Lacombe City Council passes encroachment bylaw

Lacombe city council has passed an Encroachment Bylaw that provides guidelines and long-term planning for how the City manages encroachments on public property.

City officials say the strategy categorizes encroachments based on severity, including minor, moderate, major, and egregious categories, each including methods of assessment and enforcement, and outlines a structured approach to managing city-owned land.

“Minor and major encroachments are universal issues for municipalities across the country,” Mayor Grant Creasey said. “This new bylaw provides our residents with the necessary education to voluntarily comply with the legislation. In more severe cases, a clear method of enforcement has been outlined providing transparency for citizens.”

Encroachment Bylaw 513 regulates and manages encroachments on City-owned land, streets, and easements, outlining items such as: the responsibilities of property owners; the authority of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO); enforcement measures; penalties; and appeal procedures.