Development Annual Report

The MD issued 51 permits in 2025 up from 46 permits in 2024 and 35 permits in 2023. Developments totaled $8,977,384 in 2025, down from $35,808,530 in 2024 and $308,489,803 in 2023. Values in 2024 and 2025 are greatly attributed to commercial alternate energy projects whereas the vast majority in 2025 were accessory building developments and small scale individual solar arrays.   Comparatively, in the last 5 years, development permits have averaged 47 per year valuing $86,533,676.

The 2025 development permits included 28 buildings and uses accessory to permitted or discretionary uses valued at $4,743,861. This accounts for 53% of the annual development value and included 20 shops and 6 garages. There were 16 permits issued for dwellings which included 8 manufactured homes. Five permits were issued for Individual Alternate Energy Systems. These were all private ground-mounted solar arrays. One permit was issued for a Home Occupation which is defined as any business, occupation, trade, profession, or craft carried on by an occupant of a dwelling as a use secondary to the residential use of the parcel, and which does not significantly change the character thereof. A home occupation may include business conducted within accessory buildings developed on the parcel. Of note, in the Agriculture Land Use District, a permit was issued for a greenhouse and another for a rural commercial use.

The adoption of the Municipal Development Plan No. 1694 and Land Use Bylaw No. 1695 on June 20, 2023 introduced the requirement of development permits for demolition where offsite removal of a structure (for which a development permit would have been required for erection) occurs. In 2025, 4 development permits were issued for demolitions.

Eleven subdivision applications were received in 2025 down slightly from 12 last year. Ten applications were approved meaning that a decision was issued but the subdivisions are not yet realized. Applicants are working to meet the conditions required and, upon completion, the subdivisions shall be endorsed for registration.  A further subdivision application received in 2024 was approved in 2025. The five-year average for subdivision applications is 12 per year with 10 approvals per annum.

Developments may also include a change of use of land or a building, or an activity undertaken in relation to land or a building that results in, or is likely to result in, such a change. Developments may further include a change in the intensity of use of land or a building, or an activity undertaken in relation to land or a building that results in, or is likely to result in, a change in the intensity. In these circumstances, it is likely that a development permit is required.

Should you have any questions regarding development, please contact our office at 780-842-4454.  Development permit, demolition permit, and subdivision applications can be picked up at the MD Administration office or downloaded from our website at www.mdwainwright.ca.

Respectfully submitted,
Dana Smith
Director of Development Services