Aggregate is generally described as any sand, rock, gravel, or crushed stone. Aggregate is a critical resource for the construction of roads, buildings and other essential infrastructure. To extract and process aggregate, operators are typically required to use a variety of large, heavy machinery, which has the potential to impact nearby landowners.
In the Province of Alberta, the regulation of aggregate development is split between the province and municipalities. Rocky View County has committed to developing a plan that balances the need to protect the environment and quality of life of residents, while also weighing the importance of aggregate as a resource. This webpage provides all relevant information for ongoing or proposed aggregate development in the County.
Disclaimer: The information within this map is being shared to create greater awareness of planning and development applications submitted to the County. The County endeavors to deliver accurate, comprehensive and timely information. However, the quality, accuracy, and completeness of information presented within the map cannot be completely verified as it originates from diverse sources, collected and maintained for varied purposes. The County reserves the right to modify any content on this map without prior notice.
Approved Aggregate Sites
Proposed Aggregate Sites
Approval Process
- Proponent Seeks Provincial Approval
Under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (“EPEA”), the Alberta Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas (or its successor agency) is responsible for reviewing applications for aggregate extraction pits. These applications are evaluated against the Alberta Code of Practice for Pits, which outlines the requirements for provincial approval.
If the project involves withdrawing water, altering natural water flow, or draining a water source, approval under the Water Act is also required.
Note: Pits under 5 hectares (12.35 acres) in size are considered to be Class II pits and are exempt from meeting provincial regulations.
- Proponent Undertakes Pre-Application Engagement
While seeking provincial approval, a proponent may also begin the municipal approval process. In accordance with the County’s Aggregate Development Performance Standards, a proponent is required to conduct public engagement prior to submitting a redesignation and master site development plan (“MSDP”) application. The proponent must:
- Hold at least one open house to present the project and gather feedback. The proponent shall follow the outlined mail-out and notification included within the Aggregate Development Performance Standards document.
- Offer additional engagement opportunities for residents who can’t attend the open house.
A complete Engagement Summary shall be included as part of an application package that details the feedback received from the community and how the concerns raised are being addressed in the application.
- Submission of Redesignation and MSDP Application
Once public engagement is complete, the proponent may submit a redesignation and MSDP application. In Rocky View County, these applications are submitted together. A redesignation application seeks to alter the land use designation provided within the County’s Land Use Bylaw (“LUB”) to a district that permits aggregate extraction. The purpose of an MSDP is to provide guiding policies for the design and operation of the subject lands to allow the public and Council to have a clear understanding of the future vision of the land. The County’s Municipal Development Plan (“MDP”) has been updated to provide clear requirements to proponent’s when submitting an MSDP application.
- Public Hearing Held for Redesignation
In Alberta, a public hearing is required for all redesignation applications to allow Council to consider the community and overall public opinion on the matter. The public may submit letters and videos prior to the public hearing for consideration or speak directly to Council at the public hearing.
Moving forward redesignation application relating to aggregate development shall be redesignate to the Special – Natural Resource (S-NAT) land use district to provide for greater consistency.
- Development Permit Application
If Council approves a redesignation and MSDP application, a proponent may then submit a development permit application. To provide for greater clarity, the LUB has been amended to include specific requirements for development permits relating to aggregate development. The County’s Development Authority will assess an application and chose to approve or refuse it. If an application is approved, the Development Authority may include conditions that must be met prior to the development permit being approved as well as ongoing conditions.
- Operations and Monitoring
Once a development permit is approved and the prior-to-release conditions have been met, the proponent may begin operations in accordance with the ongoing conditions of the development permit. As part of the County’s Aggregate Site Monitoring Bylaw, an Aggregate Site Inspector may schedule up to four site visits per 12-month period to ensure a proponent is adhering to the conditions of their development permit.
- Site Reclamation
After a site has been fully extracted, a proponent would then begin the process of reclamation. The proponent would be required to complete the reclamation of the site in accordance with the Reclamation Plan that was submitted to the province as part of the provincial approval process. When reclamation is complete, the proponent may apply for a Reclamation Certification under the Conservation and Reclamation Regulation. If an inspector approves the reclamation, the operator would obtain their Reclamation Certificate and all securities returned.
- Transition of Land
At the same time as applying for a Reclamation Certificate, the proponent must also apply to amend the LUB to reflect the new post-reclamation land use. All costs associated with this process are the responsibility of the proponent.
Municipal and Provincial Regulations
Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act
In Alberta, any proposed aggregate pit larger than 5 hectares (12.35 acres) requires approval under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (“EPEA”). Applications are reviewed to ensure they meet the standards outlined in the Alberta Code of Practice for Pits.
If the application is approved, the pit is registered with the province and must operate in accordance with provincial regulations.
Alberta Code of Practice for Pits
The Code of Practice for Pits sets the mandatory requirements for proposed pits 5 hectares (12.35 acres) in size on private land. The legislation requires applications for proposed pits to include specific detail on the operations of the pit, conservation and reclamation requirements, along with the reporting and record keeping expectation of pits.
Conservation and Reclamation Regulation
The Conservation and Reclamation Regulation requires proponents of pits to submit applications to obtain provincial Reclamation Certificates once a site has been fully extracted and the site reclaimed in accordance with a previously submitted Reclamation Plan. The Regulation sets out what must be included within an application and requires an inspector to view the site before providing the Reclamation Certificate to the proponent and returning the security deposit submitted as part of the initial application proposal.
Water Act
If a proposed pit requires water to operate, or if the activities are expected to disrupt natural surface or groundwater flow, the proponent must obtain approval under the Water Act.
This approval is separate from any approvals issued under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.
Community Aggregate Payment Levy Regulation
Under the Community Aggregate Payment Levy Regulation, municipalities in Alberta may pass a bylaw requiring operators to pay up to $0.40 per tonne of sand and gravel extracted. The purpose of the levy is to offset the impact of hauling activities on local roads. Pits owned or leased by the Crown or a municipality are exempt from the levy.
Municipal Development Plan
The County’s Municipal Development Plan outlines high-level policies that guide aggregate development within the County. It includes locational criteria that restrict aggregate extraction near sensitive areas, such as:
- Residential dwellings within approved Area Structure Plans
- Designated provincial parks
The Municipal Development Plan also outlines the application requirements that must be submitted with redesignation and master site development plan applications for new aggregate pits.
Land Use Bylaw
The County’s Land Use Bylaw has been updated to include specific requirements for development permit applications related to aggregate pits. Additionally, the Special – Natural Resource (S-NAT) land use district will be utilized as the appropriate zoning for aggregate developments.
Aggregate Site Monitoring Bylaw
The new Aggregate Site Monitoring Bylaw introduces regular inspections as a condition of approved development permits for aggregate operations. Under the bylaw, the County has the discretion to schedule up to four inspections over a 12-month period. The newly established Aggregate Site Inspector would look to confirm an aggregate pit is adhering to the conditions of an aggregate pit. If the County is able to substantiate complaints against a site, the Aggregate Site Inspector may visit the site on an unscheduled basis. The cost to complete the inspections would be covered by the pit operator themselves.
Aggregate Development Performance Standards
The Aggregate Development Performance Standards specify in detail, the requirements that must be submitted as part of an application package. Technical documents may include impact assessments, mitigation plans, and monitoring programs to ensure a site does not exceed the prescribed thresholds established in the document. A section has also been added that outlines the engagement requirements for applications.
Community Aggregate Payment Levy Bylaw
In accordance with provincial regulations, the County has enacted the Community Aggregate Payment Levy Bylaw. This bylaw requires aggregate operators to pay the maximum allowable levy of $0.40 per tonne of sand and gravel extracted.
This levy helps the County offset the infrastructure and road impacts caused by hauling and heavy truck traffic.
Aggregate Development Performance Standards
The Aggregate Development Performance Standards document details the technical documentation required as part of application packages submitted to the County. The Aggregate Development Performance Standards includes 14 technical sections and 3 operations / management sections that shall be adhered and include the following:
Prior to a redesignation and MSDP application being submitted to the County, the proponent shall conduct public engagement in accordance with the methods outlined in the document. A proponent shall hold at minimum one open house for the community to learn about the project and provide feedback. Alternate engagement should also be provided for residents unable to attend an open house.
As part of the application package, the proponent is required to submit a complete Engagement Summary detailing the feedback received as part of the engagement process and the steps that will be taken to address any concerns. The proponent shall also include an Engagement Plan to detail how the community will continue to be engaged for the duration of the operation.
Proponents are required to submit a:
- Noise Impact Assessment that details the anticipated noise impact on nearby residential and institutional buildings from the operation. A Noise Impact Assessment will consider the cumulative impact from nearby sites.
- Noise Mitigation Plan that details both hard and soft measures that will be implemented to limit the noise impact on nearby residential and institutional buildings.
- Noise Monitoring Program that will monitor a site to ensure the noise thresholds are not being exceeded. The County may require continuous monitoring or intermittent monitoring, and report will be required by the County for review. The noise monitoring will be completed in accordance with the methodology provided.
Proponents are required to submit a:
Proponents are required to submit a:
- Air Quality Impact Assessment that details the anticipated air quality impact on nearby residential and institutional buildings from the operation. The Impact Assessment should consider how the measures outline in the Air Quality Mitigation Plan will improve any expected air quality. An Air Quality Impact Assessment should also consider the cumulative impact from nearby sites.
- Air Quality Mitigation Plan that details both hard and soft measures that will be implemented to limit the air quality impact on nearby residential and institutional buildings.
- Air Quality Monitoring Program that will monitor a site to ensure the noise thresholds are not being exceeded. The County may require continuous monitoring or intermittent monitoring, and report will be required by the County for review.
Operators are required to submit a:
- Stormwater Management Plan in accordance with the County’s Servicing Standards.
- Groundwater Investigation Report of the groundwater quality and level of the site and hydrologically connected lands.
- Groundwater Monitoring Plan is required where extraction will take place below the water table.
- Surface Water and Groundwater Mitigation Plan will detail all measures that will be used to preserve water quality both above and below the surface.
Operators are required to submit an:
- Erosion and Sediment Control Strategy to identify measures to preserve topsoil and reduce dust generation along haul routes.
Operators are required to submit a:
- Final reclamation plan for the site once aggregate extraction is complete.
Where a site sits inactive for one year outside the general fluctuations of activity, an interim reclamation plan shall be submitted.
Proponents are required to outline the specific hours of operations anticipated within the site. The hours of operation must lie within the prescribed hours of operations below:
Extraction and Processing Operations
Hauling Operations
Maintenance Operations
Where required and the County is notified at least 48 hours prior, a proponent may complete maintenance work outside the provided hours of operation.
In addition to the above, a proponent shall also submit technical documents in accordance with the requirements outlined in the below subject areas:
- Visual and Landscapes
- Agriculture
- Weed Control
- Natural and Historical Environments
- Geotechnical
- Erosion and Sediment Control
- Lighting
- Site Security and Emergencies
- Reclamation
- Technical Assessments
- Annual Reporting
Frequently Asked Questions
In Alberta, the province splits aggregate pits into either Class I or Class II dependent on the size. Pits under 5 hectares or 12.35 acres in size are classified as Class II Pits and are therefore exempt from meeting provincial regulations. Pits may also be classified by private compared to public pits.
To support a more proactive approach to compliance, the County has introduced the Aggregate Site Monitoring Bylaw. This bylaw establishes the role of an Aggregate Site Inspector, who is authorized to conduct inspections of aggregate sites.
Under the bylaw, development permits for aggregate operations will now include conditions allowing the Aggregate Site Inspector to schedule up to four site visits per 12-month period. These visits ensure that operators are complying with the conditions outlined in their development permits.
If a violation is identified during an inspection, the County will work with the operator to determine a reasonable timeframe for corrective action. If the issue is not resolved within that timeframe—or if the operator refuses to cooperate—the matter will be referred to the County’s Enforcement Services Department for further action.
Administration will be bringing forward an options report for Council’s consideration in Q3 / Q4 2025 for the areas of non-consensus included with the Aggregate Stakeholder Committee’s final report.