Intermunicipal Development Plans (IDPs) are statutory plans that guide land use, development patterns, infrastructure planning, dispute resolution, and overall coordination along shared municipal boundaries.
IDPs are approved by Council in both municipalities. Planners refer to these documents to make recommendations to Council for managing or changing land use, and to address growth issues in a way that respects the interests of the County and the municipalities they share a border with.
An IDP is a high-level planning document that provides a 20-year vision for the plan area, addressing:
- Current and future land uses;
- Future development and servicing infrastructure;
- Shared transportation corridors and roadways;
- Interface between municipalities; and
- Intermunicipal collaboration principles and processes.
An IDP is not intended to address:
- Detailed site planning;
- Annexation agreements; or
- Cost-sharing agreements.
In May 2025, Ministerial Order MSD:025/25 was issued, requiring Rocky View County to adopt IDPs with all municipalities sharing a common boundary. While the County already has several IDPs in place, some are outdated and require updating.
IDPs currently under review:
- Airdrie – Rocky View County (2001) - Project Terms of Reference [PDF/847KB]
- Calgary – Rocky View County (2012) - Project Terms of Reference [PDF/646KB]
- Chestermere – Rocky View County (No Plan) - Project Terms of Reference [PDF/812KB]
- Cochrane – Rocky View County (2001) - Project Terms of Reference [PDF/812KB]
Why We’re Updating these IDPs
Modernized IDPs will:
- Strengthen intermunicipal collaboration and coordination;
- Reflect current municipal boundaries, growth pressures, infrastructure priorities, and community expectations;
- Reduce the potential for land use conflicts; and
- Provide greater certainty for residents and developers.
Future Public Engagement Opportunities
Rocky View County and our municipal partners will be providing opportunities for public engagement on all IDP projects. Each project is planning two stages of public engagement:
- Stage 1: Visioning, Opportunities, and Challenges (Q3 2026)
- Stage 2: Draft IDP Review (Q1 2027)
Once an IDP receives final approval, it is removed from this page and listed on the Intermunicipal Development Plans page.
