Council for Big Lakes County is considering a proposed amendment to the Big Lakes County Land Use Bylaw No. 26-2024. The purpose of proposed Bylaw No. 12-2026 is to regulate the development, expansion, and operation of Agriculture (Intensive) operations to minimize potential negative impacts on adjacent land uses, ensure environmental protection, and maintain compatibility with surrounding development as follows:
- That Section 2.2 “Where a Development Permit is Not Required” be amended as follows:
(c) Farmsteads including the sowing and harvesting of crops, tillage of soil, fencing, or the raising of livestock defined as Agriculture (Extensive) in the AG, RI and UR Districts.
- That Section 3.4 Agriculture (AG) District be amended as follows:
Remove from Permitted Uses: “Agriculture (Intensive)”
Add to Discretionary Uses “Agriculture (Intensive)”
3. That Section 3.8 Crown Land (CL) District be amended as follows:
Remove from Permitted Uses: “Agriculture (Intensive)”
Add to Discretionary Uses “Agriculture (Intensive)”
4. That Section 3.18 Urban Reserve (UR) District be amended as follows:
Remove from Permitted Uses: “Agriculture (Intensive)”
Add to Discretionary Uses “Agriculture (Intensive)”
5. That Part 4: General Regulations be amended as follows:
Add:
Section 4.50 Agriculture (Intensive)
- Agriculture (Intensive) operations shall require a Development Permit from the Development Authority, unless exempt by section 2.2 of the Bylaw.
- Agriculture (Intensive) livestock operations shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Agricultural Operation Practices Act, Code of Practice.”
- It is the responsibility of the owner and operator of any Agriculture (Intensive) animal husbandry livestock operation use to ensure that all manure storage facilities are designed and constructed to avoid contamination of groundwater, prevent contaminated surface water from leaving the property, and reduce odor nuisance.
- Access to the Agriculture (Intensive) operation shall be from a road of a suitable standard to accommodate the anticipated traffic.
- The applicant must demonstrate an adequate and sustainable water supply that will not adversely affect existing licensed users.
- That Part 5: Definitions be amended as follows:
Add:
AGRICULTURE (EXTENSIVE): means the use of land for crop production or the raising of livestock in open fields, pasture, or rangeland, where animals primarily graze or feed naturally and are not confined at high densities. Extensive Agriculture includes typical farmstead buildings and facilities that support grazing and field-based farming. Extensive Agriculture does not include operations that meet the definition of Intensive Agriculture Operation under this Bylaw.
AGRICULTURE (INTENSIVE): means an agricultural operation involving the commercial production of livestock or crops at a high density or in a confined setting, including operations where animals are housed or fed within enclosed or restricted areas for extended periods, or where crop production occurs primarily within permanent structures. Intensive Agriculture Operation may include, but is not limited to small-scale confined livestock operations that do not meet the definition of a Confined Feeding Operation under the Agricultural Operation Practices Act, commercial poultry or hog barns below provincial approval thresholds, commercial greenhouses or controlled-environment crop production facilities, mushroom production facilities, or similar operations where agricultural production occurs primarily within buildings or confined areas. This use does not include Apiaries, or Cannabis Production and Distribution Facility.
Confined Feeding Operation (CFO) as defined by the Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA), means fenced or enclosed land or buildings where livestock are confined for the purpose of growing, sustaining, finishing, or breeding by means other than grazing, and any other building or structure directly related to that purpose but does not include residences, livestock seasonal feeding and bedding sites, equestrian stables, auction markets, racetrack or exhibition grounds that is subject to approval, registration, or authorization by the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) under AOPA exceeding provincial thresholds.
Copies of the proposed Land Use Bylaw Amendment may be examined by contacting the office of the County Administration Office between the hours of 8:15 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Any person, group of persons, or person representing them who claims to be affected by the proposed bylaw amendment may make an oral or written submission to Council for consideration. Written submissions must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 and must include the name of the signatories and how each signatory is affected by the subject matter of the public hearing.
The Public Hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Big Lakes County Administration Office at 5305 – 56 Street, High Prairie. Any person wishing to attend the public hearing electronically must register to do so through the County’s website, biglakescounty.ca, at least five (5) calendar days prior to the commencement of the public hearing. A link will be provided to registered attendees before commencement of the public hearing.
For more information contact the Big Lakes County Planning & Development Department.
