How to Participate in Public Hearings
Rocky View County Council meetings are open to the public to attend and participate in. You are welcome and encouraged to attend meetings and to participate when topics interest or affect you.
Council sometimes holds public hearings, often about planning and development, as outlined in the Municipal Government Act. If you believe you are affected by a matter being considered at a public hearing, you have the opportunity to be heard.
Public hearings for planning and development matters generally follow this schedule:
- Opening of the public hearing
- Staff report by Administration
- Presentation by the applicants - As of January 1, 2025, applicants will have 10 minutes for their initial presentations and 5 minutes for rebuttal presentations.
- Questions from Council to Administration and the applicants
- Presentations in support of the application
- Presentations with concerns or in opposition of the application
- Rebuttal by the applicants
- Final questions from Council to Administration
- Closing of the public hearing
After a public hearing has been closed, Council discusses the matter and decides to either:
- Approve or refuse the application
- Make amendments or revisions to the application
- Refer the matter for further collaboration or investigation
When you participate in a public hearing, your name and address will be made available to the public and your comments will become part of the public record. Anonymous public hearing submissions, or submissions without an address, are not accepted or considered by Rocky View County.
Note: Rocky View County Council meetings and public hearings are held in the Council Chambers of the County Hall.
Public Hearing Participation Methods:
You have a variety of options for participating in public hearings:
- In-person presentation
- Video call presentation (via Microsoft Teams)
- Pre-recorded audio/video submission
- Written submission
You may choose one of either: an in-person presentation; a video call presentation; or a pre-recorded audio/video submission. You can provide a written submission on its own, or to accompany one of the previous three options.
No matter which participation method you choose, Rocky View County’s Procedure Bylaw requires the following information to be provided in your presentation or submission:
- Your name and how you are affected by the subject of the public hearing, preferably with a statement of whether you are in support, in opposition, or have concerns.
- Where you live, preferably in the form of a municipal address or legal land description.
- The names, if any, of any additional people that your submission is on behalf of.
All public hearing submissions and presentations are grouped into one of the following categories: in support, in opposition, or in concern. If you do not state whether you are in support, in opposition, or in concern, Rocky View County will group your submission or presentation into the category that best fits.
Presenting In-Person
You can speak in support, in concern, or in opposition to a public hearing matter at the County Hall on the date and time indicated on the public hearing notice. Notices are mailed to residents in the area and are available on the County’s website.
Public hearing presentations are limited to five minutes for individuals and 10 minutes for groups, unless a resolution from Council extends the presentation time limit. As part of your presentation, you will be required to provide your name and an indication of where you live in relation to the matter being discussed.
If your presentation includes written or visual components, you must bring either a digital copy or 15 physical copies for distribution at the hearing. Any materials you provide will be retained by the County to be saved in the public record.
Note: There will be a signup sheet as you enter the Council Chambers. If you wish to speak in support, in opposition, or in concern, please register on the signup sheet prior to the start of the public hearing. The signup sheet is used to determine the order of speakers.
If you forget or are unable to register on the signup sheet before the hearing starts, you will still be provided an opportunity to speak. After those who registered on the signup sheet have presented, anyone who did not register will be invited to speak.
Presenting via Video Call
If you are unable to attend a public hearing in person, you can make a video call presentation via Microsoft Teams by submitting a request to Legislative Services at legislativeservices@rockyview.ca or 403-230-1401.
Requests to present via video call must be received by Legislative Services prior to the date and time indicated on the public hearing notice. Notices are mailed to residents in the area and are available on the County’s website.
Once Legislative Services has received your request, you will be sent a Microsoft Teams link and instructions on when and how to join the public hearing electronically. Presenters must ensure that their microphones are on mute at all times except for when they are presenting.
Public hearing presentations are limited to five minutes for individuals and 10 minutes for groups, unless a resolution from Council extends the presentation time limit. As part of your presentation, you will be required to provide your name and an indication of where you live in relation to the matter being discussed.
If your presentation includes written or visual components, you may share them using the screen share function on Microsoft Teams. Any materials you share at the public hearing must also be provided to Legislative Services, to be saved by the County in the public record.
Note: The County cannot assist you with connecting to Microsoft Teams to present electronically at a public hearing. If you do not have the equipment or technical ability to present electronically, or have never used Microsoft Teams before, please consider a written submission or pre-recorded audio/video submission.
Submitting a Written Submission
Written submissions must be provided to Legislative Services in an email, PDF, Microsoft Word, or letter format.
Email:
Put your comments in an email and send it to legislativeservices@rockyview.ca by the deadline indicated on the public hearing notice. Notices are mailed to residents in the area and are available on the County’s website.
Please include the bylaw number of the public hearing in the subject line of your email. In the body of the email, include your name and an indication of where you live, preferably your municipal address or legal land description.
PDF or Word:
Put your comments in a PDF or Microsoft Word document, attach your submission to an email and send it to legislativeservices@rockyview.ca by the deadline indicated on the public hearing notice. Notices are mailed to residents in the area and are available on the County’s website.
Please include the bylaw number of the public hearing in the subject line of your email. In the body of the email, include your name and an indication of where you live, preferably your municipal address or legal land description.
Physical Letter:
Write your comments in a letter and mail your submission to Legislative Services at the address below, by the deadline indicated on the public hearing notice. Notices are mailed to residents in the area and are available on the County’s website.
Legislative Services
Rocky View County Hall
262075 Rocky View Point
Rocky View County, AB T4A 0X2
Please include “Public Hearing Submission” on the envelope of your letter, the bylaw number of the public hearing in the subject line of your letter, and your name and an indication of where you live (preferably your municipal address or legal land description) in the body of your letter.
Your letter must be received by the deadline on the public hearing notice. If needed, there is an afterhours drop box (mail slot) at the County Hall that can be used to deliver your submission. Please use only this drop box when the County Hall is closed — staff or security guards cannot accept your submission in person.
Submitting a Pre-Recorded Audio/Video Presentation
If you are unable to present in person or electronically at a public hearing, you may submit a pre-recorded audio/video presentation to Legislative Services that will be played at the hearing. Pre-recorded audio/video submissions are limited to five minutes for an individual and 10 minutes for a group, unless a resolution from Council extends the submission time limit.
All pre-recorded presentations must be received by the deadline indicated on the public hearing notice. Notices are mailed to residents in the area and are available on the County’s website. Late submissions may be accepted by Council at the public hearing, if Council resolves to accept the late submission.
Please include the bylaw number of the public hearing, your name, and an indication of where you live (preferably your municipal address or legal land description) in the introduction of your pre-recorded audio/video submission. After you have saved your recording, upload your submission here.
Note: The County cannot assist you with preparing or submitting your pre-recorded audio/video presentation. If you do not have the equipment or technical ability to record and upload your submission, please consider a written submission or attending the public hearing in person or electronically instead.
Group Presentations and Submissions
Public hearing presentations and submissions may be on your own behalf or on behalf of others. If you and others in your community have a similar interest in a public hearing matter or are affected in similar ways, you may present at the public hearing or provide a submission as a group.
Rocky View’s Procedure Bylaw defines a group as three or more people with a common interest in a matter before Council.
All the requirements that apply to a presentation or submission by an individual at a public hearing also apply to groups, except that groups have an extended time limit of 10 minutes.
Note: The County does not consider individuals from the same family household as a group.
Request to Address Council on Non-Public Hearing Matters (Including Subdivision Applications)
Not all matters considered at Council meetings are public hearings. Council must also provide permission for residents and applicants to address Council outside of public hearings.
If you believe you are affected by a matter or are an applicant for a matter that does not require a public hearing, such as a subdivision application, Council may provide you with an opportunity to present your support, opposition, or concerns to them.
You have the option of requesting to either provide a presentation to Council during the meeting or to provide a written submission for Council to consider at the meeting, in accordance with the County’s Procedure Bylaw.
If you wish to address Council on a non-public hearing matter, including a subdivision application, submit your request to Legislative Services at legislativeservices@rockyview.ca or 403-230-1401 with the following information:
- Your name and an indication of where you live (preferably your municipal address or legal land description)
- Whether you are in support, in opposition, or have concerns with the matter being considered by Council and how you are affected by the matter
Legislative Services will communicate your request to Council at the meeting. Because Council must decide whether to approve your request at the meeting itself, Legislative Services is unable to provide advance confirmation of whether your request will be approved.
All requests will be communicated to and reviewed by Council, but if Council does not pass a resolution to approve your request, it will unfortunately be denied.
Privacy Notice
Rocky View County Council meetings and public hearings are open to the public and video recorded. When participating in Rocky View County Council meetings and public hearings, your name, address, and comments will be available to the public on the County’s website — regardless of whether you are presenting to Council or have provided a written submission.
Questions and More Information
Public hearing notices and more information on how to participate in public hearings can be found on the Public Notices page. If you have questions regarding specific public hearings or the public hearing process in general, please contact Legislative Services at legislativeservices@rockyview.ca or 403-230-1401.
Request to Speak to the Public Presentation Committee
To speak at a Public Presentation Committee meeting, please submit a request here.