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Bylaws ensure the quality of life in our town, and Bruderheim Town Council is interested in providing residents with improved Bylaw services. The first step is communication  -  so that all residents have a good understanding of the key Bylaws serving our community.

If you have any questions about Bruderheim Bylaws, please contact the Bylaw Liaison (780-796-3731) at the Town Office, located at 5017 Queen Street. 

 

Some information on our most commonly requested Bylaws:

 

Dog Control Bylaw

This Bylaw ensures responsible and safe dog ownership within Bruderheim:

  • All dogs must be licensed with the Town of Bruderheim. Licenses must be renewed annually.
  • Only two dogs per household.
  • If you'd like to have a third dog you must complete an Over-Limit Application and submit it with the fee of $58.00. If approved, you may then purchase a license for the new dog. Your Over-Limit permit must also be renewed each year.
  • It is your responsibility to keep your dog(s) under control at all times and to not allow excessive barking.
  • You must clean up any waste from your dog(s) when out walking around town.
  • Your dog(s) must always be on a leash if out of your yard and must be confined to your yard when at home.
  • Any dog that attacks a person, threatens a person, chases a vehicle, chases a person on a bicycle, horse or while walking, or attacks another pet is guilty of an offence and Bylaw officers can be called to enforce the Bylaw.

 

See Doggy-Dos and Doggy-Don'ts for more information.

Please contact Strathcona County Bylaw Services at 780-449-0170 to report any dog disturbances, such as dogs running loose, barking during quiet time, or without tags.

 

Cat Bylaw

This Bylaw ensures responsible and safe cat ownership within Bruderheim:

  • Your cat(s) require a tag and license that is to be renewed annually.
  • If your cat is off your property without a tag, you are in contravention of the Bylaw.

 

Unsightly Premises Bylaw

This Bylaw is in place to ensure that the Town is presented in a positive light to visitors and potential buyers, and more importantly, that Bruderheim a pleasant place to live for our current residents.

  • Your property and the buildings on your property must be in good repair.
  • Your yard must be free of excess garbage and clutter. This includes large garbage items, such as old cars that are not running or are missing parts, old appliances, and piles of lumber or metal.
  • Grass must be well-kept and weeds kept in check.

 

Parking Bylaw

This Bylaw is in place to ensure responsible parking within the Town.  One of the most common complaints we receive in the summer is about trailers being parked on the streets.

  • A trailer is NOT allowed to be parked on the street UNLESS it is attached to the vehicle that will be towing it.
  • A trailer attached to a vehicle can only be parked on the street for 36 consecutive hours.  You can move it and re-park it BUT it can only be parked twice in a 7 day period, starting with the first date that it is parked.
  • There is space allotted for each home to have two parking spaces on the street. However, this does NOT mean the space is reserved for the homeowners  -  other people are permitted to park there.

 

Other commonly requested Bylaws:

 

 

If you would like to view Bruderheim's past Bylaws, please see the Municipal Bylaws of Alberta website to find a record of  Bruderheim's digitized Bylaws.

 

 

 

Bruderheim Bylaw FAQs

 

What is a Bylaw?

The "by" in Bylaw is an old Norse word that means "Town." A Bylaw is simply a Town, or local, law.

Canadian municipalities don't have constitutional status of their own, so they can only pass laws authorized by other levels of government. Statutes like the Municipal Government Act and the Traffic Safety Act delegate authority for local Bylaws.  The "whereas" clause you see at the beginning of Bylaws usually explains where the authority for the Bylaw is coming from.

Some Bylaws are mandatory. For example, every municipality in Alberta must pass a Land Use Bylaw. Some Bylaws are required only if a municipality wants to carry out a certain type of activity.  A Town doesn't have to require business licensing, for example, but if they do, they need a Bylaw.  Bylaws can also customize provincial statutes to allow for local enforcement or reduced fines in areas like traffic safety. 

If you have any questions about Bruderheim Bylaws, please contact the Bylaw Liaison (780-796-3731) at the Town Office, located at 5017 Queen Street. 

 

What is a Bylaw "reading"?

You may have heard of a Bylaw receiving or passing 'readings'.  All proposed Bylaws must undergo three separate readings, or stages of consideration, before they can become law.  This means that Council has three different opportunities to consider the pros and cons, and to vote, on a particular Bylaw.  This ensures that each Bylaw is carefully considered before it is passed.

The first reading is similar to a test, to see if Council wishes to consider the issue at all. The second reading gives Council a chance to debate the issue and make amendments to the Bylaw. The third reading is the final opportunity for debate and changes.

During each reading, Council members vote on whether or not to move the proposed Bylaw to the next reading. If, by number of votes, the Bylaw fails any of the readings, it dies. Alternatively, if a Bylaw reaches the third reading and by majority of votes is carried, the Bylaw is considered passed and adopted.

 

Does the public have opportunity for input?

In some cases, such as for proposed Land Use Bylaws, municipalities are required to hold a public hearing after the first reading has passed and before the second reading is considered. After the public hearing, Council will call for a second reading and debate the Bylaw, propose changes, and ultimately vote on whether or not it should pass.

Sometimes Council may consider holding a public hearing or gain public input in other ways, even when it is not required by legislation. This typically happens after the second reading, after Council has had a chance to debate the issue and determine if they need more input before continuing.

 

How can people find out about Bylaws being considered?

The local newspaper advertises public hearings for a minimum of two weeks before the hearing.  The Lamont Leader and the Fort Record often contain news about surveys and calls for public input.  Bylaws under consideration and Council agendas are posted on this website.  Contact Town Council for more information about providing your input, or contact the Development/Bylaw Liaison at the Town Office at 780-796-3731.

 

How are policies and procedures different from Bylaws?

Bylaws are the fundamental governing documents for the Town. They clearly state the rules and regulations for a number of issues and activities related to the municipality. Policies and procedures, on the other hand, dictate the day-to-day decisions and operations for Town staff and committee and board members. Policies answer the questions WHY? and WHAT? For example, why does the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board exist? Procedures answer the question HOW? by providing the steps for implementation to turn policies into action.

Policies and procedures can be considered 'living' or 'fluid' documents, as they can change quite often in response to new issues, circumstances, needs, or concepts. Bylaws are much more 'static', as they rarely change and require Council's approval to do so. All policies and procedures, as well as the committees and actions that result from them, must be consistent with the Bylaws.