipal Government Act

Chapter M-26 · Current to 2026-05-14 · Official PDF

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1 Interpretation 2 Application of Act 2.1 Indian reserves

Part 1 — Purposes, Powers and Capacity of Municipalities

3 Municipal purposes 4 Corporation 5 Powers, duties and functions 6 Natural person powers

Part 2 — Bylaws Division 1 General Jurisdiction

7 General jurisdiction to pass bylaws 7.1 Face mask and proof of COVID-19 vaccination bylaws 8 Powers under bylaws 9 Guides to interpreting power to pass bylaws 10 Bylaw passing powers in other enactments 11 Relationship to natural person powers 12 Division 2 Scope of Bylaws Geographic area of bylaws 13 Relationship to Provincial law

Part 3 — Special Municipal Powers and Limits on Municipal Powers Division 1 Expropriation

14 Expropriation powers 15 Expropriating part of a parcel 16 Division 2 Roads Title to roads 16.1 Acquiring land for roads by agreement 17 Disposal of estate or interest in roads 18 Control of roads 19 Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve 20 Specialized municipalities 21 Land abutting roads 22 Road closure 23 Compensation 26 Temporary roads and rights of way 27 Leases 27.1 Forestry roads 27.2 Forestry road agreement 27.5 Unauthorized commercial or industrial use 27.6 Existing agreements 28 Division 3 Public Utilities General Definitions 28.1 Interpretation 29 Composition of system or works 30 Long-term supply agreements to public utilities 31 Regulation of gas supply obtained from direct sellers 32 Other authorizations and approvals 33 Municipal Public Utilities Prohibiting other public utilities 33.1 Exception 34 Duty to supply utility service 35 Parcels adjacent to roads and easements 36 Right of entry - main lines 37 Service connections - owner 38 Service connections - municipality 39 Restoration and costs 40 Buildings 41 Discontinue providing public utility 42 Liability for public utilities charges 43 Appeal 44 Dispute with other municipalities 44.1 Transfer of municipal public utility 45 Non-municipal Public Utilities Granting rights to provide utility service 45.01 Calculation of fees 45.1 Exception 46 Prohibiting other non-municipal public utilities 46.1 Exception 47 Renewals 50 Division 5 Business Improvement Areas Purpose 51 Board 52 Civil liability of board members 53 Regulations 54 Division 6 Miscellaneous Powers Providing services in other areas 55 Sharing taxes and grants 56 Civic holidays 57 Census 58 Road names 59 Hamlets 60 Bodies of water 61 Granting rights over property 62.1 Division 7 Revision and Consolidation of Bylaws Definitions 63 Revising bylaws 65 Requirements relating to revised bylaws 66 Effects of revised bylaws 67 References to repealed bylaws 69 Consolidation of bylaws 70 Division 8 Limits on Municipal Powers Disposal of land 70.1 Proposed national urban park plan 71 Mines and minerals 72 Acquisition of land outside municipal boundaries 74 Firearms 74.1 Firearms 75 Forest and Prairie Protection Act 75.1 Division 9 Controlled Corporations Control of corporations 75.2 Financial statements and other reports 75.3 Material change 75.4 Utility services provided by controlled corporation 75.5 Regulations

Part 4 — Formation, Fundamental Changes and Dissolution Division 1 General Criteria

76 Principles, standards and criteria 76.1 Division 2 Formation Definition of formation order 77 Types of municipality that may be formed 85 Initiating formation 87 Public input 87.1 Specialized municipality 88 Formation order 89 Contents of order 89.1 Summer village 90 Official administrator 90.1 Division 3 Change of Status Definition of order 91 Meaning of change of status 91.1 Summer village 93 Initiation of change of status 94 Public input 96 Change of status order 97 Contents of order 97.2 Effect of change of status 98 Division 4 Change of Name Change of name order 99 Effect of change of name 99.1 Division 5 Amalgamation Interpretation where 2 or more initiating municipal authorities 100 Application 101 Restriction on amalgamation 102 Initiation of amalgamation proceedings 103 Initiation by municipal authority 104 Direct negotiations 105 Report on negotiations 106 Disposition of report 107 Initiation by Minister 108 Notice by Minister 110 Amalgamation order 111 Contents of order 112 Official administrator 112.1 Division 6 Annexation Mediation 113 Application 114 Restriction on annexation 115 Annexations of same land 116 Initiation of annexation 117 Direct negotiations 118 Report on negotiations 119 Disposition of report 120 Notice of Tribunal's intent to recommend annexation 120.1 Where no objections filed 121 Where objections filed or no general agreement 122 Notice of hearing and costs 123 Tribunal's report 124 Contents of report 125 Annexation order 127 Contents of order 127.1 Public utilities 128 Annexation refused 128.1 Regulations 129 Division 7 Dissolution Application 130 Viability review 130.1 Completion of viability review 130.3 Further actions of Minister 130.4 Vote 130.5 Transitional - application of certain sections 133 Dissolution order 134 Tax 135 Division 8 General Provisions Effect of certain orders 136 Power to effectuate transfer of land and other property 137 Transitional and other matters 138 Retroactivity of orders 139 Orders published 140 Regulations Act 141 Location of boundaries

Part 4 — .1

141.1 City Charters Interpretation 141.2 Purpose of Part 141.3 Establishment of charter 141.4 Proposed charter must be published on website 141.5 Elements of charter 141.6 Charter prevails 141.7 Retroactive operation of charter 141.8 No effect on status of charter city 141.9 Existing rights and obligations not affected

Part 5 — Councils, Councillors and Council Committees Division 1 Councils and Council Committees

142 Councils as governing bodies 143 Number of councillors 144.1 Bylaws respecting maternity and parental leave for councillors 145 Bylaws - council and council committees 146 Composition of council committees 146.01 Division 1.01 Councillor Accountability Framework Definitions 146.011 Councillor accountability framework 146.02 Investigators 146.021 Complaints 146.03 Investigations 146.04 Obstruction of investigators 146.05 Preliminary review 146.06 Pecuniary interest report 146.07 Investigation report 146.08 Determination of contravention and sanctions 146.09 Appeals 147 Division 2 Elections, Appointments and Ward System Election of councillors 148 Division of municipality into wards 150 Election or appointment of chief elected official 151 Passing bylaw 152 Deputy and acting chief elected officials 153 Division 3 Duties, Titles and Oaths of Councillors General duties of councillors 154 General duties of chief elected official 155 Titles of chief elected official and other councillors 156 Taking of oath 157 Division 4 Term of Office Local Authorities Election Act 158 Extension of term 159 Appointed chief elected officials 160 Division 5 Vacancies and Quorum Positions unfilled at general election 161 Resignation 162 Vacancy in position of councillor 163 Chief elected official (elected) vacancy 164 Chief elected official (appointed) vacancy 165 Election day 166 Minister orders by-election 167 Quorum 168 No quorum 169 Division 6 Pecuniary Interest and Conflict of Interest of Councillors Definitions 170 Pecuniary interest and conflict of interest 171 Bylaw requiring statement of disclosure 172 Disclosure of pecuniary interest 172.1 Disclosure of conflict of interest or perceived conflict of interest 172.2 No review of councillor's decision 173 Effect of pecuniary interest on agreements 174 Division 7 Disqualification of Councillors Reasons for disqualification 175 Division 8 Enforcement of Disqualification Resignation on disqualification 175.1 Declaration of disqualification by council 176 Decision on disqualification application 177 Inadvertence or genuine error 178 Appeal 179 Reimbursement of costs and expenses 179.1 Division 8.1 Vote to Dismiss a Councillor Vote to dismiss a councillor 179.2 Regulations 180 Division 9 Council Proceedings Requirements for Valid Action Methods in which council may act 181 Requirements for valid bylaw or resolution 182 Voting Restriction to one vote per person 183 Requirement to vote and abstentions 184 Abstention from voting on matter discussed at public hearing 185 Recording of votes 185.1 Secret ballot 186 Tied vote 187 Passing a Bylaw Bylaw readings 188 Rescission of previous bylaw readings 189 Passing of bylaw 190 Coming into force 191 Amendment and repeal 192 Meetings Organizational meetings 193 Regular council meetings 194 Special council meetings 195 Council committee meetings 196 Notice of meeting 197 Public presence at meetings 198 Right of public to be present 199 Meetings by electronic means 200 Power to require taking of oath

Part 15 — .1 or a bylaw or resolution under Part 17, after a proposed bylaw or resolution that is required to be advertised under this or another enactment has been advertised, the electors may submit a petition for a vote of the electors to determine whe

232 Part of this Act or another enactment is not sufficient unless it is must either or Petitions for Vote of the Electors - New Bylaws Petition for bylaw 233 Council's duty on receiving certain petition 234 Petitions respecting public vote bylaws 235 Result of a vote on a question 236 Vote of the Electors - General Provisions Electors to vote on a question 237 Local Authorities Election Act 238 Delaying votes 239 One year moratorium on similar subject-matter 240 Amendments or repeal of bylaws or resolutions voted on by electors

Part 7 — .1

240.1 Recall Petitions Interpretation 240.2 Notice of recall petition 240.3 Recall petition time and sufficiency 240.4 Eligibility to sign a recall petition 240.5 Number of petitioners 240.6 Other requirements for a recall petition 240.7 Counting petitioners 240.8 Report on sufficiency of recall petition 240.9 Insufficient recall petition 240.91 Sufficient recall petition 240.92 Required return of recall petition and destruction of copies 240.93 Protection of personal information in petitions 240.94 Recall process regulations 240.941 Transitional 240.95 Recall Petition Finances and Advertising Regulations - recall petition finances and advertising 240.96 General Ministerial powers

Part 8 — Financial Administration

241 Definitions 242 Budgets Adoption of operating budget 243 Contents of operating budget 244 Financial shortfall 245 Adoption of capital budget 246 Contents of capital budget 247 Tax bylaws 248 Expenditure of money 248.1 Annual budget 249 Civil liability of councillors 250 Investments Authorized investments 251 Borrowing Borrowing bylaw 252 Debt limit 253 Use of borrowed money 254 Capital property 255 Exemption from borrowing conditions 256 Operating expenditures 257 Capital property - short-term borrowing 258 Capital property - long-term borrowing 259 Capital property - interim financing 260 Special works 261 Refinancing 262 Services or activities that are funded by agreement 263 Local improvements 264 Loans and Guarantees Purpose of loans and guarantees 265 Loan bylaws 266 Guarantee bylaw 268 Debt limit 268.1 Financial records and receipts 269 General Matters Financial year 270 Municipal accounts 271 Regulations 272 Seal and signatures 273 Validity of borrowings, loans and guarantees 274 Application of money borrowed 275 Civil liability of councillors 276 Annual Financial Statements and Auditor's Report Annual financial statements 277 Financial information return 278 Returns and reports to Minister 279 Financial statements for controlled corporations 280 Auditors 281 Auditor's reports 283 Access to information by auditors 283.1 Financial Plans and Capital Plans Required plans

Part 9 — Assessment of Property

284 Interpretation provisions for Parts 9 to 12 284.1 Provincial assessor 284.2 Municipal assessor 285 Division 1 Preparation of Assessments Preparing annual assessments 289 Assessments for property other than designated industrial property 290 Land to be assessed as a parcel 290.1 Assessment of condominium unit 290.2 Assessment of strata space 291 Rules for assessing improvements 292 Assessments for designated industrial property 293 Duties of assessors 294 Right to enter on and inspect property 295 Duty to provide information 295.1 Assessor not bound by information received 296 Court authorized inspection and enforcement 297 Assigning assessment classes to property 297.1 Transitional 298 Non-assessable property 299 Access to municipal assessment record 299.1 Access to provincial assessment record 299.2 Municipal access to provincial assessment record 300 Access to summary of municipal assessment 300.1 Access to summary of provincial assessment 301 Right to release assessment information 301.1 Relationship to Access to Information Act 302 Division 2 Assessment Roll Preparation of roll 303 Contents of roll 303.1 Contents of provincial assessment roll 304 Recording assessed persons 305 Correction of roll 305.1 Report to Minister 306 Severability of roll 307 Inspection of roll 308 Division 3 Assessment Notices Assessment notices 308.1 Notice of assessment date 309 Contents of assessment notice 310 Sending assessment notices 311 Publication of notice 312 Correction of notice 313 Division 4 Preparation of Supplementary Assessments Bylaw

Part 10 — in the same year. (2) A bylaw under subsection (1) must refer (a) to all improvements, or (b) to all designated manufactured homes in the municipality. (3) A supplementary assessment bylaw or any amendment to it applies to the year in which it i

314 Supplementary assessment

Part 10 — despite that the designated manufactured home will be taxed in that year by another municipality. (3) A supplementary assessment must reflect (a) the value of an improvement that has not been previously assessed, or (b) the increase in the value

314.1 Supplementary assessment re designated industrial property 315 Supplementary assessment roll 316 Supplementary assessment notices 316.1 Contents of supplementary assessment notice 317 Division 5 Equalized Assessments Definition 317.1 Supplementary assessments 318 Preparation of equalized assessments 319 Duty to provide information 320 Sending equalized assessments to municipalities 321 Appeal of equalized assessment 322 General Powers of the Minister Relating to Assessments and Equalized Assessments Regulations 322.1 Validation of Minister's Guidelines 323 Minister's power to prepare assessments 324 Minister's power to quash assessments 325 Minister's power to alter an equalized assessment 325.1 Continuous bylaws - assessment

Part 10 — Taxation Division 1 General Provisions

326 Definitions 327 Tax roll 328 Duty to provide information 329 Contents of tax roll 330 Correction of roll 331 Person liable to pay taxes 332 Taxes imposed on January 1 333 Tax notices 333.1 Tax agreements 334 Contents of tax notice 335 Sending tax notices 336 Certification of date of sending tax notice 337 Deemed receipt of tax notice 338 Correction of tax notice 339 Incentives 340 Instalments 341 Deemed receipt of tax payment 342 Receipt for payment of taxes 343 Application of tax payment 344 Penalty for non-payment in current year 345 Penalty for non-payment in other years 346 Penalties 347 Cancellation, reduction, refund or deferral of taxes 348 Tax becomes debt to municipality 348.1 Special priority lien for tax debt on linear property or machinery and equipment 349 Fire insurance proceeds 350 Tax certificates 351 Non-taxable property 352 Limitation on time for starting proceedings 353 Division 2 Property Tax Property tax bylaw 354 Tax rates 355 Calculating tax rates 356 Calculating amount of tax 357 Special provision of property tax bylaw 357.1 Tax rate for residential property 358.1 Maximum tax ratio 359 Requisitions 359.1 Alberta School Foundation Fund requisitions 359.2 School board requisitions 359.3 Designated industrial property assessment requisitions 359.4 Cancellation, reduction, refund or deferral of taxes 360 Tax agreement 361 Exemptions based on use of property 362 Exemptions for Government, churches and other bodies 362.1 Electric energy generation systems exemptions 363 Exempt property that can be made taxable 364 Exemptions granted by bylaw 364.1 Brownfield tax incentives 364.2 Tax incentives for property 364.3 Judicial review of decision under section 364.2 365 Licensed premises 366 Grants in place of taxes 367 Property that is partly exempt and partly taxable 368 Changes in taxable status of property 369 Supplementary property tax bylaw 369.1 Continuous tax bylaws - tax 370 Regulations 371 Division 3 Business Tax Business tax bylaw 372 Taxable business 373 Person liable to pay business tax 374 Contents of business tax bylaw 374.1 Assessment not required 375 Exempt businesses 376 Exemption when tax is payable under Division 2 377 Business tax rate bylaw 378 Calculating amount of tax 379 Supplementary business tax bylaw 380 Grants in place of taxes 381 Division 4 Business Improvement Area Tax Regulations 381.1 Division 4.1 Community Revitalization Levy Definitions 381.2 Community revitalization levy bylaw 381.3 Person liable to pay levy 381.4 Incremental assessed value not subject to equalized assessment or requisition 381.5 Regulations 382 Division 5 Special Tax Special tax bylaw 383 Taxable property 384 Contents of special tax bylaw 385 Condition 386 Use of revenue 387 Person liable to pay special tax 388 Division 6 Well Drilling Equipment Tax Well drilling equipment tax bylaw 389 Person liable to pay the tax 390 Calculation of the tax 390.1 Division 6.1 Clean Energy Improvement Tax Interpretation 390.2 Eligibility of properties for clean energy improvements 390.3 Clean energy improvement tax bylaw 390.4 Clean energy improvement agreement 390.5 Person liable to pay clean energy improvement tax 390.6 Paying off a clean energy improvement tax 390.7 Refinancing of debt by council 390.8 Petitions 390.9 Regulations 391 Division 7 Local Improvement Tax Definition 392 Petitioning rules

Part 9 — are not to be counted in determining the sufficiency of a petition under subsection (2), and the council must comply with the notice. (5) If a corporation, church, organization, estate or other entity is entitled to sign a petition under this Div

393 Proposal of local improvement 394 Local improvement plan 395 Contents of plan 396 Procedure after plan is prepared 397 Local improvement tax bylaw 398 Contents of bylaw 399 Start-up of a local improvement 400 Person liable to pay local improvement tax

Part 18 — 709 Repealed by Revision. 710(1) The Minister may make regulations (a) respecting the conversion t o this Act of anything from the former Acts or from any other Act repealed by this Act; (b) to deal with any difficulty or impossibility resultin