Frequently Asked Questions

SDAB appeals can be filed online through this website with a credit card or can be submitted to the SDAB office. A $200 filing fee must accompany each Notice of Appeal form. 

To file an appeal online, you will need to have or create a free MyID account in order to pay the appeal fee.

Development Appeals

If the development permit was approved, the applicant has 21 calendar days after the date the notice of decision was given.If you are considered an affected person*, you have 21 calendar days after the date that notice is given under the Land Use Bylaw.

*The term "affected person" is not defined in the Municipal Government Act. The Board determines affected persons on a case-by-case basis. For example, an affected person could be someone who feels the enjoyment, use or value of their property may be affected by the proposed development. The onus is on the person to show they are affected by the development.

If the development permit was refused, the applicant has 21 calendar days after the date the notice of decision was given.

Subdivision Appeals

The applicant can file an appeal with respect to a refusal of a subdivision application or on the conditions of approval of the application. The appeal must be filed within 14 calendar days after receipt of the written decision. An affected person cannot file an appeal.

Enforcement Orders

The owner of the land, the person in possession of the land or building, the person responsible for the contravention or any person considered affected by the Order can file an appeal within 21 calendar days from the date the person was notified of the Order.

The Appellant will be advised by SDAB staff that the appeal appears to have been filed outside of the mandated filing period. As the issue of appeal validity can only be determined by the Board, a hearing will be held before the SDAB to determine if the appeal was filed in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Government Act.

As a party to the appeal you are encouraged to attend the hearing and make a presentation of evidence to the Board i.e. to justify why the appeal was late, to show why you believe the appeal was not late, or why the Board should hear the appeal. If the Board determines that the appeal was filed in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Government Act, a hearing may then proceed on the merits of the appeal.

In accordance with the Municipal Government Act, the appeal must be scheduled for a hearing within 30 days.

If all of the appellants have withdrawn, then the appeal is withdrawn. You are only considered an appellant if the Board determines that you filed an appeal in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Government Act. Those who did not file an appeal but are simply participating in an appeal as an affected person do not have the right to continue an appeal after all other appellants have withdrawn.

In accordance with the Municipal Government Act, we must provide notification of a SDAB hearing approximately five days prior to the hearing.

In accordance with SDAB procedures, notification of hearing letters are sent to those owning property within 60 metres, 300 metres for liquor or cannabis stores, of the proposed development, as the Board may deem them to be affected by the development.

If you feel that you are affected either positively or negatively by the development being appealed, this gives you the opportunity to either submit something in writing or come and speak at the hearing. If you do not feel you are affected by the appeal, you can simply chose to do nothing and discard the notice.

Prepare your argument and presentation to fully present your position. The onus is on you to prove and substantiate your arguments. A report is compiled for each appeal which provides the rationale for the Development Authority's decision and other pertinent information relating to the proposed development. It is recommended that you obtain a copy of the Board report by accessing the Reports link on this website. In preparation for your hearing you may want to consider attending a hearing to get an idea of what to expect.

You will want to present any planning or legal arguments you feel are necessary to support your position including, but not limited to, traffic, impact, appearance of development, and privacy. If you present inappropriate evidence, the Presiding Chair will advise you as necessary. For assistance in this regard, contact an independent consultant for advice, such as a lawyer, architect or planning consultant.

As long as necessary to present your case; however, be mindful that evidence must be relevant and not repetitive.

None, as the Board is to accept any oral or written evidence that it considers proper, whether admissible in a court of law or not, and is not bound by the laws of evidence applicable to judicial proceedings [s. 629(2) of Municipal Government Act]. That said, the Board does follow directions of the Court.

You may chose to present, but you have no obligation to but the applicant should not rely on the Development Authority to make the case for them. It is the responsibility of the applicant of the development permit to present evidence to support their application or respond to the issues raised by the appellant(s) or affected parties.

Your justifications for the proposed development may be different than those of the Development Authority and they may not emphasize what you feel are the vital aspects of the proposed development.

Please forward your request for an adjournment/postponement by email to info@calgarysdab.ca or deliver your written request to our office at 1212 31 Ave NE, 4th floor, or to the secure drop box on the 1st floor, in the back hallway (past the elevators), near the postal mailboxes.

A withdrawal should be submitted in writing to the SDAB office as soon as possible. Your co-operation will prevent any unnecessary delays for the Board and will help The City use its resources more effectively. Please forward your request to Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, P.O. Box 2100, Station M, #8110, Calgary, AB, T2P 2M5 or email the SDAB at info@calgarysdab.ca or fax us at 403-268-5982.

The Municipal Government Act has established an appeal process under which it is up to the Board to review the merits of each appeal. The law does not provide for a screening process; therefore, each appeal must be heard and addressed on its own merits. For further assistance in this regard, you may wish to contact a lawyer.

Board staff can facilitate providing applicant/ appellant contact information to parties if they inquire about resolution of issues under appeal. It is appropriate to advise the parties that any resolution may require approval of the Board, however, the Board is not obliged to approve any resolutions.

If you reach a resolution which involves changes to the proposed development or development permit, the applicant should submit a list of the amendments and the amended plans with any changes highlighted in red in advance of the hearing.

It is within the Board's discretion to accept or reject any amended plans. If amended plans are going to be provided, circulate them to the Development Authority, the appellants (if any), and any affected parties that you know will be participating in the hearing, otherwise you may face adjournment/ postponement requests at the hearing to allow such people to review the plans and fully prepare for the hearing. 

In an effort to assist the SDAB, please highlight in red on the drawings the amendments and be prepared to present a list of the amendments to the SDAB.

The issue before the Board is whether or not the Order was correctly issued, which includes but is not limited to: was the Order sent to the registered owner, is the information contained in the Order correct and the condition of the development at the time the Order was issued.

Section 688 of Municipal Government Act outlines the Leave to Appeal process to the Court of Appeal if you wish to challenge the Board's decision, but only on aspects of law or jurisdiction. For assistance in this regard, you may wish to contact a lawyer.