Planning and zoning is regulated within the municipality by the R.M. of Prince Albert Zoning Bylaw and Development Plan.

The Rural Municipality of Prince Albert is a member of The Prince Albert District Planning Commission.  Other members include the Rural Municipality of Buckland and the City of Prince Albert.   The Planning Commission was formed in 1956 to promote a  regional approach to agriculture, commercial and residential development and has been a model for others throughout the province. The Planning Commission is an advisory body and provides planning expertise to the member councils.

All new construction within the municipality requires both a Development Permit and Building Permit.

The Development Permit has no fees and allows the Planning Officer to ensure that the new development meets all requirements for the zoning district in which the development will occur. Every applicant for a building permit shall pay a fee of $50.00 plus $4.50 for every $1000.00 estimated value of construction in excess of $10,000.00.  The estimated value of the construction of the building will be calculated by the Building Inspector.

Farm buildings which include barns, sheds, granaries do not require a building permit.  We do ask that a development permit be submitted for farm buildings in order to ensure that they meet the setback requirements of the Zoning Bylaws. 

Farm dwellings DO require a building permit.

Please ensure that Development Permits and Building Permits are issued before any construction begins.  For further information please contact the Planning Officer at 764-2751.

Subdivision forms and information can be downloaded from this link:
http://www.municipal.gov.sk.ca/Programs-Services/Community-Planning/Subdivision

Development Permits and Building Permits can be picked up from the Municipal Office or directly from the Planning Officer.

The Prince Albert District Planning Commission is undertaking a complete review of the District Development Plan and the Zoning Bylaw.

The firm of Crosby, Hanna   & Associates has been awarded the contract to conduct the review and work on the review has now begun.  Throughout the review process there will be various opportunities for public input.  These will include public meetings and  the opportunity for written submissions.

Crosby, Hanna & Associates expect that the review will be completed in 2009.

Official Community Plan & Zoning Bylaw Draft Proposal

Did you know?  A Building Permit is valid for a year from the date of issue.  This means that construction must commence within the year (not be completed within a year) There is no cost for an extension which can be obtained by contacting the Planning Commission at 764-2751.

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In 1993, a Steering Committee was formed consisting of residents of the RM of Prince Albert whose aim was to ensure a safe and adequate water supply for their families and operations.

The Prince Albert Rural Water Utility was formed by bylaw through the Rural Municipalities of Prince Albert, Duck Lake and Buckland.

Facts on Receiving City Water in the Rural Municipality of Prince Albert, Buckland and Duck Lake.

New Subscriber Fee

• If you purchase a property with water currently installed, a New Subscriber Service Connection Fee of S75.00 will be charged.

Capital Connection Cost

• $12,000 plus $4.00/meter of trenching from the tie-in point - can be borrowed for a 10 year term ($150 month) ( no GST).
• $500 deposit is required - the balance can be borrowed at Prime plus 3%.
• If you owned your property at the time the water line went by/or near your property, there is a $1,000 penalty.  This will cover the expense to bring the contractor back to the area after the first time it was available.
• There will be NO PENALTY for any prepayments at any time or paying in full.
• Automatic monthly transfers are available for loan payments or 12 post-dated cheques will be accepted.

Water Bill Cost

• Water bills are sent out every three months. 
• Regular water bills - $25 per month service charge, $3 per month Capital Replacement and Statutory Requirement Fund plus water charged at the current rate of $11.13 per thousand gallons.
• If you are a high volume user (i.e. cattle farmer) there is a price reduction at 28,000 gallons and 56,000 gallons based on a three-month usage period.
• Interest is charged on overdue water bills at a rate of 2.75% per month.
• If your water bill is unpaid after a 60 day period, there is the possibility of disconnection.  If that happens, all arrears must be paid in full along with a $50 fee to reconnect the water.

Payment Options

Water Bill Payments:

• Online banking
• Automatic transfer
• Telephone banking
• Cash/cheque
• Interac

Capital Connection Payments:

• Online Banking
• Automatic transfer
• Post-dated cheques
• Interac
• Cash/cheque

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The Rural Municipality of Prince Albert has three full time employees and eight seasonal employees.

These outside employees are dedicated to the municipality are have responsibility for road maintenance and construction.  Several programs are in place which include:

• Road construction
• Road maintenance
• Culvert installation, repair and maintenance
• Gravelling
• Mowing
• Signage
• Brush cutting
• Custom work
• Snow plowing

The Municipal Shop of the RM is located on Phelps Drive.

There are 605 kilometres of designated roads in the R.M. plus machinery trails and three subdivisions, Silver Willows, Aspen Estates and Southview Acres.

All municipal roads are restricted to Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation secondary weights unless otherwise posted.

The R.M. of Prince Albert has entered into a Partnership Agreement with Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation.  This Agreement is to preserve the Thin Membrane Highway for light traffic.

The weight restriction on Highway #302 East from the Cecil Ferry Road to the Weldon Ferry is 8 tonnes.  Permits will be issued through the R.M. office to those producers who have no alternative route other than Highway 302 East.  Permits will be issued to provide access to the nearest heavy haul road.

The Municipality follows the restrictions as set out by Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation in relation to spring weight restrictions. 

The R.M. owns a gravel pit in the R.M. of Duck Lake and has a leased gravel pit on the east side on the municipality.

Additional gravel is obtained by private local contractors on an as needed basis.

Ratepayers can purchase gravel for personal use from the municipality at a flat rate.

Two operators are assigned to the municipal mowing program.  The mowers work through the municipality and complete a top cut and also a full cut of ditches.

Custom work rates are available on this site.

Custom snow plowing such as clearing driveways, yards and access to grain bins is available.                          

A red flag at the end of the driveway will advise the operator that a ratepayer is requesting snow plowing by the municipality.

New for this winter season, the R.M. will be requiring snow removal agreements to be signed by the ratepayer.  Download the Snow Removal Agreement.

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Fire protection services are provided for the Rural Municipality of Prince Albert through agreement, by the City of Prince Albert fire department.

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Policing services are provided by the RCMP.

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View/Print the Dust Control Agreement.

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Mouse bait is available at no cost to the ratepayers of the R.M. of Prince Albert.  To pick up bait contact the pest control officer.

Gopher poison is available from local farm service centres.

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The Noxious Weeds Act, 1984 provides the regulation of weed control.

Every owner or occupant of land has a duty to destroy noxious weeds on his land and prevent the spread of noxious weeds to other lands.

The Municipality appoints a weed inspector to enforce the Act and investigate and deal with complaints made to him or to the Council by which he is appointed.

Contact the municipal office if you have complaints or questions regarding noxious weeds.

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Every municipality in Saskatchewan, rural and urban is subject to the regulations of the Stray Animals Act. 

No owner shall allow, at any time, any of his/her animals to run at large in the province.  This means we have a “closed herd law” in Saskatchewan.

Any person may restrain a stray.

If the owner is known the finder must immediately notify the owner of the discovery and restraint of the stray.  The owner of the stray has 12 hours within which to pay the finder the restraining fees and get his/her strays released.

If the owner and finder cannot agree on the fees to be paid regarding the restraint, the finder is required to notify the Administrator of the restraint.

When the stray has not been released to the owner within 72 hours after the owner is notified the finder shall deliver the animal to the pound.

If the finder does not have the necessary equipment or resources to delivery the stray to the pound the administrator is required to arrange for delivery to the pound.

The owner is liable for any fees or other compensation payable respecting his or her stray.  These fees can include impounding, aiding in restraining a stray, providing veterinary services, providing care and sustenance, transporting costs, advertising costs and others.*

* The above is a summary of requirements list in The Stray Animal Guide prepared by Government Relations and available from the Government Relations web site.

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Recycling bins from Greenland Waste have been located adjacent to present garbage bins at Eastview Trailer Court in the RM of Prince Albert.

Paper and Cardboard recycling is also available at various locations in the City of Prince Albert such as the Materials Recovery Facility, South Hill Mall (SW corner behind Galaxy Cinema), Gateway Mall (south parking lot, east side), Art Hauser Centre (south parking lot, adjacent to 6th Ave. east) East End Hockey Rink, SIAST Technical Centre (shipping-receiving area off of 15th St. East), SIAST Academic Centre (10th Ave East)  Paper, magazines, cardboard, boxboard, cardboard egg cartons, and cardboard and plastic milk containers that have been rinsed may be placed in these bins.

Scrap Metal - McDonald Metals - Highway No. 3 south.  Currently buy scrap metal that is transported to their sight.  They will also accept clean tin cans and used large appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, etc.  Paint Recycling - SARCAN locations.  Electronics Recycling - SARCAN at 3865-5th Ave E.  Scrap batteries - P.A. Battery 304-16th St. W

The North Central Saskatchewan Waste Management Corporation (NCSWMC) has published a news release commending the rate payers of the RM of Prince Albert as well as the ten other participating municipalities on their tremendous results at responsible recycling.  Click here to view the news release. View the Recycled Fibre News Release. (PDF)

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Composters can be purchased at a cost of $35.00 from the Materials Recovery Facility located at 460-40th St. East, Prince Albert.

What items should you compost? Here are some examples:

• Fruit scraps
  • apples and apple peels
  • bananas and peels
  • grapes
  • berries
• Vegetable trimmings
  • celery tops
  • carrot tops-scrapings
  • potato
• Tea bags & leaves
• Coffee filters and grounds
• Bread
• Shredded paper
• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Saw dust
• Old potting soil
• Plant trimmings
• Flowers & weeds

What items should you NOT compost? Here are some examples:

• Dairy products (including butter, yogurt, milk, cheese)
• Vegetable oil
• Chicken
• Metals
• Meat & bones
• Fish
• Pet waste
• Plastics
• Glass bottles
• Pop cans

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What to do if you find a Needle . . .

Adults may, if they feel comfortable doing so, safely handle and dispose of a used needle if they follow the given steps:

• Wear a pair of durable protective gloves (preferably leather).
• Pick the needle up by the plunger end and hold it so that the pointed end is facing downwards away from your body.
• Place the needle and the needle cap into a puncture-proof container (500ml pop bottles will work) and put the lid on tightly.
• Wash your hands.
• Dispose of the needle by bringing it to one of the following Needle Drop-Off Bins:
  • Fire Hall, 76-15th Street East (front of building)
  • Liquor Store, 99th-9th Street East (behind store)
  • National Hotel, 906-1st Avenue West (behind store)
  • Sylken Conf. Store, 1600-15th Street West (behind store)
  • Pineland Apts., 235-10th Street East (behind building)

For more information call:
Public Health Services at 765-6540  or 765-6600

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The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority has the responsibility for administering the approval process for construction and operation of drainage works.

Drainage works include “any action taken or intended for the removal or lessening of the amount of water from land and includes the deepening, straightening, widening and diversion of the course of a stream, creek or other watercourse and the construction of dykes”.

The construction and operation of most drainage works requires approval from the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority.  By discussing your proposal with staff at the Watershed Authority’s Regional Office, you will be advised on whether or not your proposal requires an approval.  The telephone number is (306) 446-7450.

Fact sheets and forms can be found at www.swa.ca

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