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Animals in Residential Districts
The results are in from our recent community consultation about animals in residential districts! Council carefully considered the community consultation results during the Council meeting on February 13, 2025.
After reviewing the feedback received Council gave First Reading to the draft Land Use Bylaw changes, and held a PUBLIC HEARING to hear your input on the proposed updates to the regulations for animals in our residential areas.
Update: Following the March 13, 2025 Public Hearing, Council did not make any decisions regarding the proposed bylaw. It is expected Council will discuss consideration of the bylaw at an upcoming Council meeting.
The draft changes aims to strike a balance between community desires and responsible animal management, to encourage a harmonious coexistence between residents and their furry, feathered, and buzzing companions.
The key Land Use Bylaw updates include:
Livestock Regulations
- Expanding the current regulations in the Country Residential ‘R-CR’ District to consider animal type and lot size in the total allowable livestock units, using a ratio of animals to space.
- Lots over 3 acres in size can have slightly more animals than previous, based on the appropriate ratio of animals:acres.
- Lots less than 3 acres in size can now have livestock, at the appropriate ratio of animals:acres.
- Including regulations on premise identification, livestock structures, manure management, and deadstock disposal.
- This aims to respect rural lifestyles while ensuring environmental and neighborly harmony.
Chickens and Other Poultry Regulations
- Expanding the current regulations in the Country Residential ‘R-CR’ District to allow the currently allowed 12 poultry in addition to livestock.
- Introducing regulations in all other residential districts to allow up to 6 poultry, similar to urban hen programs.
- In all residential districts, including regulations on premise identification, biosecurity, coop requirements, waste management, and deadstock disposal. The intent of these regulations is to provide best management practices to protect the health of poultry flocks by preventing the transmission of disease.
- In all residential districts, restrict roosters for noise control.
- This aims to encourage personal food production while mitigating potential nuisances.
Beekeeping Regulations
- Clarifying the current regulations in the Country Residential ‘R-CR’ District to allow a maximum of 2 beehives or apiaries per property.
- Introducing regulations in all other residential districts to allow a maximum of 1 beehive or apiary per property.
- In all residential districts, establishing clear regulations on maximum beehive numbers, beehive placement, premise identification, and management to ensure safety and biosecurity.
- In the regulations, highlight the required registration of beekeepers with the Province.
- This will help balance the benefits of beekeeping with public safety concerns.
The draft bylaw that Council gave First Reading to on February 13, 2025 is attached below.
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2024 Community Consultation |
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A public meeting was held by Lacombe County at the County office on November 14, 2024, with a total of 60 attendees. A survey was held for a two-week period following the public meeting, and saw a total of 167 survey responses. Highlights of the survey are below. To read the full results of the community consultation, please see the attachment – What We Heard Report.
A Public Hearing was held on March 13, 2025, which saw 26 attendees. During the Public Hearing, 8 written submissions were provided to Council, and 4 people spoke to Council verbally during the meeting. To read the written submissions or see the presentation to Council, please see the attachments – Public Hearing Submissions and Public Hearing Presentation.
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| What is a residential district? |
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A residential district refers to an area zoned for residential purposes, where the primary land use is residential housing. Residential communities in Lacombe County include hamlets, residential lakeshore subdivisions, or country residential subdivisions.
This survey does NOT apply to the agricultural district, commercial districts, industrial districts or recreation districts (does not apply to Recreational Vehicle Resort ‘R-RVR’ District communities, like Sandy Point RV Resort or Degraff’s RV Resort). |
| What are the current regulations? |
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COUNTRY RESIDENTIAL 'R-CR' DISTRICT
COUNTRY RESIDENTIAL ESTATE 'R-CRE' DISTRICT
ALL OTHER RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS (INC. HAMLETS)
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| What is the consultation process? |
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Attachments |
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Contact us
We recognize that planning policy can at times be complicated, and we are happy to provide any clarification that is required.If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact Planning Services. You can reach Cajun Paradis, Senior Planner at 403-782-8389 or email Cajun.
