A municipality is a corporate entity established under the Municipal Government Act (Alberta) ("MGA") and includes a city, town, village, summer village, municipal district or specialized municipality.

A municipality has the powers granted to it under the MGA and other provincial legislation. In addition to the special powers granted to it, a municipality generally has the powers of a natural person subject to special limitations set out in the MGA.

Generally a municipality exercises its powers through the passing of bylaws and by passing resolutions. These bylaws and resolutions may in turn delegate certain powers to specific entities or persons within the municipality's corporate structure.

Under the MGA a "development" is defined to include: an excavation or stockpile and the creation of either of them;          a building or an addition to or replacement or repair of a building and the construction or placing of any of them on, in, over or under land; a change of use of land or a building or an act done in relation to land or a building that results in or is likely to result in a change in the use of the land or building; or a change in the intensity of use of land or a building or an act done in relation to land or a building that results in or is likely to result in a change in the intensity of use of the land or building.

Generally you require a development permit when you undertake a development as defined in the MGA.