Land Use Planning and Development in Jasper 

A Brief History of the Municipality of Jasper 

The Municipality of Jasper was created in 2001 through an agreement between the Government of Canada and the Jasper Town Committee, and an Order in Council by the Government of Alberta.  

The Municipality exists as a Park Community, as defined within the Canada National Parks Act (CNPA), and as a Specialized Municipality, as defined within the Municipal Government Act of Alberta (MGA).  

Unlike other communities in Alberta, the Municipality of Jasper does not have planning and development authority (MGA, Part 17). Parks Canada currently makes these decisions for the Jasper townsite. Efforts are underway, however, to transfer this authority to the Municipality.  

Transfer of Authority 

The Municipality of Jasper and Parks Canada are working together to facilitate the transfer of land use planning and development authority from Parks Canada to the Municipality of Jasper. 

Land use planning and development is how communities decide where homes, public uses, parks, roads, and businesses should be built. Development rules provide direction for what buildings and surrounding spaces should look like. Land use planning helps create safe, sustainable, and vibrant communities.   

The proposed shift means that land use planning and development decisions will be made at the local level by an elected municipal council, rather than Parks Canada. 

Urban Design and Standards Department 

In April 2024, Council created a new Urban Design and Standards (UDS) Department, and the first director was hired on August 1, 2024. Two permanent town planners were hired over the following months. Two temporary town planners were also hired, with the support of disaster funding, to help with wildfire recovery.  

The Urban Design and Standards Department has three units to help steer town planning and development as well as guide the transfer of authority: Development Planning; Energy and Environment; and Housing. 

Our Services 

Development Planning: Supporting development and rebuilding in Jasper  

Where to Start 

Parks Canada is the land use and development authority for the Jasper townsite. Start your building journey with the Parks Canada page on Applying for permits to build or renovate in the park. 

Rebuild Planning Advice and Support 

We’re here to answer your questions about rebuild! You can talk to a planner during a drop-in session or by booking an appointment. You can also contact us directly at muniapprovals@jasper-alberta.ca  

Planners from the Municipality of Jasper are working closely with our Parks Canada colleagues to support the rebuild of Jasper after the 2024 Jasper Wildfire.  

The Municipality's Rebuild page provides information for residents and contractors, including the Rebuilding Guide and Jasper Builders Guide. 

The Parks Canada Rebuild page provides additional information about rebuilding in Jasper. 

Development Utility Application 

The Municipality of Jasper is responsible for approving the design and location of your site servicing connections. Before applying to Parks Canada for a building permit, complete and submit the Municipality’s Development Utility Application. Once your site design is approved, the Municipality will issue you a Letter of Approval to include in your Parks Canada Building Permit Application.  

Use of Public Space  

Permits are required when you wish to use public space and obstruct the normal use of the street or public area.  

This includes activities such as:  

• Installing sidewalk seating (i.e. patio) outside a place of business  
• Hosting an event on a street, sidewalk or parking lot 
• Conducting a large filming project that uses a street, sidewalk or parking lot 
• Using street, sidewalk or parking lot space for an event or filming project that is adjacent to a booked Municipal facility or park 
  

As well as construction-related activities:  

• Closing a road, lane, parking stall or sidewalk  
• Parking a business or construction-related vehicle for longer than the posted limit  
• Stationing a mobile crane or construction machinery on the street 
• Loading or unloading construction material, machinery, or equipment on the street 
• Placing a construction waste bin on the street 
• Erecting scaffolding on the sidewalk 
• Excavating in a public space 
  

See the Licences and Permits page for information on all types of permits and their requirements. 

Other Municipal Resources 

• Construction Coordination Information: Contact information for the Municipality’s construction and utility coordinators, link to the industry bulletin, information on utilities, grading and trenching, rebuild-related fees, prohibited vehicles permits, and the delivery route for manufactured homes. 
• Road Closures Map: This map outlines known and anticipated road closures on local roads to help residents, businesses, and contractors plan for disruptions throughout the construction season. 
• Utility Services Map: An interactive reference map of all Municipal utility services.   

Energy and Environment: Resilience and Adaptation  

The Municipality of Jasper is committed to protecting the natural environment that makes Jasper a unique place to live, work, and visit. We are working to improve resilience and support a healthy, sustainable future for our community. Our climate adaptation initiatives, environmental stewardship programs, and resources will help residents, businesses, and visitors contribute to a cleaner, safer, and more climate-resilient Jasper. 

Air Quality 

Air quality is an important component of community and environmental health. The Municipality of Jasper participates in regional air quality monitoring through its membership in the West Central Airshed Society (WCAS), helping track local air conditions and support informed decision-making.  

To help you make an informed decision about outdoor activities for current air quality conditions, we’ve installed an Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) Cloud light at the Activity Centre. Current air quality conditions can also be found on the WCAS Live Air Data Map and the Alberta Air Quality Map.  

Tips for protecting your health from wildfire smoke can be found on the WCAS: Wildfire smoke resources and Alberta Health Services: Wildfire smoke and your health web pages.   

Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) 

The Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP), administered by Alberta Municipalities, provides financing for up to 100% of project costs to help residential leaseholders cover the upfront costs for energy efficient and renewable energy home upgrades. This initiative allows leaseholders to make improvements without the big upfront investment. For our municipality, the fixed interest rate is 3%. See the program page for full details.  

Climate Adaptation Action 

In order to better understand the impacts of climate change on Jasper’s built, natural, social, and cultural systems, the Municipality commissioned the 2024 Climate Risk Assessment Report. This report outlines existing risks and recommends development of a Climate Adaptation Action Plan to help steer the Municipality’s resilience to changing climate conditions.   

The Municipality of Jasper’s 2025 Climate Adaptation Action Plan will guide mitigation efforts to reduce the severity of climate hazard impacts as well as enhance preparedness and resilience across the community.   

• Next steps to help our community become more resilient against climate hazards include:  
• Adaptation in Action Feasibility Study  
• Rapid Adaptation Project  
• Adaptation in Action Implementation Project 

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging 

The Municipality of Jasper is expanding support for electric vehicle travel by joining EVenture northwest AB and its growing EV charging network. This is a community-driven, collaborative program seeking to build a Level 3 (DC Fast Charger) EV charging network across west/central Alberta.  

Three public EV charging stations can be found in Jasper along Connaught Drive:  

• FLO Charging Stations:  
• In the public parking lot on the track side of Connaught Drive, across form Balsam Avenue (Nester’s Market and Petro-Canada gas station)  
• Tesla Charging Stations:   
• In the public parking lot on the track side of Connaught Drive, across form Balsam Avenue (Nester’s Market and Petro-Canada gas station)  
• In the public parking lot on the track side of Connaught Drive, next to the train station and the CN 6015 engine 

A new public EV charging station is scheduled to be installed in 2026 in the off-street parking lot on Bonhomme Street, across from the Activity Centre. Two chargers, with two ports each, will increase access to charging infrastructure for residents and visitors. Each charger will have a power capacity of 180kW, shared between the two ports.  

FireSmart 

Reducing wildfire risk is a shared responsibility. FireSmart principles help leaseholders and businesses increase resilience to wildfire through building design, landscaping, and property maintenance. Resources for making your property more resilient to wildfire can be found on the Municipality’s FireSmart and FireSmart Alberta web pages.  

Tips for Residents 

Everyone can help Jasper become a more sustainable community. See the Environmental Responsibility page for local information and tips.  

Housing: Supporting more housing in Jasper

Looking for Housing? 

Please see the Housing page under the Living Here menu.  

Jasper’s Housing Challenge 

The Town of Jasper has a serious and long-term housing shortage. Since 2014, our rental vacancy rate has stayed at or near 0%, leaving very few options for people. This persistent lack of housing has led to rising costs for both renters and purchasers, increasing strain on workers, families, and local businesses. 

In 2024, the housing crisis worsened dramatically when the Jasper Wildfire destroyed more than 600 homes. With many residents displaced and housing already scarce, the situation became even more urgent. The Municipality of Jasper is addressing this challenge through its Housing Action Plan, projects by the Jasper Municipal Housing Corporation, and the Accessory Dwelling Unit Incentive Program. See below for details.  

Housing Action Plan and Housing Accelerator Fund 

To respond to the severe housing shortage, Jasper developed a Housing Action Plan (HAP). The Municipality has received funding through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to support the plan.  

The HAP includes six federally funded and two internally supported initiatives. All initiatives are designed to be feasible, actionable, and respond to community needs. Full details of the HAP and HAF, including initiatives and funding, can be found on the Housing Action Plan and Housing Accelerator Fund page.  

Jasper Municipal Housing Corporation (JMHC) 

The Jasper Municipal Housing Corporation (JMHC) is a municipally controlled corporation that furthers housing development in Jasper. It is wholly owned by the Municipality of Jasper and is governed by a board of directors. The governance model, projects, and meeting minutes can be found on the JMHC page.  

The Connaught Below Market Housing Development is the first residential project undertaken by the JMHC. It is a 40-unit rental housing project designed to increase access to safe, secure, and affordable housing in Jasper. Updates on the project, including a live cam of the building site, can be found on the project page.  

Accessory Dwelling Unit Incentive Program (ADU Program) 

The Accessory Dwelling Unit Incentive Program (ADU Program) offers financial support and tools to help residents build or convert rental units on their property for long term rental. The goal is to reduce financial barriers and support long-term housing growth in Jasper. See the program page for full details.  

Affordable Housing Property Tax Grant Program 

The Affordable Housing Property Tax Grant Program offers municipal tax relief to providers of below-market housing. The goal is to reduce the tax burden to help support long-term affordability, improve project sustainability, and encourage continued investment in housing that meets the needs of Jasper residents. See program page for full details.   

Our Projects 

The UDS Department leads and supports projects that steer town planning, development, public spaces, sustainability, and housing. Our goal is to create a better Jasper for Jasperites. To find out more about active and past projects, see our Projects page.

Resources 

• Bylaw Directory: A list of Municipality of Jasper bylaws.  
• Engage Jasper: A place where we hear from residents on topics they care about. 
• Plans and Reports: Information about and links to current municipal plans and reports. 

Contact Us 

We’re here to support you! Reach out to the UDS Team at townplanning@jasper-alberta.ca or 780-931-9857. 

What Affects Housing Development

While housing has become a national concern, Jasper has dealt with a housing shortage for much longer. Jasper’s unique position as a tourist town within a national park creates special challenges:

Limited Land Supply

All land within Jasper is owned by the Crown and managed by Parks Canada. The townsite boundary is fixed by law, which protects nature and keeps our small- town feel, but limits where new housing can go. As a result, new homes must be built within the existing footprint, requiring smart, efficient use of space.

Seasonal population

Our population increases significantly during peak tourism seasons, creating a short-term need for additional worker housing. A 2022 housing study estimated a shortfall of 609 seasonal units, based on average household size. Addressing the housing need for peak season, while not over developing is a challenge for developers.

Tourism-driven Economy

Many jobs in Jasper are in tourism, which creates demand for short-term, affordable rentals. Single detached homes are more expensive and intended for long-term use. Home prices are rising faster than wages, which is making it harder for first-time buyers and increasing pressure on the rental market.

Regulatory Barriers

All new developments must follow federal and local land use regulations, including zoning, design standards, parking rules, and more. These rules help protect the park, but they can slow down or limit new housing projects. Updating policies could enable more housing options and development flexibility.

Housing at a Glance

51% of residents are renters (2021 Census Profile Data)	0% vacancy rate (GoA Apartment Vacancy and Rental Cost Survey)	Average value (owner assessed) of single detached home $924,000 (2021 Census, Statistics Canada Focus on Geography Series)