Dock Permits
Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) issued the User Guide for Dock Permits in May 2019. The guide outlines the requirements for individuals to place a seasonal dock in Alberta waterbodies.
In Alberta, the bed and shore of natural waterbodies are public lands, and subject to the Public Lands Act. The placement of mooring structures falls under the scope of the Act.
If a proposed dock is a seasonal portable structure that does not require removal of aquatic vegetation or installation of permanent structures, a Temporary Field Authorization is required. No additional approvals under the Water Act or Public Lands Act are required.
What’s Required…
All applicants require an AEP User ID to submit any Public Land applications.
Each application requires a sketch including dimensions to identify where the dock will be placed in relation to the waterfront parcel.
A signed declaration indicating the applicant is the waterfront landowner must also be submitted, or alternatively written consent of the landowner if you are not the owner of the waterfront parcel.
There are no fees to submit the application if you plan to use your seasonal dock for personal recreational use.
…After the Approval
The approval will be issued for no more than a 5-year term, authorization is only valid for the individual that it was issued to.
Are Additional Approvals Required?
If installing your dock requires modification to the bed and shore, vegetation removal, or installation of permanent structures, an approval under the Water Act and a Public Lands Disposition is required.
Depending on final plans, other approvals may be required such as review and/or approval under the federal Fisheries Act and Canadian Navigable Waters Act.
Contact Basin Environmental &
Request a Free Quote
If you would like to discuss a potential project and/or receive a detailed quote please contact the Basin Environmental Team at 587-269-1180, darcy@basinenvironmental.ca