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Road Plan Cancellation

The Municipal Government Act (MGA - Section 24) gives Alberta municipalities the ability to, with the approval of the Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, close the whole or part of any road described in a surveyed road plan, if Council determines it is no longer required for use by the travelling public due to the existence of an alternate route.

Similarly to Land Use Bylaw amendments, undeveloped road allowance closures are Bylaws that provide a description of where a closure will occur, so that it may be registered with Alberta Land Titles and often, consolidated with an adjacent parcel (or parcels) of land.

Road closures are often pursued if the presence of an undeveloped road allowance will somehow impede a proposed development, or otherwise be of more value as private land than as a public thoroughfare.

Application - Road Closure

PDS 7005-02 Closure of Undeveloped Road Allowance

General Road Closure Procedure

Applicant submits completed application with applicable fee, specifying whether road subject of the closure is a road allowance or road plan (see detail below):

Road allowances constitute the “grid roads” set aside for road as part of the Alberta Township System of Survey (1 mile apart – east to west; 2 miles apart – south to north). Must be closed via bylaw.

Road Plans are anything outside this “grid” and may be closed via resolution.

A map with blue arrows and blue linesDescription automatically generated

County Council provides initial review of the application and either refused it (your application fee is refunded) or approves for administration to process the road closure in accordance with the MGA. You will be notified of Council’s initial decision.
If Council approves initial review, applicant hires an Alberta Land Surveyor to prepare the survey plan and description of road closure area.
County determines the Fair Market Value of land subject to the closure in consultation with the municipal assessor. County prepares a offer to purchase and sales agreement for signature by the purchaser(s).
County circulates the notice of application to internal departments, adjacent landowners, and referral agencies.

If the application is subject to a closure of a road plan:

If the application is subject to the closure of a road allowance:

Once the bylaw receives first reading, a notice of public hearing is scheduled and advertised in accordance with the MGA.
If objections are heard, Council must determine whether the objections are valid and whether they wish to continue in spite of the objections.
After the public hearing, County submits the proposed closure to Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (ATEC) for review and bylaw signed.
Second and third readings of bylaw are considered by County Council.
County sends the applicant a copy of the adopted bylaw, advising to have their surveyor complete the land transfer and consolidation at Alberta Land Titles.