How Our Town Grows

• In 1998, the Town of Okotoks adopted the Legacy Plan, a Municipal Development Plan that capped population growth at approximately 30,000 residents.
• The cap was tied directly to water supply. 

• Okotoks relied solely on the Sheep River, and without a regional water system, the town could not sustainably exceed the 30,000–32,000 population range.

   

By the mid‑to‑late 2000s:

• Okotoks was experiencing increasing regional growth pressure from the Calgary metropolitan area.
• Questions arose about whether a strict population cap could:
  • Constrain economic development
  • Push growth just outside municipal boundaries
  • Limit long‑term fiscal sustainability

As a result, Council initiated further public engagement to reassess growth policy.

Learn more: 

• Growth survey to be held along with spring census, Western Wheel
• Series of articles published by Council to the community in 2008/2009 which provided a full public participation process on growth

Rather than a binding plebiscite, the Town conducted a formal community household survey in 2009, distributed town‑wide and statistically robust:

• Public consultation method: Community Household Survey
• Responses analyzed: 2,976 completed surveys
• Purpose: Gauge resident support for retaining or removing the population cap

Survey results showed:

• 55.9% supported keeping the 30,000 population cap
• 25.2% supported growth to approximately 45,000
• 15.9% supported growth up to 60,000
• A clear majority continued to prioritize water security and community scale over expansion

Learn more: 

• 2009 Community Household Survey Report
• Growth survey to be held along with spring census

• Based on the survey results, Town Council voted in 2009 to retain the population cap.
• Council also directed administration to:
  • Work collaboratively with the MD of Foothills on a growth management strategy
  • Leave the door open to future growth, but only if additional, secure water sources could be identified
• This decision reaffirmed Okotoks’ long‑standing sustainability‑first approach at that time.

Why This Decision Matters

The 2009 vote and survey are significant because they:

• Represent the last clear majority expression of public support for the growth cap
• Form the policy baseline referenced in later debates (2011–2012)
• Demonstrate that the eventual 2012 removal of the cap occurred despite earlier public opposition, following changing regional, infrastructure, and governance considerations

Learn more: 

• Not Everyone On Board With Okotoks Growth Plans, High River Online
• Okotoks eliminates population cap, Global News

Council adopts a resolution to remove the population cap and adopts a managed-growth approach. The 2012 vote ended the Town’s long‑standing 30,000‑person population cap, originally created in 1998 due to water‑supply limits from the Sheep River.

• Okotoks Town Council met on September 24, 2012 to decide whether to keep or remove the population‑growth cap that had shaped local planning for 14 years. 
• The cap, set in 1998, limited the town to 30,000 residents as part of a sustainability strategy tied to the Sheep River’s water capacity, which could support roughly 32,000 people.
• By 2011, Okotoks had already reached 24,962 residents, and growth pressures were mounting. Councillors debated whether the cap was still viable or whether it was restricting economic and community development.

The Vote

• Council voted 5–2 to eliminate the population cap, citing increased regional growth pressure and infrastructure planning needs. 
• Supporters argued that:
  • The cap was limiting new opportunities for the town.
  • Okotoks needed to plan for long‑term land supply, including annexation, to manage growth responsibly.
  • A “caretaker council” maintaining the status quo would harm the town’s future.
• Opponents warned that removing the cap could bring “big city problems” and undermine the small‑town character residents valued.
• This decision reversed the 2009 outcome and remains contentious in community memory.

Removing the population cap was not simply about allowing more people to move to Okotoks. It represented a shift from a fixed population limit based on environmental carrying capacity to a managed-growth model that recognized regional growth realities while retaining the community's commitment to sustainability. The challenge since 2012 has been balancing continued growth with water availability, infrastructure capacity, fiscal sustainability and the community character that originally inspired the Sustainable Okotoks model. 

Ending the population cap opened the door to:

• Annexation of land from the M.D. of Foothills to support 10–30 years of growth.
• Long‑term planning for infrastructure, housing, and economic development.
• A shift from a strict sustainability‑driven model to a managed‑growth model.

The 2017 annexation was not intended to facilitate immediate development across all annexed lands. Rather, it secured sufficient land for future generations of residents and businesses while allowing the Town to plan infrastructure, transportation networks, utilities, schools, parks and employment areas in a coordinated manner. Town documents describe the annexation as providing approximately 60 years of growth capacity, enabling Okotoks to maintain local control over how and where growth occurs.

This provincial plan guides how land and resources are managed across southern Alberta. It sets big-picture goals like protecting water, coordinating infrastructure (such as major roads and utilities) and supporting healthy communities. Okotoks must align its local plans with the SSRP, making sure our growth fits within the region’s overall vision and helps support shared priorities.

View the plan

Okotoks and Foothills County share a border, and the IDP is a joint long-term plan that guides how land near that boundary will be managed. It outlines future land uses, road connections, and services to ensure development on both sides fits together. The IDP supports a cooperative relationship with our neighbors and helps prevent land use conflicts (for example, mismatched uses like industry next to homes) by aligning how both municipalities plan and grow along shared edges.

View the IDP

The MDP is Okotoks’ main long-term plan that guides how the town will grow. It lays out where future homes, businesses, roads and green spaces will go, and sets the overall vision for development. Required by provincial law, all other local plans and decisions must follow it. The MDP helps residents and developers understand where the community is heading and what values are shaping that future.

View the MDP

The Growth Strategy is a detailed plan that shows how to put the MDP’s vision into action. It outlines how, when and where Okotoks should grow based on population forecasts and community priorities. By identifying which areas to develop next and what services will be needed, it helps phase growth in a thoughtful, managed and efficient way. This plan ensures new development reflects the Town’s identity and values such as protecting natural areas, supporting the local economy and building strong, connected communities.

View the Okotoks Growth Strategy

Master Plans focus on specific services like roads, parks, and utilities to support the bigger vision set out in the Municipal Development Plan. For example, the Recreation, Parks and Leisure Master Plan identifies where new parks and facilities will go. These plans help make sure the town’s services grow in step with the community.

View the Master Plans

ASPs and NASPs are detailed plans that guide how specific areas of town will be developed. An ASP covers a large area and outlines things like land use, road networks, and how development will be phased. A NASP zooms in within that ASP and shows the layout of streets, parks, housing types, and school sites.

In some cases, a NASP may focus entirely on commercial or employment development rather than housing. For commercial-only NASPs, the plan outlines the types of businesses and employment uses, internal road and access connections, servicing, landscaping and design standards, rather than residential lots or schools.

Together, these plans ensure new communities and commercial areas are well-designed and align with the Town’s overall vision, bridging the gap between big-picture planning and on-the-ground development.

View the Plans
 

The Land Use Bylaw (LUB) is a planning tool that regulates development within the town and implements the principles and policies of the Okotoks Municipal Development Plan. It divides the town into districts that direct where residential, commercial, industrial and institutional development may occur and how it may be developed. Every home or business owner is impacted by the Land Use Bylaw. Whether you are trying to determine how high your fence can be or if you can build a shopping centre next door, the Land Use Bylaw is the place to look.

Land Use Bylaw

Interactive Map

The map below displays land use designations in Okotoks and provides coloured areas that identify each region's land use. Click the button below to view in a full browser window.

LUB interactive map

Before development can begin, land often needs to be rezoned to match approved plans. Okotoks’ Land Use Bylaw sets out what can be built in each zone, whether that’s homes, shops, or other uses and includes rules like building height and lot size. Everyone is affected by this bylaw in some way. 

When a new development is proposed on former farmland, the Town may need to change its zoning through a public process that includes opportunities for residents to learn about the proposal and provide input. Town Council makes the final decision to ensure the new use(s) fits the community’s plans and values.
 

In Okotoks, development can only happen if there’s enough water to support it. The Town uses a Water Allocation Policy to manage how much water is available for new projects, making sure growth stays within our limits. This helps protect the environment and ensures water service remains reliable and sustainable for everyone.

View the Water Allocation Policy

Learn more about available capacity to service new development lands in Okotoks on our water allocation system page.

After zoning is in place, land can be subdivided into smaller lots. This legal process includes creating a detailed plan showing lot lines, roads, parks, utilities, and stormwater areas (such as ponds and drainage systems). Town staff and other agencies review the plan to make sure it meets all requirements. 

Once approved, the developer must complete conditions like building roads or setting aside park space. The final step is registering the plan with Land Titles, which legally creates the lots that can be sold or built on.

The off-site levy is a fee paid by developers to help fund the infrastructure that makes new growth possible. It pays for things like water, wastewater, stormwater systems and major roads that serve more than one development. This ensures new neighbourhoods cover their fair share of the cost, protecting existing residents and helping the Town build the services needed to support growth responsibly. It is how we pay for growth while maintaining service quality and community character.

Learn more about off-site levies.

Before any buildings go up, land must be equipped with infrastructure like water, sewer, roads, and sidewalks. Developers handle this work under a Servicing Agreement with the Town, which ensures everything is built to local standards and at the developer’s cost. Once the agreement is signed and plans are approved, construction can begin. This is the stage where you’ll see crews installing pipes and roads, turning raw land into a site ready for homes or businesses.

A development permit is the Town’s approval for what you can build and where. It’s different from a building permit, which focuses on how something is built. If a proposal follows the zoning rules in the Land Use Bylaw, it can usually move ahead. If not, changes may be needed or a variance requested. Some applications also involve public notice and allow for appeals. Most projects require a development permit before construction can occur; however, some projects may be allowed to move ahead without one when they meet all zoning rules.

Learn more about development permits.

A building permit ensures your construction plans meet Alberta’s safety codes. Town staff review detailed construction drawings for things like structure, plumbing and electrical to confirm everything is safe and up to standard. Once approved, the permit allows construction to begin. Inspectors check the work at key stages, and issues they identify must be fixed. Final approval is only given once all inspections are passed and the building is safe to occupy.

Learn more about building and renovation permits.

After a building is complete, the land around it must be properly sloped to direct water away from the home. Good grading helps prevent flooding and drainage issues between properties. For new homeowners, grading is a required step that must be completed within the first year. It’s a simple but essential part of protecting your home and your neighbours from water damage.

The Town has a Grading and Landscaping Bylaw to support water conservation and sustainable yard development. View the bylaw below or visit our building and renovations page for more information on landscaping requirements, including common questions.

View the Grading & Landscaping Bylaw